Baked Chutney-Stuffed Sea Bass

Name: Baked Chutney-Stuffed Sea Bass
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H40M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H25M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT1H25M0.000S
Yield: 3 to 4 servings
Cuisine: indian
Ingredients: Bunch fresh cilantro sprigs, washed, leaves picked; 5 teaspoons fresh lemon juice; 2 cloves garlic, left whole; 1 (3/4-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled; 2 green chiles, seeded; 3 1/2 ounces freshly grated coconut; 20 pistachio nuts, shelled; 1 teaspoon cumin seeds; Vegetable oil, for frying, plus 1 tablespoon; 1/2 teaspoon brown mustard seeds; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper; 1 pound 4 ounce sea bass, butterflied (ask your fishmonger to do this for you), skin scored at 1-inch intervals; 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; New potatoes, boiled; Green salad; 1 lemon, cut into wedges

Getting reviews...

This chutney is made with pistachio, coconut and lots of coriander, and adds a complex flavour to baked fish.

Level: Intermediate
Total: 1 hr 25 min

Prep: 40 min
Inactive: 20 min
Cook: 25 min

Yield: 3 to 4 servings

Level: Intermediate
Total: 1 hr 25 min

Prep: 40 min
Inactive: 20 min
Cook: 25 min

Yield: 3 to 4 servings

Ingredients

For the chutney

Bunch fresh cilantro sprigs, washed, leaves picked

5 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, left whole

1 (3/4-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled

2 green chiles, seeded

3 1/2 ounces freshly grated coconut

20 pistachio nuts, shelled

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

Vegetable oil, for frying, plus 1 tablespoon

1/2 teaspoon brown mustard seeds

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the sea bass

1 pound 4 ounce sea bass, butterflied (ask your fishmonger to do this for you), skin scored at 1-inch intervals

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

For service

New potatoes, boiled

Green salad

1 lemon, cut into wedges

Directions

For the chutney: Blend the cilantro, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, chiles, coconut, pistachios, and cumin in a food processor to a puree.
Heat a small amount of the vegetable oil in a small saucepan over a medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds. Be careful of the popping mustard seeds and splattering of oil. When the mustard seeds start to pop, remove the pan from the heat, and add the seeds to the chutney mixture. Season the mixture well with salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
In a separate bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of the chutney mixture with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Brush the chutney mixture all over the sea bass, and set aside to marinate for 20 to 30 minutes.
While the fish is marinating, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
When the fish has marinated, spoon the remaining chutney mixture into the cavities of the sea bass. Place the stuffed sea bass onto a sheet pan, and bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the flesh of each sea bass is opaque.
To serve the dish, divide the stuffed sea bass among four serving plates. Spoon a portion of the new potatoes and green salad alongside. Garnish each plate with a wedge of lemon.

Cook’s Note

Adding pistachios to the chutney helps to bind it and the nuts absorb the juices that leak into it from the fish. You can also use peanuts as a substitute for the pistachios.

My Private Notes

Choose a topic to find related recipes.