Fish with Olives, Capers, and Pickled Jalapeños
This is Peggy Knickerbocker's adaptation of my recipe in The Food and Life of Oaxaca! I, too, have made changes. I prefer Cerignola olives because green olives stuffed with pimentos tend to be more acidic. I could not find salt-cured capers, so I used large capers in jars, and mild pickled jalapeños. I also have a favorite mild white vinegar, Kressi.
Ingredients
- 5 sprigs cilantro or parsley
- 1 French roll about 3 ounces, sliced and fried until golden on both sides in 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 tablespoons olive oil preferably Spanish, divided
- 3 cloves garlic peeled
- 1 large white onion cut into thin half-moons
- ½ tablespoon black peppercorns
- 8 whole cloves
- 5 bay leaves
- ¼ cup mild white vinegar preferably Kressi
- 4 sea bass or halibut fillets about 6 ounces each, skin on
- 1 tablespoon capers preferably salt-cured
- 10 large pimento-stuffed green olives I use Cerignola olives
- 5 mild pickled jalapeños sliced into strips
Instructions
- Put the cilantro or parsley and the cooled bread in the food processor and grind medium-fine. Set aside.
- Warm 4 tablespoons olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic cloves, pressing lightly on all sides to release the flavor until golden. Remove and discard. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the bread-herb mixture, peppercorns, cloves, and bay leaves, and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring often to blend flavors. Add the vinegar, cook for one minute, remove from heat and let cool.
- In a large frying pan warm the remaining olive oil and fry the fish about 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden. Do not overcook. Carefully transfer the fish to a 1-inch deep platter. Sprinkle the capers, olives, and jalapeños over the fish and carefully pour the vinegar mixture evenly on top. Let rest up to 4 hours and serve at room temperature.
Nutrition
Calories: 413kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 33gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 706mgPotassium: 878mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 678IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 55mgIron: 1mg
