Crispy Pan Seared Florida Snapper with Passion Fruit Cream and Florida Citrus and Shaved Fennel Salad, Garnished with Sauteed Florida Gulf Shrimp and Spicy Green Mango Jam

Embark on a culinary journey to the Sunshine State with this exquisite dish. Our recipe for Crispy Pan-Seared Florida Snapper features perfectly cooked fillets with a delightful crispy skin, complemented by a vibrant Florida Passion Fruit Cream. Paired with a refreshing Florida Citrus and Shaved Fennel Salad, and garnished with succulent Sauteed Florida Gulf Shrimp and a zesty Spicy Green Mango Jam, this meal is a true celebration of Florida’s fresh ingredients. Get ready to impress your guests with this intermediate-level recipe that delivers on both flavor and presentation.

Recipe Details

  • Skill Level: Intermediate (Perfect for home cooks looking to expand their skills)
  • Total Time: Approximately 2 hours 10 minutes (Plan accordingly for your meal preparation)
  • Prep Time: 1 hour (Includes preparing ingredients for all components)
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes (Hands-on cooking time for the various elements)
  • Yields: 5 to 6 servings (Ideal for a family dinner or entertaining guests)

Detailed Ingredients for Your Florida Culinary Adventure:

Crispy Pan-Seared Florida Snapper

  • 6 fresh Florida snapper fillets (approx. 5 oz each), skin on
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
  • 1/2 cup canola oil

Florida Passion Fruit Cream

  • 2 ripe Florida passion fruits (pulp scooped out)
  • 1/2 cup mirin
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger (peeled)
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 2 cups whipping cream
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon Thai red curry paste

Florida Citrus and Shaved Fennel Salad

  • 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon grain mustard
  • 2 fennel bulbs (stalks removed)
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
  • 1/4 cup virgin olive oil
  • 3 Florida oranges
  • 2 Florida grapefruits

Sauteed Florida Gulf Shrimp

  • 2 pounds fresh Florida Gulf shrimp
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
  • Green Mango Jam (recipe below)

Florida Spicy Green Mango Jam

  • 3 unripe Florida green mangoes
  • 1/2 cup white vinegar
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1-inch piece fresh gingerroot (peeled)
  • 1 fresh jalapeno chili
  • 5 garlic cloves
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 3-inch piece cinnamon stick
  • 2 star anise
  • 2 tablespoons corn oil

Directions for Your Florida Seafood Feast:

Follow these steps to create a delicious and impressive meal featuring fresh Florida ingredients.

Crispy Pan-Seared Florida Snapper – Cooking Instructions

  1. Prepare the Snapper: Using a sharp knife, make small, shallow slices in the skin of the Florida snapper fillets, creating a crosshatching pattern. This helps the skin crisp up.
  2. Dry Thoroughly: Pat the fish fillets completely dry with paper towels. This is crucial for achieving crispy skin. Keep the fish refrigerated until you’re ready to cook.
  3. Preheat Pan: Preheat a large saute pan over medium-high heat.
  4. Season and Dust: Lightly dust the skin side of the fish with cornstarch. Season both sides lightly with sea salt and fresh ground pepper.
  5. Add Oil: Add enough canola oil to the hot pan to coat the bottom.
  6. Sear the Snapper: Carefully place the Florida snapper fillets into the hot pan, skin side down. Cook for several minutes until the skin is crispy and golden brown.
  7. Finish Cooking: Flip the fish and cook on the other side until the fish is just cooked through. Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the fillets.
  8. Rest the Fish: Transfer the cooked snapper to a platter, keeping the skin side up to maintain crispness.

Florida Passion Fruit Cream – Sauce Preparation

  1. Reduce Passion Fruit Mixture: In a heavy medium-sized saucepan, combine the passion fruit pulp, mirin, and chopped ginger. Bring to a boil and cook until the liquid has reduced to about 1/4 cup (approximately 6 minutes).
  2. Reduce Wine: Add the dry white wine to the saucepan and boil until it has reduced to about 1/4 cup (approximately 6 minutes).
  3. Add Cream and Coconut Milk: Pour in the whipping cream and unsweetened coconut milk. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium.
  4. Simmer and Thicken: Simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally, until it has slightly thickened (about 12 minutes).
  5. Add Curry Paste: Stir in the Thai red curry paste.
  6. Season and Strain: Season the sauce to taste with sea salt and fresh ground pepper. Strain the finished Florida Passion Fruit Cream through a fine mesh sieve or a strainer lined with cheesecloth for a smooth consistency.

Florida Citrus and Shaved Fennel Salad – Assembly

  1. Make Vinaigrette: In a large bowl, whisk together the rice wine vinegar, grain mustard, salt, and pepper. Slowly drizzle in the virgin olive oil while whisking constantly until the vinaigrette is emulsified.
  2. Prepare Citrus: Using a paring knife, carefully cut the peel, including all of the white pith, from the Florida oranges and Florida grapefruits. Working over a bowl, cut the citrus into segments, removing any membranes.
  3. Add Citrus Juice: Squeeze the juice from the citrus membranes into a small bowl. Whisk 3 tablespoons of this fresh Florida citrus juice into the vinaigrette.
  4. Combine Citrus: Drain the citrus segments and add them to the vinaigrette in the large bowl.
  5. Prepare Fennel: Quarter the fennel bulbs lengthwise and remove the stalks. Using a slicer or mandolin, cut the fennel into paper-thin slices (about 1/16-inch thick).
  6. Toss Salad: Add the shaved fennel to the bowl with the citrus and vinaigrette. Gently toss to combine all the ingredients.

Sauteed Florida Gulf Shrimp – Quick Cooking

  1. Preheat Skillet: Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Prepare Shrimp: Peel and devein the fresh Florida Gulf shrimp, leaving the tails intact if desired. Pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel.
  3. Add Oil: Add the canola oil to the hot skillet.
  4. Saute Shrimp: Carefully add the prepared shrimp to the hot pan and season with salt and pepper. Saute the shrimp until they turn pink and are just cooked through.
  5. Serve: Place the cooked Florida Gulf shrimp on a plate and serve immediately, ideally with the Florida Spicy Green Mango Jam.

Florida Spicy Green Mango Jam – Jam Making

  1. Prepare Mangoes: Peel the unripe Florida green mangoes and cut them into 1/2-inch cubes. In a small bowl, toss the mango cubes with the white vinegar, sugar, and salt.
  2. Make Seasoning Paste: Cut the fresh gingerroot into 4 pieces. For a milder jam, wear rubber gloves and remove the seeds and veins from the jalapeno chili. Add the gingerroot, jalapeno, garlic cloves, ground cumin, ground coriander seeds, and ground turmeric to a food processor with the motor running, adding them one at a time. Puree the ingredients into a smooth paste.
  3. Cook Seasoning Paste: Heat a 4-quart heavy pot over moderately low heat until hot. Add the seasoning paste, cinnamon stick, and star anise to the hot oil. Cook, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes, or until the paste is very fragrant.
  4. Simmer Mango Jam: Stir the mango mixture into the pot with the seasoning paste. Cover the pot and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the mangoes are tender (about 30 minutes).
  5. Cool Jam: Remove the cinnamon stick and star anise from the jam. Let the Florida Spicy Green Mango Jam cool completely before serving or storing.

Leave a Comment