In reviewing our mental index of dishes we’ve ‘always’ wanted to make but for some reason never have, the legendary whole fish in a salt crust leapt suddenly out and begged to be blogged this weekend. The decision of what to cook is usually not an easy one, sometimes involving coercion or bribery, but this was instantly unanimous. The salt crust provided the crucial fun factor that always inspires Rob, and I was intrigued by the radical simplicity of the dish. Plus, as we researched technique, we came across numerous superlative descriptions of the flavour and texture this method of cooking creates. So we decided to see for ourselves.
We were surprised in many ways. This dish is even easier to prepare than its simple list of ingredients makes it look. We read that beaten egg whites made for an easier un-crusting, but found that unbeaten ones worked better. The aroma of citrus and herbs escapes through the salt crust as you cook the fish, perfuming the kitchen. The fish is in no way made salty. And most pleasantly, the flesh is more tender and pure-tasting than you can imagine. It’s something of a revelation.
We served this with shaved fennel (simply dressed with lemon juice, lemon zest, and olive oil) and cherry tomatoes roasted with orange zest, shards of garlic, and a dusting of wild black pepper and ground cardamom. (And then had it for lunch again the next day, with buttered rice. Very Lenten food, if you’re into that sort of thing.)
[fbshare]Salt-crusted snapper with blood orange and bay
NOTES: Serves 2. This will work with any kind of fish, any kind of citrus, and any kind of herb. Use your favourites.
A whole 2-pound red snapper, scaled and cleaned, gills and fins removed
olive oil
7 pounds of coarse sea salt
5 egg whites
one blood orange, thickly sliced
5 bay leaves
Mix the salt and the egg whites in a large bowl.
Rub the fish with olive oil and stuff it with the orange slices and bay leaves.
Use a third of the salt to make a bed for the fish on a half-sheet pan.
Lay the fish on this bed, and use the rest of the salt to completely encase the fish.
Cook the fish in a 350° F oven for half an hour.
Remove crust along the length of the fish and carefully pull off the skin.
Remove the top fillet in one piece. Carefully pull the spine out and scoop the second fillet out, leaving the skin behind.
Great photos. This is a cool way to cook fish.
I have been wanting to try preparing fish this way since I saw it in a Jamie Oliver cookbook, but I’ve been scared of screwing it up. This combo looks particularly amazing though. I may need to get over my fear.
You cannot screw this up. The only thing I can see going wrong is the fillets coming out in pieces instead of whole, but who cares? It will taste the same. This is really very easy, and super fun. Go for it!
David
Saving this … hopefully I will be making lots of fish in my near future
Wow. Gorgeous! And I just love the idea of having to buy 7 pounds of salt for some reason. I’ve never tried salt crusting fish. Will have to remedy that!
Egg whites (per recipe) or egg yolks (per your comments)? I’m guessing whites, but I’m also guessing it may make a HUGE difference! Thanks!
Err, that would be egg WHITES.
Thanks, E.
David
I thoroughly enjoy snapper, although it is not too often that we can get it fresh where I live. I am concerned about not being able to find it hardly at all now with the Gulf Oil Spill
-Sylvia