Easter at home with Peppatree

Everyone loves a trip to the beach to catch the fresh air and, of course, the fresh fish. However, this Easter, with many of us finding ourselves inside, we will have to recreate those signature seaside dishes at home. No fish recipe is more Jamaican than a spicy roasted snapper. This week, Peppatree’s Nathan Haddad invited us into his backyard to show us that flavour is in our roots, and why “preparing fish for any occasion should not be as hard as catching them at sea”.

“I love fish – whole snappers done a variety of ways, escoveitched kingfish steaks, fried lionfish – all types. Lionfish is particularly good, especially for us to eat them, as it is a predator in our environment. On the other side, I know consciously eating fish is good for your health, and this is one season that Jamaicans consume fish,” Haddad told Food.

The company CEO explained that as people prepare to lock down, whether alone or with their families, it is important to plan activities to do in the home. “Since we are inside more than usual, whereas we would find time to go out to our regular destinations, there are ways we can travel inside our own homes by creating different experiences so that our imaginations can take us to those places as we look forward to re-engaging in the future – and cooking is one way,” he said. “There is strength in togetherness, and it could just be a couple or a parent and child but as the saying goes, ‘give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, but if you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime’, same as teaching a man to cook. And there are countless ways fish can be prepared while sticking to some of our traditional flavours.”

The steps involved in cooking fish are simple, and it does not take much effort to prepare a satisfying meal. “When preparing fish, it is always predominantly about keeping the taste of the fish as part of the profile. Also, food should transport you to different places and spaces, as well as memories through the blend of seasonings and aromas, and our line of products make it easier,” Haddad said, as he pulled together a few seasonings for the main course and sides, and a bonus, all of which were done on an outdoor grill over coals, making them all the more wholesome and strongly flavoured.

See if you can catch on by trying out these recipes from Peppatree.

Peppatree Red Peppa Roast Fish

INGREDIENTS

• Peppatree Red Peppa Sauce

• Peppatree All Tings Spice

• 1 whole snapper

• 1 carrot

• A small bunch of chives

• 1/2 lemon or 1 large lime

DIRECTIONS

1. Score the fish twice along the sides.

2. Sprinkle Peppatree All Tings Spice generously, making sure to massage the seasoning into the scores.

3. Let the fish marinate for 10 minutes.

4. Rub the fish all over with Peppatree Red Peppa Sauce, making sure to massage the seasoning into the scores.

5. Cut carrots into thin slices, chop chives and stuff the fish.

6. Wrap the fish in either quailed banana leaves or buttered foil.

7. Place the fish over a hot grill (or place the fish in an oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit to bake). Remove the fish after approximately 30 minutes, depending on the size of the fish.

Peppatree Red Hot Jerk Roast Fish

INGREDIENTS

• Peppatree Red Hot Jerk seasoning

• Peppatree All Tings Spice

• 1 whole snapper

• 1 brown onion

• 1/4 plantain

• Sprigs of thyme

• 1/2 lemon or 1 large lime

DIRECTIONS

1. Score the fish twice along the sides.

2. Sprinkle Peppatree All Tings Spice generously, making sure to massage the seasoning into the scores.

3. Let the fish marinate for 10 minutes.

4. Rub the fish all over with Peppatree Red Hot Jerk seasoning, making sure to massage the seasoning into the scores.

5. Slice brown onion and plantain into thin slices, adding a few sprigs of thyme to stuff fish.

6. Wrap fish in either quailed banana leaves or buttered foil.

7. Place fish over a hot grill (or place fish into the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit to bake) for approximately 30 minutes.

8. Lemons may be sliced in half and placed over a hot grill to be squeezed over both snapper dishes before serving.

Peppatree Roasted Grapefruit Salmon with Scotchie Mayo

INGREDIENTS

• 2tbsp Peppatree All Tings Spice

• 2tbsp Peppatree Scotch Bonnet Peppa Sauce

• 2 salmon fillets

• 3tbsp olive oil

• 1 grapefruit

• 1 small bunch of fennel, chopped

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise

DIRECTIONS

For salmon:

1. Combine Peppatree All Tings Spice and the chopped fennel.

2. Coat the salmon fillets evenly in olive oil, including the sides.

3. Then, coat the salmon with the seasoning mix.

4. Set the seasoned fish aside and let marinate for 30 minutes (minimum).

5. Cut the grapefruit evenly into four large wedges.

6. Place grapefruit over a hot grill or in a pan and cook until charred. Set aside to cool down.

7. Place seasoned salmon down over a hot grill, skin side down, or place directly into an oiled pan to fry or oven to bake.

8. Cook salmon for six to eight minutes.

9. Squeeze grilled grapefruit over the salmon halfway through cooking time (one wedge per fillet).

10. Flip salmon and brown for two minutes.

11. Remove salmon from the grill and allow it to rest a few minutes before removing the skin.

For sauce:

1. Combine Peppatree Scotch Bonnet Peppa Sauce with mayonnaise at a one to four ratio.

2. Mix ingredients properly.

3. Add a spoonful of the Peppatree Scotch Bonnet Mayo sauce atop the salmon just before serving.

Peppatree Zesty Herb Potato Wedges

INGREDIENTS

• 2tbsp Peppatree Fiery Jerk Spice

• 3 large potatoes

• 3tbsp olive oil

• Small bunch of chopped parsley

• A few sprigs of chopped thyme

DIRECTIONS

1. Wash potatoes and cut into thirds lengthwise.

2. Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil and add potatoes.

3. While potatoes are cooking, in another bowl, combine the Peppatree Fiery Jerk Spice and olive oil.

4. Cook potatoes just until a fork can pierce through them.

5. Remove potatoes from the boiling water and place them in a large bowl.

6. While the potatoes are still hot, coat the potatoes evenly on either side with the Peppatree Fiery Jerk Spice, olive oil, parsley, and thyme.

7. Set aside and let cool down to room temperature. (Don’t skip this step!)

8. Place cooled potatoes down on to a hot grill or directly into an oiled pan to fry or oven to bake.

9. Remove potatoes once a nice char is achieved on both sides.

Peppatree Grilled Garlic Vegetables

INGREDIENTS

• 1tbsp Peppatree All Tings Spice

• 1 large handful of snow peas

• 1 large carrot

• 2 cloves garlic chopped fine

• 2tbsp olive oil

DIRECTIONS

1. Cut the tips of the snow peas off.

2. Cut the carrot in half, lengthwise and then cut again lengthwise into strips.

3. Wash the carrots and snow peas.

4. Combine the Peppatree All Tings Spice, snow peas, carrots, garlic, and olive oil in a bowl and toss.

5. Place seasoned vegetables down on to a hot grill (or place directly into an oiled pan to fry or an oven to bake).

6. Remove vegetables once a slight char is achieved on both sides.

stephanie.lyew@gleanerjm.com