
Braised Red Snapper with Chimichurri
Overview
Whole red snapper marinated in chimichurri and then grilled or baked. Chimichurri is Argentine and Uruguayan, and the fish treatment here is a departure from its usual home alongside grilled beef. Chimichurri is an uncooked sauce, parsley, garlic, oregano, olive oil and red wine vinegar, chopped fine rather than blended smooth, and it exists in two forms, verde and rojo, the red version taking paprika and sometimes tomato. Its normal job is as a table condiment for asado, the Argentine grill, where its acidity cuts through rich grilled beef. Using it as a marinade for fish is a reasonable extension of the same logic; the herbs and vinegar suit snapper well. The source's food safety notes are genuinely good and worth keeping. Marinated raw fish should be refrigerated and used within two days, never left out at room temperature, and, most importantly, marinade that has been in contact with raw fish must never be served as a sauce. Make extra chimichurri for the table rather than reusing what came off the fish. One gap in the source: the ingredient list omits parsley entirely, even though parsley is the defining ingredient of chimichurri and its own article says so. It has been restored below.
Ingredients
Dietary tags are provided by contributors as a guide, not verified by AFN, and they depend on the products you buy. If you have a serious allergy, check every ingredient yourself. Cooking, allergies and your own judgement
Directions
- 1
Make the chimichurri by combining the finely chopped parsley, oregano, garlic and chilli with the vinegar, lemon juice and olive oil. Chop rather than blend, chimichurri should have texture, not be a purée. Season to taste.
- 2
Set aside about a third of the chimichurri in a separate covered bowl to serve at the table. This portion must not touch the raw fish.
- 3
Score the snapper on both sides and rub the remaining chimichurri into the cuts and all over the fish.
- 4
Cover and refrigerate. Overnight is ideal; use within 24 to 48 hours and never leave marinating fish at room temperature.
- 5
Bring the grill up to medium-high, or set the oven to 350°F / 180°C.
- 6
Grill the fish until just cooked through, about 10 minutes per side depending on size, or bake for about 45 minutes.
- 7
Serve hot with the reserved chimichurri spooned over.
Africook’s Notes
- Never serve the marinade that touched the raw fish. Set some chimichurri aside before it goes anywhere near the snapper.
- Chop the herbs rather than blending them. A blended chimichurri turns into a dull green paste and loses the texture that defines it.
- Score the fish deeply. It lets the marinade reach the flesh rather than sitting on the skin, and it helps it cook evenly.
- Marinate overnight for the best result, but keep it refrigerated and covered throughout.
- Chimichurri improves after a few hours as the garlic and oregano infuse the oil, so make it ahead if you can.
- It works just as well on grilled beef, which is its traditional home, and on chicken.
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