Cumin

Pescado Akumal

by:
July 25, 2011
4
3 Ratings
  • Serves 2
Author Notes

There is a place in Akumal, Mexico called Lol Ha - it has great food and a bar under a giant palapa overlooking the bay, friendly people, a pizzeria (yep, and it's GOOD!) a great dive shop right there ... all needs met. The first thing I order when we get there is their chipotle fish dish. Wait, that's a lie. The first thing I order is a gold margarita on the rocks. Then the fish. It's delicious - mild heat in a rich sauce, griddled fish ... their menu just says "fish" - I am using grouper here but any firm white fish will work. - aargersi —aargersi

Test Kitchen Notes

The peppers in this sauce come through with flying colors. And, there are plenty of them, so if one doesn't zip to the front then another will. The crispness left in the cubanelle is a pleasant contrast to the poblano and chipotle. The grouper has a nice texture and stands up to the sauce, but if you had a piece of chicken in the fridge instead of the fish it would also work its magic. If you're not a big fan of spice, I recommend reducing the chipotle from 2 tablespoons to 1 1/2 or so. - thehappycook —Victoria Ross

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Ingredients
  • 1 cup diced yellow onion
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 2 cups diced tomato
  • 1 poblano pepper - roasted (stovetop or grill method) peeled seeded and diced
  • 2 tablespoons canned chipotle in adobo (or more to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1 cubanelle or 2 sweet wax peppers
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1 large grouper filet - remove the skin and pull the pin bones
  • olive oil, salt and lime for the fish
Directions
  1. Heat the olive oil to medium in a large heavy skillet. Add the onions, salt and cumin and cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until the cumin is toasted and the onions just start to caramelize.
  2. Add in the tomatoes and the chipotle and continue to cook fairly slowly so that all of the ingredients are sort of melting and caramelizing together. After a few minutes, add in the garlic and the poblano. You are at a heat crossroads - taste, and if you want it hotter add more chipotle (dice up some of the pepper itself for a real kick) then after a couple more minutes add the stock. Let the mixture simmer until much of the stock has reduced down - you want a thick and slightly chunky sauce, more for scooping rather than pouring over the fish.
  3. Salt both sides of the fish and heat a griddle or skillet. Add the sweet peppers and lime to your sauce - they should be cooked but still have a bit of body. Oil the fish pan and sear the fish on both sides. Place half on each plate, squeeze a bit of lime over, then spoon the chipotle sauce on top. Add some sliced avocado and you are good to go!
  4. Note this would also be good over grilled chicken or pork ....

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Recipe by: aargersi

Country living, garden to table cooking, recent beek, rescue all of the dogs, #adoptdontshop

8 Reviews

beejay45 June 13, 2013
Except for the heat, this is very like one of my favorite dishes, Red Snapper Veracruz. I think I like the idea of the heat! When I make this I usually make a double batch of the sauce and have the leftovers with pasta or spooned over a chicken enchilada or some pork, or, or...in short this sauce is great on so many things. Thanks for finding this spicy version.
wssmom July 31, 2011
How did I miss this first time around! I LOVE the kind of restaurants that just have "fish" or "chicken" on the blackboard!
BlueKaleRoad July 26, 2011
I just went on vacation reading this...love your tags! :)
aargersi July 27, 2011
check out the webcam below - and vacation again :-)
arielleclementine July 25, 2011
very cool recipe! imma try to make it soon!
nannydeb July 25, 2011
Inviting myself right now! This sounds delicious!
aargersi July 25, 2011
You would love it Sage! To the right of the palapa, near the dive shop:

http://www.locogringo.com/upload/akumal-beach-cam.html
Sagegreen July 25, 2011
Ginger's Kitchen should take a field trip to Lol Ha, too! Great recipe.