Fish Tamales In Banana Leaves With Achiote Butter And Corn Tomato Salsa Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the grill.
• Score the whole fish with criss-crossed marks, about 8 or 10, from head to mid-tail. Season with salt and pepper.
• In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, ginger, garlic, and chile flakes. Place 2 large pieces of aluminum foil, shiny side down, on a work surface. Place the ti leaves over the aluminum foil, to cover. Rub the mayonnaise mixture all over the fish and place on the ti leaves. Fold the ti leaves over the fish and follow with the aluminum foil to create a tight seal.
• Place the wrapped fish on the hot grill and grill for 10 to 12 minutes on each side. Remove the fish from the grill, carefully unwrap, and sprinkle with green onions, sesame seeds, and cilantro.

Steps:

• Place fish in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Whisk achiote paste and next 7 ingredients in medium bowl. Pour achiote mixture over fish; turn to coat. Cover and chill 1 hour.
• Prepare barbecue (high heat). Brush shiny side of banana leaves with 2 tablespoons oil; place each on baking sheet, oiled side down (some of leaf will hang over edge of sheet). Arrange 2 fillets with marinade still clinging crosswise in center of each banana leaf, spacing 2 inches apart. Drizzle wine around fish in leaves. Top each fillet with 1 bay leaf and 1 sprig of fresh epazote or parsley or 1 pinch of dried epazote. Fold overhanging edges of banana leaf over fish to enclose loosely. Transfer fish from baking sheet to grill, folded edges up. Cover and grill until fillets are just opaque in center, about 10 minutes.
• Open banana leaves. Transfer fish to plates. Garnish with tomato and lime slices. Serve with Yucatecan Pickled Onions and Habanero-Tomato Salsa.

Steps:

• Blend the oil and garlic and let stand overnight.
• Put the corn husks in a bowl and add boiling water to cover. Let stand until cool. Drain.
• Lay the husks on a flat surface and place a fish fillet in the center of each. Sprinkle fish with one tablespoon of the garlic and oil mixture and with salt and pepper.
• Roll the husks to enclose the fish completely. If necessary, use two husks, ends overlapping. Tear off eight thin strips of corn husks and use as ''string'' to tie the ends of the tamale rolls. The ends might not be tightly closed, depending on the size of the husks. Refrigerate until ready to cook.
• When ready to cook, preheat a charcoal or gas grill. Add the fish in corn husks. Let cook three to five minutes (depending on intensity of heat and distance of food from the fire). Turn the tamales and cook two to four minutes on the second side.
• Heat the sauce briefly.
• Open up each tamale and spoon the sauce over it.

Steps:

• Make the pickled onions: Put onion in a bowl and season generously with salt and pepper. Add serrano, 3 tablespoons orange juice and 2 tablespoons lime juice, then mix well. Set aside for at least 15 minutes. Combine and reserve remaining citrus juice for marinade.
• Make the marinade: Put achiote, cinnamon, oregano and chipotle in a small stainless steel or glass bowl. In a small dry skillet over medium heat, lightly toast cumin, cloves and allspice until fragrant, 1 minute or less. Grind toasted spices to a powder in a spice mill or mortar, then add to other spices. Add garlic, 1 large pinch salt and remaining citrus juice and stir to make a paste. If very thick, add more lime juice. (Note: achiote may stain surfaces or clothing.)
• Season fish on both sides with salt and pepper. Using a sharp knife, score skin at thickest parts, if desired. Paint fish on both sides with marinade. Squeeze a little lime juice over fish. Chill for 45 minutes (or up to 2 hours).
• Bring fish to room temperature and heat oven to 425 degrees. Cut banana leaves crosswise into footlong lengths and soften by passing them briefly over a stovetop burner. Rinse leaves and pat dry. Lay a double thickness of leaves on a baking sheet and lay fish on it, skin-side down. Top fish with a large handful of pickled onions. Arrange tomato wedges over onions. Sprinkle with salt and a little more lime juice. Lay more leaves on top, then wrap like a package, tying with string or strips of leaf. Bake for 25 minutes, then remove and let package rest, unopened, for 15 minutes. Serve with remaining pickled onions.