Ingredients

  • 10 ounces chicken stock
  • 1 red onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 3 red bell peppers
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 cups uncooked grits
  • 6 ounces raw chopped shrimp
  • 4 tablespoons butter (1/2 stick)
  • 4 tablespoons sliced scallions (5 to 6 scallions)
  • 2 tablespoons diced tomatoes (about 1 plum tomato)
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • 4 tablespoons cooked bacon, chopped (about 4 slices)
  • 4 ounces shredded Cheddar
  • 6 (6-ounce) red snapper fillets, scaled but with skin on
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons Cajun spice
  • 1/8 cup grapeseed oil
  • 6 large shrimp peeled and deveined
  • Sliced scallions, for garnish

Method

  • To begin red pepper coulis, preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
  • On the stovetop, bring the chicken stock, onion, garlic and wine to a simmer in a saucepan.
  • Place the peppers in a roasting pan and roast in the oven, checking every 15 minutes, and turning them with tongs until the skin is fully wrinkled and charred black.
  • When the peppers are done, use tongs to put them in a resealable bag which (for safety reasons) you have resting on a plate - (remember, they're volcanically hot!).
  • Carefully close the bag shut, and allow them to sweat for 5 minutes.
  • Use oven mitts to prevent getting burned while you handle the bag in the next step of sliding the peppers from the bag into a bowl filled with a couple of inches of ice water.
  • You can then use your fingers to work quickly to slip off and discard the skins of the peppers while they are in the water.
  • You will be left with beautifully cooked red peppers with a wonderful color.
  • Chop the peppers and add them to the simmering chicken stock mixture, and continue simmering until reduced by half, about 20 minutes.
  • Create a slurry of cornstarch in a small amount of water and add to the red pepper sauce.
  • Process coulis in a blender until a smooth consistency is achieved.
  • Then season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  • For the grits:
  • Bring the water for the grits to a boil.
  • Add grits and chopped shrimp, reduce heat and cook until grits are soft, about 20 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and stir in scallions, tomatoes, cilantro, bacon and cheese, and keep covered in a warm place.
  • For the fish:
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Coat both sides of red snapper with salt and pepper and Cajun spice.
  • Then on the stovetop, heat some grapeseed oil in a large non-stick saute pan, and when it begins to shimmer, saute the shrimp only until they turn pink, and then remove shrimp to a utility platter.
  • In the same pan, sear each side of the fish.
  • (When you place the fillet into the pan, leave it undisturbed for a couple of minutes to allow the seasoning to cook into the surface of the fish.)
  • Cook until golden brown, then finish in the oven for a further 2 to 3 minutes and remove it to rest for 5 to 8 minutes.
  • (Please take care to avoid overcooking the fish, as it will continue to cook even after you remove it from the oven.)
  • Place some of the grits in the middle of serving plate, then position a fish fillet on top, and drizzle the coulis around the fish.
  • Top with a shrimp.
  • Garnish liberally with the scallions.