Recipe: Crispy Boneless Whole Fish with Sofrito

Crispy Boneless Whole Fish with Sofrito

Vegetable oil for frying
1 whole snapper - (2 to 3 lbs) remove center bones, keep head and tail intact
Salt to taste
Freshly-ground black pepper to taste
Flour for dusting
4 eggs beaten with
1 cup buttermilk as an egg wash

SOFRITO
1 tbsp olive oil
1 yellow pepper minced
1 red pepper minced
1 red onion minced
4 garlic cloves minced
1/2 Scotch bonnet minced
1 tbsp minced aji amarillo
1 fennel bulb minced
1 pinch saffron
1 cup amontillado Sherry
1 cup fish stock or clam juice
1 lime
1 bunch cilantro pick leaves and chop stems
Cilantro sprigs for garnish
Extra-large skewers for shaping fish, but small enough to fit in the pot

In a large deep pot, fitted with a deep frying thermometer, preheat 5 inches oil to 325 degrees.

Starting at the tail end, push the skewer crosswise just above the tail, and bend the fish into an "s" shape and attach the skewer through the head, just in front of the front fin.

Season the fish and dust with the flour. Place in the egg wash. Place back in the flour. Shake off excess.

Fry the fish at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Season with salt and pepper when removing from the fryer. Set on paper towels to drain oil. Serve with Sofrito and garnish with cilantro.

For the Sofrito:
In a saucepan, heat the olive oil. Add all the dry ingredients. Cook for about 5 minutes, until all vegetables are soft and the saffron is toasted. Add the wine, reduce half way. Add the stock and reduce half way. Finish with cilantro and a squeeze of lime.

This recipe yields 2 servings