Recipe
Baked Branzino Fish By Parisa Z. Ambwani, Resident since 1983
Serves 2-3 Preheat oven to 375-degree F. Use a shallow baking pan, and add a little olive oil and swirl to coat the base of the pan.
Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
8 cups fresh water 8 small red potatoes, cut in half 1 small red bell pepper, seeded, quartered 2 sprigs rosemary 1/4 cup olive oil, plus a little extra for drizzling 2 tablespoons juice of lemon 2 sprigs fresh thyme, only leaves 3-4 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 teaspoon sea salt OR to taste ½ teaspoon black pepper, ground 1 large whole branzino fish (small sea bass), gutted, scaled, rinse and pat-dry 8 button mushrooms, stemmed (see note 1) 2 firm red tomatoes, quartered 4 shallots
Garnish: 1 lemon, cut into wedges A few cilantro OR parsley sprigs
Note 1: How to clean mushroom: Clean mushrooms with damp towels or rinsed with cold water and pat-dried thoroughly and remove stem. Fresh mushrooms should never be soaked because mushrooms absorb water and will become mushy. Note 2: Please be sure fish is at room temperature before cooking. Fish can be cooked in many ways including baking, broiling, frying, grilling or steaming. Cook fish only for short time until fish flakes easily. Overcooked fish will result in a less moist fish. ©2019 Parisa Z. Ambwani------------All rights reserved www.enlightenedrecipes.com
Directions: In a pot add 8 cups water and bring to boil. Add potatoes, bell pepper, and rosemary (water should cover the potatoes). Bring contents to boil and cook in covered pot for 10-12 minutes, drain, discard rosemary and set aside. In a small mixer bowl mix olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, thyme, garlic, salt and pepper. Brush generously the inside and outside of fish with this seasoning mixture. Place fish in the middle of the baking pan and arrange potatoes, bell pepper, mushrooms, shallots and tomatoes around the parameter. Drizzle a little extra olive oil on the vegetables. Place pan uncovered on the middle rack of the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until fish is done. Increase oven temperature to 425-degree F. Transfer pan to upper rack and broil for 5 minutes or until fish is slightly golden brown. How to Serve Fish: Remove the head, tail and debone the fish and decorate with freshly cut lemon wedges and cilantro. Serve with green salad.
About Parisa Z. Ambwani: Parisa, a native of Persia who moved to Blackhawk in 1983, has a BA in Fine Arts. Deeply influenced by her mother’s cooking, she has spent three decades writing cookbooks and pairing food with her poetry, philosophy, herbs and spices, and herbal teas. Parisa’s unique cookbooks are known for their merging of useful culinary information with a clear understanding of the relationship with other human beings and with the universe. She has followed this recipe to write and photograph six books that weave her beliefs into caring words on how to live life to the fullest. Learn more by visiting her website, enlightenedrecipes.com
20
FEBRUARY 2020
