Another submission from Taverna Akumal. If you are up for a small culinary challenge with a great outcome, this one is for you!

Snapper Picchi Pacchi with Caponata

Ingredients:

• 6 oz. Red Snapper fillet, gulf or similar
• 3 oz. Sauce Picchi Pacchi*
• 4 oz. caponata**
• 1 Tbsp. olive 0il, extra virgin
• 1 sprig fresh basil
• 3 Tbsp. white wine

*Sauce Picchi Pacchi:

• 2 qt. marinara sauce
• 4 c. diced tomato
• 2 Tbsp. sliced garlic
• ½ c.  olive oil, extra virgin
• 2 tsp chile flakes
• 1 c. finely shredded fresh basil
• 1 c. white wine

**Caponata:

• 8 oz. eggplant
• 8 oz. zucchini
• 8 oz. yellow squash
• 8 oz. red bell pepper
• 8 oz. yellow bell pepper
• 8 oz. tomato
• 6 oz. onions
• 6 oz. carrots
• 6 oz. celery
• 2 Tbsp. finely shredded fresh basil
• ¼ c. olive oil, extra virgin
• 1 Tbsp.  minced garlic
• ½ c. white wine
• 2 Tsp. clover honey
• 1 Tsp.  red wine vinegar

Preparation:

Heat oil; add garlic and basil and fry until golden.
Deglaze with wine, add fresh tomato, cook for a few minutes.
Add marinara and chile flakes.
Adjust salt and pepper, cook for 5 minutes.

Dice all vegetables into ½” cubes.
Place oil, garlic, onion, carrots, celery in pan; let fry slowly until translucent and lightly colored, about 15 minutes.

Add all the vegetables; deglaze with wine.
Let liquid evaporate and stew until vegetables are done (15-20 min); season with salt & pepper.
Add basil, honey, and vinegar; stir well and cook until extra liquids are gone.

For the fish:
Heat oil in pan. Place fish skin down and sear for 2 min., until skin is crispy; turn fish, discard oil, deglaze with wine.
Add Picchi Pacchi sauce; cook until done.

Heat caponata in another pan.
Place caponata on one side of the plate and Picchi Pacchi sauce on other side and fish on top, skin up.
Garnish with basil and a swirl of olive oil. Serve.

Buon Appetito!

If you don’t feel like preparing this dish yourself, you know where you can go to get a little Italian in Akumal!

 

Have a restaurant in the greater Akumal area? We want your recipes. All we ask is good directions in English and a couple of photos. We won’t chase you down for a recipe, but will gladly consider posting anything good you send our way. You can submit it right on our site: http://akumalnow.com/idea-submission-form/