Red Snapper Creole Haitian Style

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Red Snapper Creole is a uniquely Haitian way of preparing fish. The blend of spices, ingredients and textures are absolutely marvelous.

Creole Red Snapper

(Photo Attributed to Author: Rajeshvasanth)

Red Snapper Creole Haitian Style Recipe-

Ingredients:
  • 36 oz. wild-caught Caribbean red snappers, scaled and gutted, heads and tails left on
  • 1/4 cup olive oil (use scallion-infused olive oil if you can get it)
  • 2 red bell peppers, cored, seeded, and rough chopped
  • 1 Scotch Bonnet chili pepper, chopped fine (Note: for very hot & spicy, leave seeds in. For less hot, remove seeds)
  • 2 potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1/2″ cubes
  • 1 large onion, peeled and chopped fine
  • 4 large cloves garlic, peeled and chopped fine
  • 2 large cloves garlic, peeled and pulverized
  • 2 green onions, trimmed and minced
  • 1 cube chicken bouillon, crushed
  • 1 tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped fine
  • 1 tsp. dried thyme leaves
  • 14 oz. canned whole tomatoes, rough chopped
  • 1/2 cup good quality, dry white wine (suggest Chardonnay or Chenin Blanc)
  • one dash of ghost hot pepper sauce (or to taste)
  • 1 ball of Bouquet Garnis blend (special Haitian seasoning, and a must have ingredient)
  • 6 fresh ripe limes
  • 1/4 cup vinegar
  • 1 tbsp. tomato paste
  • 1 to 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • vegetable oil, for frying
  • salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
  1. Squeeze the juice out of 3 of the limes, mix it with some fresh cold water, and clean the fish with the lime water inside and out.
  2. Now prepare a traditional Haitian marinade. In a large mixing bowl, combine the vinegar, the juice of the remaining 3 limes, the crushed bouillon, cilantro and pulverized garlic cloves.
  3. Add the snappers into the bowl, and mix and toss to coat them evenly with the marinade. Cover the bowl, and allow to marinate in the refrigerator (or at least a very cool place) for 1-1/2 to 2 hours. About half-way through the marinating time, mix and toss the fish in the mixture once more.
  4. Place the flour in a wide-bottomed large bowl, and dredge the snappers through the flout, turning and pressing to ensure even coating all over. Add more flour as needed until all the fish are coated.
  5. Sauté the snappers in a heavy-duty skillet with some vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Work in batches if necessary. Cook until the fish are a nice, rich golden brown. Set aside for now.
  6. In a large wide bottomed cooking pot or Dutch Oven, heat the scallion infused olive oil over medium flame. Add in the tomato paste, the marinade, the diced potatoes, and enough water (if needed) to just cover the potatoes and bring to a rolling boil.
  7. When a boil is achieved, adjust heat down to a lively simmer. Add in the Bouquet Garnis, the Scotch Bonnet pepper and the chopped tomatoes, and cook for about 20 minutes.
  8. Now add in the wine, stir well, then add in the fried fish. Cook at a simmer until the liquid has reduced to a thick sauce consistency, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot often, making sure nothing is sticking or burning.
  9. Serve your Red Snapper Creole Haitian style while still nice and hot. Place a snapper on each serving plate, and ladle a generous portion of the vegetable potato sauce over the fish.

Note: This recipe is just one of many, taken from our Caribbean Islands Cuisine pages!


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10 thoughts on “Red Snapper Creole Haitian Style

  1. Sounds so delicious. So ironic, however, when you look at fine cuisine like this from a country so ravaged and devastated the poor people are risking life and limb to flee the country and pray for passage into America.

    • I agree, Sam. It’s a shame Haiti has fallen so far into poverty and despair that the vast majority of Haitians probably haven’t had a meal like this in decades. When you prepare this dish, say a little prayer before eating for the people of Haiti.

  2. I just happen to have some red snapper in the freezer, and I love creole cooking, so thanks for this recipe, it sounds really good.

  3. I’ve got almost everything I need to prepare this (awesome looking, btw!) dish. Just need to get the snapper and that – “bouquet garnis blend”? – never heard of it or seen it around here, but thanks so much for the link to get some!

  4. This sounds really good. I already love red snapper, and the spicy way of cooking this dish rings my bell!

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