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Flavorful Red Snapper Veracruz Style

Flavorful Red Snapper Veracruz Style
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Flavorful Red Snapper Veracruz Style is a vibrant Mexican coastal dish combining fresh red snapper fillets with a colorful sauce made from tomatoes, green and black olives, capers, and aromatic Mexican spices. This authentic recipe is fresh, light, and beautifully presented, delivering a perfect balance of savory, tangy, and mildly spicy flavors. Ready in under 45 minutes, it’s an ideal healthy meal that celebrates tradition and can be adapted to suit various dietary needs.

Ingredients

Scale

Fish

  • 4 fresh red snapper fillets (6 oz each), patted dry

Sauce

  • 2 cups ripe tomatoes, chopped (or high-quality canned tomatoes)
  • 1/4 cup green olives, pitted and sliced
  • 1/4 cup black olives, pitted and sliced
  • 2 tablespoons capers, drained
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped (adjust to taste)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (plus extra for garnish)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (plus more for finishing)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Ingredients: Start by chopping the tomatoes, onions, garlic, olives, and capers so everything is ready to go. Pat dry the red snapper fillets to ensure a nice sear later.
  2. Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add the onions and garlic. Cook until softened and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes, creating the flavorful base for your sauce.
  3. Build the Sauce: Add chopped tomatoes, olives, capers, jalapeños, bay leaf, and oregano to the skillet. Stir to combine and let the sauce simmer gently for 10-15 minutes until it thickens slightly and the flavors meld together beautifully.
  4. Cook the Red Snapper: Push the sauce aside and add the red snapper fillets skin side down (if they have skin). Cook for 4-5 minutes per side until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Spoon sauce over the fillets throughout to infuse flavor.
  5. Finish and Garnish: Remove from heat, discard the bay leaf, and sprinkle fresh parsley and a squeeze of lime juice over the dish for that perfect pop of freshness before serving.

Notes

  • Choose Fresh Fish: The fresher the snapper, the better the flavor and texture will be.
  • Don’t Skip the Olives and Capers: Their salty tang is essential for the signature Veracruz taste.
  • Simmer Gently: Keep the sauce on a low simmer to avoid breaking it down and losing texture.
  • Use a Nonstick Pan: Prevents the delicate fish from sticking and breaking apart during cooking.
  • Add Lime Last: Adding lime juice at the end preserves its brightness without overpowering the dish.

Nutrition

Keywords: Red Snapper, Veracruz, Mexican, Fish Recipe, Gluten Free, Healthy, Seafood, Authentic, Quick, Easy

Find it online: https://lillysplate.com/flavorful-red-snapper-veracruz-style/