Marco's Fish Wrapped in Hoja Santa

Name: Marco's Fish Wrapped in Hoja Santa
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H30M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H15M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT0H45M0.000S
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: mexican
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons/30 ml canola oil; 2 cups/500 ml chopped huitlacoche (corn mushroom); 1 leek, minced; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; A bunch of epazote, chopped (or substitute with tarragon or a mix of herbs like cilantro, parsley and chives); A bunch of epazote, chopped (or substitute with tarragon or a mix of herbs like cilantro, parsley and chives); 2 cups/500 ml very fine corn flour (masa harina); 1 teaspoon/5 ml of salt; 1/2 cup/125 ml crumbled Chiapas cheese; 4 Jack fish fillets, or any white firm-flesh fish you like (about 2 pounds/1 kg); 4 hoja santa leaves, or banana leaves; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; 2 tablespoons/30 ml butter; 2 tablespoons/30 ml canola oil; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 leek, chopped; 1 onion, chopped; 1 plantain banana, cut in chunks; 1 tablespoon/15 ml bonito flakes; 1/2 teaspoon/2 ml whole allspice; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; Canola oil, for deep frying; Chia seeds, for garnish, optional; Toasted macadamia nuts, for garnish

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Masa means dough. This recipe can also be used as a base to make tortillas or tamales.

Level: Intermediate
Total: 45 min

Prep: 30 min
Cook: 15 min

Yield: 4 servings

Level: Intermediate
Total: 45 min

Prep: 30 min
Cook: 15 min

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Huitlacoche Masa Dumplings (Corn Mushroom Dumplings):

2 tablespoons/30 ml canola oil

2 cups/500 ml chopped huitlacoche (corn mushroom)

1 leek, minced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

A bunch of epazote, chopped (or substitute with tarragon or a mix of herbs like cilantro, parsley and chives)

Masa Bolitas (Small Dough Balls):

2 cups/500 ml very fine corn flour (masa harina)

1 teaspoon/5 ml of salt

1/2 cup/125 ml crumbled Chiapas cheese

Fish:

4 Jack fish fillets, or any white firm-flesh fish you like (about 2 pounds/1 kg)

4 hoja santa leaves, or banana leaves

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Plantain Salsa:

2 tablespoons/30 ml butter

2 tablespoons/30 ml canola oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 leek, chopped

1 onion, chopped

1 plantain banana, cut in chunks

1 tablespoon/15 ml bonito flakes

1/2 teaspoon/2 ml whole allspice

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Canola oil, for deep frying

Chia seeds, for garnish, optional

Toasted macadamia nuts, for garnish

Directions

For the huitlacoche masa dumplings: In a skillet, heat the oil and saute the huitlacoche and leeks, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and add the epazote. Set aside.
For the masa bolitas: In a bowl, mix the corn flour, salt and 1 1/2 cups/ 375 ml water. Knead to form your dough.
Pinch off a golf ball-size piece of dough and press the center to form a cavity. Stuff it with some of the mushroom mixture and add some cheese. Enclose the stuffing with the masa and reshape into a ball. Cover with plastic wrap and keep in the refrigerator until ready to deep-fry.
For the plantain salsa: In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter with the canola oil. Add the garlic, leeks and onions, and saute until translucent. Add the plantain bananas and continue sauteing, about 5 minutes. Add the bonito flakes and allspice, and continue sauteing, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the mixture to the recipient of the food processor and reduce into a coarse puree, keeping some texture to it. Add a little water if too thick. Season with salt and pepper.
For the fish: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Wrap the fish with the hoja santa leaves. Place on a baking tray and bake in the oven for about 5 minutes. Set aside.
To deep-fry the masa dumplings, heat the oil in a deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Deep-fry the dumplings until nice and golden brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a baking tray covered with paper towels to drain excess oil. Season with salt and pepper.
To assemble the plate, add a spoonful of the plaintain salsa on a plate, lay a piece of fish on the salsa and top with 2 or 3 masa dumplings. Garnish with chia seeds if using and toasted macadamia nuts.