RECIPE: FISH IN PARCHMENT WITH CITRUS REDUCTION

For an episode of Food Network Star, I was asked to come up with a recipe for the Miami Herald when we were shooting in Miami during the final weeks. I wanted to offer a simple recipe for a party or for everyday and I wanted to use items readers could easily find. Both fish and citrus made sense for Miami but I’ve made this recipe many times since then and with many different flavors and ingredients. Use what is fresh and local for you. It is stunning in simplicity, presentation, and taste. 

FISH IN PARCHMENT WITH CITRUS REDUCTION 

Skill level: Easy      Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes based on size and density of fish

INGREDIENTS

6 fish filets/steaks, preferably grouper
4 lemons
2 limes 
3 teaspoons olive oil 
2 teaspoons salt, divided 
1/2 teaspoon pepper 
1 teaspoon sherry vinegar 
1 teaspoon honey
3 teaspoons chopped flat leaf parsley

Zest of 1 lemon

1 clove garlic, minced

 Special equipment: 6 parchment paper squares, large enough to fold into a package around the filets so no steam escapes.

DIRECTIONS

 Preheat oven to 425-degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Juice 2 lemons and 1 lime. Reserve. Slice 2 lemons and 1 lime into very thin slices. Set aside. 

Place a few lemon and lime slices in the center of each parchment square. Place a fish filet on top. (The citrus will elevate the fish from the paper and infuse some additional flavor to the fish.)

In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, salt, pepper and 1 teaspoon each lemon and lime, juices and drizzle over fish. Tightly fold the parchment paper into packages and make sure they are sealed well. Put packages on a baking sheet and bake for 8-12 minutes, depending on thickness and size of your fish.

Put remaining citrus juices in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce by ½, stirring frequently. Add 1 teaspoon of sherry vinegar, 1 teaspoon of salt and honey.

Mix the lemon zest, parsley, garlic together with a slight pinch of salt and pepper for the garnish.

Place each parchment packet on a plate with a rim. Carefully tear or cut open the parchment packets (be careful, steam will escape) and drizzle fish with a teaspoon of the citrus reduction and garnish with the parsley and lemon zest mixture.

 Yield:  6 servings

MARTIE PARTY TIP: BAR ESSENTAILS AND TIPS FOR SERVING DRINKS AT A PARTY

“Where’s the bar” is the first question arriving party guests will ask as you greet them at the door. The bar is the central gathering place for many parties—even if alcoholic beverages aren’t served. Every bar should be equipped with basic tools, mixers, and spirits; when tools are not handy, it is difficult to get drinks out quickly. Lines begin to form and guests stand empty handed—a big party foul. Here’s a guide for building your bar. The quantities you will need will depend on how many guests you are serving, of course. If you’re not offering a full bar but serving a signature cocktail or just beer and wine, you certainly won’t need this extensive set-up; pick and choose what suits your needs from the list below. 

Here are a few secrets I’ve figured out over the years….

• Put something under your ice bucket or iced down beverages so you don’t end up with a wet tablecloth.
• Get two back up bottle openers and put them away. Bottle openers not only break, but they seems to walk away at most parties, especially at outdoor parties and tailgates. If possible, tie the bottle opener or wine opener to your ice chiller or cooler using a pretty ribbon or twine. 
• I often put an inexpensive plastic backed painter’s dropcloth under my nice tablecloth for the bar just in case there’s a spill. Some dropcloths have a cloth surface so they look great for casual settings.
• For casual occasions, it is perfectly fine to use or rent one type of glass or stemware to be used for wine, iced tea and water.
• When serving a signature cocktail, I often mix the base a day in advance and freeze it. Remove it an hour before guests arrive so it can slightly thaw. Add chilled liquor just before serving and stir well.
• I get large multi-gallon plastic jugs from the restaurant supply store to pre-mix all of my beverages. Store these in the refrigerator, freezer or in a cooler to keep them cold and you won’t need as much ice.
• Estimate 4.5 glasses of wine per bottle and 4 glasses of Champagne per bottle.
• Estimate guests will drink approximately 1 drink per hour.
• Have plenty of water and sparkling water available; pass glasses of chilled water on a tray to make sure guests don’t overindulge.
• Make sure you are not cooling cans or bottles in the cooler with the ice for beverages. Have one cooler just for “clean” ice and provide a scoop and an ice bucket for service so guests won’t be tempted to scoop with their glass.

TOOLS

Ice Bucket

Tray

Ice Tongs

2 Bottle Openers

2 Wine Openers or Corkscrews

Blender

Juicer

2 Martini or Cocktail Shakers

2 Double Jiggers- the dual cone shaped measuring device

Shot Glass

Measuring Spoons

Muddler- essential for drinks like the Mojito

Cutting Board

2 Paring Knives

Zester

Stirrers or long cocktail spoons

Cocktail napkins

Assorted glassware

MIXERS

Club Soda

Tonic

Sour Mix

Water

Coke

Diet Coke

7-Up or Sprite

Ginger Ale

Orange Juice

Grapefruit Juice

Cranberry Juice

Pineapple Juice

Tomato Juice or Bloody Mary Mix

Horseradish

Tabasco

Worcestershire Sauce

Lime Juice

Lemon Juice

GARNISHES

Lemons

Limes

Oranges

Celery

Olives of all types, stuffed, etc

Maraschino cherries

Bitters

Fresh Mint

Salt

Pepper

Margarita Salt

SPIRITS

Vodka

Bourbon

Scotch

Rum

Gin

Tequila

Triple Sec

COCKTAIL RECIPE: COSMOPOLITANS

You can never go wrong with a classic cocktail and the Cosmopolitan is always a hit. Made popular again in the early part of the decade from frequent appearances on the popular show, Sex in the City, the Cosmo is one easy to make, easy to drink cocktail which easily doubles or triples for a party.

CLASSIC COSMOPOLITAN RECIPE

Makes 5 servings

5 ounces premium vodka
2.5 ounces Grand Marnier
2.5 ounces fresh lime juice
2.5 ounces cranberry juice

Shake vodka, Grand Marnier, lime and cranberry juice vigorously in a shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glasses garnished with a lime. Serves 5. Double or triple as necessary for a party.

For a crowd, simply make the cocktails in advance and pour into a pretty pitcher. Keep chilled until serving time.

GET MY PARTY PLAN FOR A GIRLS NIGHT IN PAJAMA PARTY!