Gas-Grilled Blackened Red Snapper
By America's Test KitchenPublished on August 21, 2007
Time
1 hour
Yield
Serves 4
Ingredients
Before You Begin
If using fillets that are 1/2 inch or thinner, reduce cooking time to 3 minutes per side. If using fillets that are 1 inch or thicker, increase cooking time on second side by 2 minutes, moving the fish to the cooler side of the grill after the second side has browned. If you cannot find red snapper, striped bass, halibut, and catfish can be substituted. Making the slashes in the skin requires a sharp knife. If your knife isn’t sharp enough, try cutting through the skin with a serrated knife. However, cut in one direction (don’t saw) and be careful not to cut into the flesh. If you choose not to eat the skin, be sure to remove it after cooking rather than beforehand. Serve fish with lemon wedges and our Rémoulade or our Pineapple and Cucumber Salsa with Mint.
Instructions
- Combine paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, coriander, salt, and peppers in small bowl. Melt butter in 10-inch skillet over medium heat. When foaming subsides, stir in spice mixture. Cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant and spices turn dark rust color, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer mixture to pie plate and cool, stirring occasionally, to room temperature, about 10 minutes. Once cooled, use fork to break up any large clumps.
- Turn on all burners to high, cover, and heat grill until very hot, about 15 minutes. Use grill brush to scrape grill clean.
- Meanwhile, pat fillets dry on both sides with paper towels. Using sharp knife, make shallow diagonal slashes every inch along skin side of fish, being careful not to cut into flesh. Place fillets skin side up on rimmed baking sheet or large plate. Using fingers, rub spice mixture in thin, even layer on top and side of fish. Flip fillets over and repeat on other side (you should use all of the spice mixture). Refrigerate until needed.
- Lightly dip wad of paper towels in oil; holding wad with tongs, wipe cooking grate. Place fish perpendicular to grill grates, skin side down, on grill. Leaving burners on high, grill, uncovered, until very dark brown and skin is crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Using thin metal spatula, flip fish and continue to grill until dark brown, beginning to flake, and center is opaque but still moist, about 5 minutes longer.
Time
1 hourYield
Serves 4Ingredients
Test Kitchen Techniques
Ingredients
Test Kitchen Techniques
Ingredients
Test Kitchen Techniques
Why This Recipe Works
For a grilled blackened red snapper recipe that would produce fillets with a dark brown, crusty, sweet-smoky, toasted spice exterior, we bloomed our spice mixture in melted butter, allowed it to cool, and applied the coating to the fish. Once on the grill, the spice crust acquired the proper depth and richness while the fish cooked through. To guarantee that our grilled blackened snapper recipe would have a moist, mild-flavored interior, we scored the skin so that the fillets wouldn’t curl during cooking.
Before You Begin
If using fillets that are 1/2 inch or thinner, reduce cooking time to 3 minutes per side. If using fillets that are 1 inch or thicker, increase cooking time on second side by 2 minutes, moving the fish to the cooler side of the grill after the second side has browned. If you cannot find red snapper, striped bass, halibut, and catfish can be substituted. Making the slashes in the skin requires a sharp knife. If your knife isn’t sharp enough, try cutting through the skin with a serrated knife. However, cut in one direction (don’t saw) and be careful not to cut into the flesh. If you choose not to eat the skin, be sure to remove it after cooking rather than beforehand. Serve fish with lemon wedges and our Rémoulade or our Pineapple and Cucumber Salsa with Mint.
Instructions
- Combine paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, coriander, salt, and peppers in small bowl. Melt butter in 10-inch skillet over medium heat. When foaming subsides, stir in spice mixture. Cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant and spices turn dark rust color, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer mixture to pie plate and cool, stirring occasionally, to room temperature, about 10 minutes. Once cooled, use fork to break up any large clumps.
- Turn on all burners to high, cover, and heat grill until very hot, about 15 minutes. Use grill brush to scrape grill clean.
- Meanwhile, pat fillets dry on both sides with paper towels. Using sharp knife, make shallow diagonal slashes every inch along skin side of fish, being careful not to cut into flesh. Place fillets skin side up on rimmed baking sheet or large plate. Using fingers, rub spice mixture in thin, even layer on top and side of fish. Flip fillets over and repeat on other side (you should use all of the spice mixture). Refrigerate until needed.
- Lightly dip wad of paper towels in oil; holding wad with tongs, wipe cooking grate. Place fish perpendicular to grill grates, skin side down, on grill. Leaving burners on high, grill, uncovered, until very dark brown and skin is crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Using thin metal spatula, flip fish and continue to grill until dark brown, beginning to flake, and center is opaque but still moist, about 5 minutes longer.
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