Oven-Roasted Fish with Onion, Lemon, Fenugreek & Cilantro (Mahi-e Shekam Por)
Cooking whole fish is easy--most fish markets sell them already cleaned and butterflied with the backbone and rib bones removed. (If not, ask the fishmonger to do it for you.) Leaving the head and tail intact makes them easy to work with--and the presentation at the table is impressive. A flavorful stuffing made with tangy tamarind and aromatic herbs is a great foil for the mild fish. Source: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2018
Ingredients
Filling
Fish
Directions
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To prepare filling: Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add thinly sliced onion and cook, stirring often, until starting to brown, 3 to 6 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often, until the onion is dark golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes.
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Add cilantro, fenugreek, garlic, ginger, tamarind, tomato paste, turmeric, cayenne (or crushed red pepper) and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cilantro is very soft, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
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To prepare fish: Position rack in upper third of oven; preheat to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
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Place half of the lemon and onion rounds in a single layer in the middle of the prepared pan. Rub each fish inside and out with oil and salt. Divide the filling between the fish, spooning it into the cavity; stuff with the remaining lemons and onions. Lay the fish side by side on the lemons and onions on the pan. Drizzle water around them and cover the pan tightly with foil.
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Bake for 12 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until the fish are just cooked through, about 15 minutes more.
Tips
Tips: Fenugreek: Both the leaves (fresh or dried) and their mustard-colored seeds (whole or ground) have a complex flavor that's a little nutty and almost maple-y. Use it up: Ground seeds can be used in curry powders, teas, rubs or as a seasoning for cooked vegetables. Add fresh leaves to salads, sauces and curries.
Tamarind: The sticky, candy-sour pulp found inside the pods from the tamarind tree is used to make a concentrated paste (with or without seeds) that's common to dishes from across southern Asia. Use it up: Make pad thai; stir into sautéed vegetables or salad dressing.
Nutrition Facts
1 vegetable, 3 lean protein, 2 1/2 fat