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Lemongrass-Marinated Pompano with Dipping Sauce

Blue-line

Rate & Review

Blue-line

When Hung Huynh cooks small pompano, he trims the head, tail and fins to square the fish, then cuts it into quarters: "I love to think I invented that presentation," he says. But the recipe is just as good with pompano fillets: The crispy-skinned fish stays moist and is delicious with the hot-sweet-tangy dipping sauce.

Pairing Suggestion

Riesling, especially a light-bodied, citrusy Australian one, won't overwhelm this delicate fish. Look for the minerally 2006 Leasingham Magnus or the tangy 2006 Wolf Blass Yellow Label.

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Lemongrass-Marinated Pompano with Dipping Sauce

  • ACTIVE: 30 MIN
  • TOTAL TIME: 1 HR 30 MIN
  • SERVINGS: 4
  • HEALTHY
  • STAFF-FAVORITE

Ingredients

  • Dipping Sauce
    1. Juice of 2 limes
    2. 2 tablespoons Asian fish sauce
    3. 2 Thai chiles, minced
    4. 2 tablespoons sugar
  • Marinated Fish
    1. 2 garlic cloves, chopped
    2. 2 scallions—whites chopped, greens sliced, for garnish
    3. 1 large stalk of lemongrass, bottom two-thirds chopped
    4. 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro stems, plus sprigs, for garnish
    5. 2 teaspoons sugar
    6. 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
    7. 1 tablespoon kosher salt
    8. 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
    9. Four 6-ounce pompano fillets with skin
    10. 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
    11. Lime wedges, for serving

Directions

  1. In a bowl, stir the lime juice with the fish sauce, chiles and sugar until the sugar is dissolved.
  2. In a mini processor, puree the garlic, scallion whites, lemongrass, cilantro stems, sugar, lime juice, salt and pepper to a paste. Rub the paste all over the pompano. Put the fish on a plate, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  3. Scrape the marinade from the fish. In a large, nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Add the fish, skin side down, and cook over moderately high heat until the skin is crisp, about 3 minutes. Turn the fillets, lower the heat to moderate and cook until just opaque throughout, about 2 minutes longer; transfer to plates, skin side up, and garnish with scallion greens and cilantro sprigs. Serve with lime wedges and the dipping sauce.

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