EM-0917
Portugese Style Pan Fried Hake
Recipe courtesy of Jasper White

Portuguese-Style Pan-Fried Hake

Getting reviews...
Silver Hake, also called whiting in some regions, is a true member of the cod family, of which only cod, haddock, pollock and hake are legitimate members. This flavorful fish is lean and flaky, and is very popular among the Portuguese community, who are brilliant seafood cooks. You may substitute small cod or haddock in this recipe, but if you can purchase hake, I highly recommend that you do. In this recipe, the hake is coated in cornmeal and pan-fried in olive oil. In a separate pan, you make a quick sauce with onions, peppers, tomatoes and olives. When the fish is cooked, the sauce is spooned around the fish. Although the flavor of this sauce is similar to a seafood stew, it is less intense, with lighter flavors and, because the fish is cooked separately, it keeps its natural flavor. The combination is magic. Serve with home fries or plain rice. The sauce for this dish needs to be fresh and light and therefore cannot be made ahead. However you can prepare the tomatoes (step 1) well in advance. You can also cut the vegetables and pit the olives for the sauce earlier in the day, up to 4 hours in advance. For equipment you will need a 2 quart saucepan to blanch the tomatoes, an 8 to 10-inch skillet to make the sauce, a wooden spoon, a 12 or 14-inch well-seasoned cast iron or nonstick skillet for cooking the fish, and a slotted spatula.
  • Level: Intermediate
  • Yield: 4 servings
Share This Recipe

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

To cook the fish:

Directions

  1. Fill the saucepan halfway with water and bring it to boil over high heat. Score an x at the base of each tomato with a small paring knife. Lower the tomatoes into the boiling water until the skin splits, about 30 seconds. Plunge them into ice water after blanching to stop the cooking. Peel skins from the tomatoes, and cut them in half lengthwise. Remove the seeds, cut the tomatoes into a 1/3-inch slivers (julienne) and set them aside. There will be about 1 1/2 cups.
  2. You should start the sauce about 15 minutes before you want to serve the fish, so start heating up the larger skillet (for the fish) on a medium heat at the same time you begin the sauce. Place the smaller skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil (3 tablespoons) and the bay leaves. Cook the bay leaves until they are lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the allspice and garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Add the bell pepper and onion and saute, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are golden, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, white wine and olives. Simmer until the sauce is fragrant and has thickened slightly, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and remove from heat.
  3. Just before you add the tomatoes to the sauce, add the olive oil (1/4 cup) to the preheated large skillet. Quickly season all the fillets with salt and pepper on both sides. Spread the cornmeal into a shallow bowl and dredge the fish portions in the cornmeal, 1 at a time, pressing to make the cornmeal adhere and then gently shaking off the excess. Work quickly and put each fillet into hot oil as you prepare them. As soon as the cornmeal appears to darken, turn the heat down a bit. The key is to have them cooking evenly so that when you turn the fillet, it should be a perfect golden brown. It will take about 3 to 4 minutes per side. The thicker the fish, the slower you should cook it. Turn the fillets, and cook for another 3 or 4 minutes until crisp and golden brown. Using a slotted spatula, transfer the fish to individual plates or to a platter. Divide the sauce by draping a small amount of the chunky sauce over the fish and spooning the remaining sauce around it. Serve immediately.

Fudge Factor

Over-the-Top-Delicious Treats to Satisfy Your Food Obsession

Are you infatuated with ice cream? Do you lust over lobster? Swoon at the sight of chocolate? Here's the best recipe for each food …

Train Frontman Pat Monahan's Dark Chocolate Obsession Feb 11, 2013

By: Cameron Curtis

Train frontman Pat Monahan, an avid chocolate lover, shared with us his top five reasons for eating dark chocolate.

The Craziest Chocolate Creations for American Chocolate Week Mar 17, 2013

It’s officially American Chocolate Week. Check out photos of mind-blowing chocolate creations.

Review: Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert's Chocolate Bar Nov 16, 2012

Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert have teamed up with master chocolatier Christopher Curtin to create the "Good & Evil" chocolate b …

Sifted: Plan-Ahead Valentine's Day Desserts Feb 6, 2013

By: Lauren Miyashiro

Get our take on the best in food news, recipes and more from around the web, including the best Valentine's Day recipes.

Chocolate Desserts

Indulge in our decadent chocolate desserts, from cookies and cakes to puddings, souffles and truffles.

How to Chop and Melt Chocolate

Lots of recipes call for melted chocolate. Follow these step-by-step instructions to do it properly.

Essentials: Chocolate Basics Sep 1, 2016

Satisfy that chocolate craving in your very own kitchen. All you need is baking chocolate and a little know-how. It also helps to …