Red snapper in brodetto with polenta

6 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
6 cups Water, cold
1 tablespoon Butter, unsalted
1 teaspoon Salt
4 pounds Red Snapper, cleaned OR
4 pounds Stripped Bass, cleaned OR
4 pounds Sea Bass, cleaned OR
4 pounds Monkfish, cleaned
2 cups Oil, vegetable
1 cup Flour, all purpose
¾ cup Oil, olive
1 cup Onion, finely chopped
1 each Bay leaf
1½ cup Cornmeal
½ cup Scallion, finely chopped white part only
Salt
2 tablespoons Paste, tomato
¼ cup Vinegar, red wine (or more)
3 cups Water, hot
Pepper (to taste)

Directions

POLENTA

RED SNAPPER IN BRODETTO

For Polenta: ============

In a heavy saucepan, combine water, butter, salt and bay leaf.

Pour in cornmeal in a thin stream, stirring constantly. Bring mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly, over medium heat.

Reduce heat to medium low. Continue to stir over heat until mixture is smooth, very thick, and pulls away from sides of pan, about 15 minutes.

Cover and keep warm.

For Red Snapper in Brodetto: ============================ With a cleaver, cut each fish into 3 pieces, leaving head and tail on.

Heat vegetable oil in skillet to about 350 F.

Dredge pieces of fish in flour, shaking off excess. Cook, turning once, until lightly golden but not cooked through, about 5 minutes.

Drain on paper towels and set aside.

In separate large skillet, heat olive oil over medium high heat.

Add onion and scallion and saute, tossing until lightly golden, about 5 minutes.

Add fish in single layer and sprinkle with salt.

Spoon tomato paste between pieces of fish and cook about 3 minutes, shaking pan occasionally.

Stir together vinegar and hot water and add to fish. Bring to boil then lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, 2 to 3 minutes.

Carefully turn pieces of fish.

Increase heat to medium high and continue to cook just until fish is cooked through, about 10 minutes.

Transfer fish and a mounded spoonful of polenta to warm serving plates.

Boil sauce vigorously until slightly thickened and correct seasoning with salt, pepper, and a few drops of wine vinegar, if needed.

Pour over fish and serve immediately.

Source: New York's Master Chefs, Bon Appetit Magazine : Written by Richard Sax, Photographs by Nancy McFarland : The Knapp Press, Los Angeles, 1985 Chef: Lidia Bastianich, Felidia Restaurant, New York

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