
Diamante-style grouper
Cernia alla Diamantese
Baked grouper with olives, capers, tomato, and white wine: a soft and fragrant Calabrian main course.
The Diamante-style grouper is a main course Baked fish, designed to bring a complete and intensely aromatic dish to the table without weighing down the flesh. In Calabria, where the recipe is based, the grouper is enhanced with a Mediterranean dressing based on the combination of black olives, capers, tomatoes, garlic and bay leafDry white wine and extra virgin olive oil form the pan juices, while the coverage of the baking pan It protects the fish and preserves its tenderness. The result is a tender flesh, accompanied by a savory and fragrant sauce, also suitable for pasta, along with the most fragrant part of the head. Fresh parsley, added at the end, completes the dish with a herbaceous note and a more distinct aroma.
Instructions
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8 steps · natural Italian voice
Clean and drain
30 minClean the grouper by removing the innards and let it drain for about 30 minutes. Once done, dry it thoroughly with a clean kitchen towel: the surface must be free of excess water, so that the seasoning will adhere better and the fish will cook evenly.
Season the grouper
Season with salt and pepper the grouper over the entire surface, then place it in a baking pan with high edges. Distribute the black olives, previously desalted capers, tomato fillets, and thebay leaf and the garlic, all already chopped. The seasoning should be distributed without compressing the fish.
Sprinkle with wine and oil
Pour into the baking pan Add the dry white wine and extra virgin olive oil, distributing them evenly. Make sure the liquid reaches the bottom of the pan without completely covering the grouper: during cooking, it will form a fragrant and slightly salty sauce.
Cover the baking pan
Cover tightly baking pan with a sheet of aluminum foil. Seal the edges well to retain the steam, which will help the pulp cook while remaining soft and will allow the flavors to blend in. pan juices.
Bake in the oven
30 minBake at 180°C (356°F) for about 30 minutes. Check for doneness by observing the flesh, which should be tender and opaque, while the bottom should be piping hot and fragrant. Keep the lid on during cooking to prevent the fish from drying out.
Transfer the fish
Remove the grouper from the baking pan Carefully remove the fruit, holding it to prevent it from breaking. Arrange it on the serving dish while it's still whole: the pulp, now soft, tends to crumble easily when transferred.
Complete with the bottom
Pour the spoonfuls of pan juices Spread the olives, capers, and tomato evenly over the grouper. Chop the fresh parsley and sprinkle it over the fish just before serving, so it retains its distinct aroma and bright color.
Recover the sauce
Collect the remaining sauce in the baking pan and add the meaty, more fragrant part of the fish head. Use this mixture to season the pasta: the sauce should be flavorful, fragrant, and fluid enough to coat the pasta.
Chef's Tips
The editorial staff recommends lifting the grouper gently from the baking pan, because cooking it covered makes it tender and easy to flake; complete the dish with the sauce only after having arranged it.
Ingredients
- Ingredients for 4 people
- (2.2 lb) 1 kg grouper
- (2.47 oz) 70 g extra virgin olive oil
- (2.47 oz) 70 g pitted black olives
- (1.23 oz) 35 g capers
- (5.29 oz) 150 g tomato fillets
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 cloves of garlic
- (1 tbsp) 1 tablespoon of parsley
- (7.05 oz) 200 g dry white wine
- salt and pepper
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