Best 6 Banana Leaf Wrapped Snapper Recipes

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Embark on a culinary journey to the tropics with our tantalizing Banana Leaf-Wrapped Snapper recipe, a harmonious blend of delicate fish, aromatic herbs, and vibrant spices, all enveloped in the natural fragrance of banana leaves. This traditional dish, commonly found in Southeast Asian cuisine, promises an explosion of flavors that will transport your taste buds to paradise. Additionally, explore variations of this classic recipe, including a vegetarian-friendly tofu version, a zesty salmon rendition, and a delectable shrimp delight. Each recipe offers a unique twist while staying true to the essence of this beloved dish. Unleash your inner chef and savor the exotic allure of Banana Leaf-Wrapped Snapper.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

ASIAN STYLE SNAPPER/BREAM IN BANANA LEAVES



Asian Style Snapper/Bream in Banana Leaves image

You can make this with snapper or bream and it works equally as well, I have made with both, last night I made it with bream. Banana leaves a great way to cook fish especially if cooking the fish on the BBQ, I cooked it in the oven last night. I served this with Asian style vegetables and I cooked 2 fish,of about 750g a piece to serve 4 or if your fish are smaller you can cook 4 individual fillets. Cooking times are based on my oven temperature, not a BBQ and you will have to adjust if doing them on the BBQ, mine gets very hot and cooks about 5-10 Min's quicker on the BBQ, if cooking on the BBQ, cook with a covered BBQ, using indirect heat.

Provided by The Flying Chef

Categories     Vegetable

Time 1h

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 23

2 large banana leaves (big enough to completely enclose fish.)
2 whole bream (750g a piece.) or 2 red snapper (750g a piece.)
1 1/2-2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1/2 stalk lemongrass, sliced thinly
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
60 ml sweet chili sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 teaspoons fresh grated gingerroot
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 medium red pepper, sliced thinly
1 carrot, cut into sticks
150 g asian cabbage
80 g snow peas
80 g red cabbage
200 g bean sprouts
4 green onions, sliced thinly
2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce (optional)
2 teaspoons light soy sauce (optional)
2 teaspoons lime juice (optional)

Steps:

  • Using tongs dip each banana leaf one by one into boiling water, remove immediately, rinse under cold water, dry thoroughly, leaves should be soft and pliable.
  • Cut each fish 3 times, place each fish on a leaf, top each fish with lemon grass and garlic.
  • Combine garlic, juice, sauces and oil, drizzle a little sauce over each fish reserving about 3-4 tablespoons for the vegeatbles.
  • Fold leaves over fish and secure with kitchen string. Place parcels in a pre-heated oven of 180 degress celsius and cook for 25-30 min's or until cooked through.
  • Alternativley which I love banana leaves for, cook on the BBQ, covered, using indirect heat for about 20-25 Min's. (I find it takes me 30 Min's in my oven and about 20 Min's on the BBQ, but I do have an extremely hot BBQ, I do not know how 4 smaller fish fillets affects the time as I have only cooked 2 larger fish.).
  • The banana leaves will get quite crispy and may even burn in places, they will stay quite moist underneath as the juices run from fish and sauce. For presentation purposes I keep 2 banana leaves to use as the base to serve fish on after.
  • Vegetables.
  • Heat olive oil in a wok or large pan, add garlic and ginger and stir fry until fragrant.
  • Add pepper, carrot and sesame oil, stir fry 2-3 Minutes, add both cabbages, peas, sprouts and reserved sauce. Stir fry until vegetables are just tender serve immediately with fish.
  • Extra sauce.
  • Just an optional extra if you prefer to have a little more sauce to drizzle over fish once served.
  • Combine the 3 ingredients in a small microwave safe bowl and microwave 30-45 seconds to just warm through.
  • To Serve: I place a banana leaf on a serving platter top with whole fish, I pour remaining juice and sauce from the bananan leaf fish was cooked in over fish, and arrange the vegetables around the fish, garnish with sliced onions.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 119.6, Fat 6, SaturatedFat 0.9, Sodium 533.1, Carbohydrate 14.6, Fiber 4.3, Sugar 7.6, Protein 4.8

RED SNAPPER GRILLED IN BANANA LEAVES



Red Snapper Grilled in Banana Leaves image

Banana leaves are perfect for wrapping a whole fish and insulating all of the aromatic flavors of this dish during grilling. A quick green sauce loaded with herbs, ginger and fresh green chilies provides a cool and spicy kick for the meaty grilled fish.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     dessert

Time 1h

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

2 cups fresh cilantro
1 cup fresh mint
2 Thai bird chile peppers, stemmed and roughly chopped
1 1-inch piece fresh ginger, roughly chopped
1 scallion, roughly chopped
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
2 tablespoons sugar
Kosher salt
1/2 cup canned coconut milk
1/4 cup fresh lime juice (from 2 limes)
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons fish sauce
3 or 4 large banana leaves (at least 24 inches long), rinsed
Vegetable oil, for brushing
1 large whole red snapper (3 1/2 to 4 pounds), cleaned and scaled
Kosher salt
1 lime, sliced
1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced into coins
4 Thai bird chile peppers, halved lengthwise
4 sprigs cilantro
4 sprigs mint

Steps:

  • Make the sauce: Combine the cilantro, mint, chiles, ginger, scallion, coconut, sugar and 1 teaspoon salt in a blender and pulse to make a coarse paste. Add the coconut milk, lime juice, vegetable oil and fish sauce and blend to make a smooth, slightly thick sauce. Season with salt. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • Make the fish: Preheat a grill to medium high. Lay the banana leaves on a work surface, overlapping each about halfway, so the leaves are large enough to wrap around the fish, with the tail and head sticking out slightly. Lightly brush the banana leaves with vegetable oil. Cut three 24-inch pieces of kitchen twine and run under water to moisten (this will prevent the twine from burning on the grill).
  • Make 2 or 3 slits crosswise on each side of the fish, cutting about 1/2 inch into the flesh. Season the fish inside and out with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt total. Stuff the lime and ginger slices, chiles, and cilantro and mint sprigs into the cavity of the fish. Set the fish at one short end of the banana leaves and roll it up, leaving the head and tail sticking out, then tie together in 3 places with the kitchen twine.
  • Once the grill registers 425˚ F to 450˚ F, grill the fish until the banana leaves are charred, about 12 minutes. Flip and grill until the fish is cooked through, 12 to 14 more minutes. (Because the fish is wrapped, it is difficult to test for doneness. The juices will run clear from the head and gills when poked.) Let the fish rest 5 minutes, then untie and remove the banana leaves. Lift the flesh from the bones and serve with the cilantro-mint sauce.

GRILLED SNAPPER IN BANANA LEAF: PEPES IKAN KAKAP



Grilled Snapper in Banana Leaf: Pepes Ikan Kakap image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 50m

Yield 2 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

2 pounds snapper filets
Salt and pepper
1 Bali lemon, or two regular limes
Betutu spice, recipe follows
Banana leaves, or tin foil
3 salam leaves, or substitute bay leaves
2 sliced green tomatoes
2 kaffir lime leaves
1/4 sweet basil leaves
1/2 cup peeled shallots
1/4 cup peeled garlic
2 tablespoons fresh turmeric
2 tablespoons fresh peeled ginger
2 tablespoons galangal
3 pieces lemongrass
2 tablespoons fresh hot chili peppers seeded and cleaned
2 tablespoons palm sugar chopped
4 tablespoons shrimp paste
1/4 cup coconut oil, for frying

Steps:

  • Tamarind water, to soften, or substitute with the juice of 2 lemons
  • In a bowl season the fish with salt, pepper, lime juice, and betutu paste.
  • On a sheet tray, lay down the banana leaf. Place a salam leaf on the banana leaf. Place the fish on the middle of the banana leaf over the salam leaf. Place sliced green tomatoes, lime leaf, sweet basil, and tamarind water on the fish. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Wrap the fish folding both ends together and secure with a bamboo skewer. Grill until cooked, approximately 4 to 5 minutes per side depending on the thickness of the fillets.
  • Grind shallots, garlic, tumeric, ginger, galangal, lemongrass, chili peppers, palm sugar, and shrimp paste in a food processor. Saute paste with coconut oil.

BANANA LEAF-WRAPPED CHILEAN SEABASS WITH PICKLED RED ONIONS



Banana Leaf-Wrapped Chilean Seabass with Pickled Red Onions image

Provided by Guy Fieri

Categories     main-dish

Time 2h20m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 27

1 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup fine sugar
6 to 8 black peppercorns
Kosher salt
1 small beet, peeled and sliced
1 red onion, halved and thinly sliced into half-moons
2 oranges, zested and juiced
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons ground achiote
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Four 6-ounce center-cut Chilean seabass filets
8 large banana leaves, thawed if frozen or soaked in water, cut into large, wide strips
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions
Cilantro, for serving
Spicy Grilled Corn Salsa, recipe follows
4 ears corn, husks removed
2 poblano peppers, seeded and stemmed
4 fresno chiles, seeded and stemmed
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for brushing
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup finely diced red onion
1/4 cup thin, bias-sliced scallions
1 lime, zested and juiced
1 lime, zested and juiced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon agave

Steps:

  • For the pickled red onions: In a medium saucepan over high heat, add the vinegar, sugar, peppercorns and 2 tablespoons salt. Mix well and add the beets and onions. Once it comes to a boil, stir to dissolve the sugar and salt then remove from the heat. Allow to cool then cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
  • For the grouper: In a small bowl, add the orange zest, juice, olive oil, ground achiote and cumin. Mix well to combine, then pour the marinade into a large resealable plastic bag. Add the grouper filets and seal the bag tightly, squeezing out any excess air from the bag. Gently mix around so the marinade coats the fish well. Refrigerate for 45 minutes.
  • Clean the grill grates and preheat a grill to medium-high heat.
  • Arrange 2 banana leaves to form a cross. Remove one piece of grouper from the marinade and place in the center of the leaves. Season with 4 to 5 turns freshly ground black pepper and 1 teaspoon salt. Wrap the fish up tightly in the banana leaves by folding over one flap at a time, alternating each side so they overlap. Secure the last folds of the leaves together with toothpicks to hold in place. Place the banana leaf-wrapped grouper on the grill, and cook until the leaves turn bright green and begin to char around the edges, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and set aside.
  • To serve, cut open the banana leaves to expose the fish, add a large spoonful of Spicy Grilled Corn Salsa and garnish with the pickled red onions, chopped scallions and cilantro.
  • Preheat a grill to medium-high heat.
  • Place the corn on the grill and cook until well charred all over, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Drizzle the poblanos and fresnos with olive oil and season with 5 to 6 turns freshly ground black pepper and 1 teaspoon salt. Place the chilies on the grill and cook until lightly charred on all sides, 3 to 4 minutes. Place the chiles into a bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to steam for 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Hold a corn cob upright in a large mixing bowl. Using a chef's knife, cut off the kernels and let them fall into the bowl. Repeat with the remaining corn. Set aside the kernels. Discard the cobs.
  • Remove the skins from the chiles. Mince the fresnos, dice the poblanos and add them to the bowl with the corn kernels. Add the red onions, scallions, lime zest, juice, garlic, agave and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Stir to combine and season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

RED SNAPPER MARINATED WITH THREE KINDS OF CHILIES IN BANANA LEAVES



Red Snapper Marinated with Three Kinds of Chilies in Banana Leaves image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 35m

Yield 2 servings

Number Of Ingredients 23

5 guajillo chilies
5 pasilla chilies
5 ancho chilies
1 onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, chopped
6 tomatoes, stemmed and roughly chopped
5 large epazote leaves
4 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 medium sized fresh snapper fillet
2 plantain banana leaves
Salt and pepper
White Rice and Vegetables, recipe follows
3 ounces corn oil
4 teaspoons chopped onions
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cups white rice
1 cup corn kernels cut off cob
1 chayote squash, cut into large dice
1 carrot, cut into large dice
1 quart chicken stock
Salt and pepper

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 475 degrees F.
  • Combine chilies, onion, garlic, tomato, epazote, bay leaves, cumin, and apple cider vinegar. Boil for 15 minutes.
  • Remove the bay leaves and epazote. Blend in blender until smooth. Pour over fish, cover with banana leaf and bake for 15 minutes. Serve with White Rice and Vegetables.
  • In a saucepot, heat oil. Add the onion and garlic. Once onion is caramelized, add rice and toast until aromatic. Add chicken stock, vegetables, salt, and pepper. Cover and simmer until cooked, about 20 minutes.

BANANA-LEAF-WRAPPED SNAPPER



Banana-Leaf-Wrapped Snapper image

This delicious snapper recipe is courtesy of chef Michelle Bernstein.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Seafood Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 15

3 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons tamarind pulp
2 tablespoons nuoc nam (fish sauce)
2 medium cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
3 shallots, peeled and chopped
1 Thai chile, or half a jalapeno chile
1 tablespoon ground turmeric
1 tablespoon shrimp paste
1 stalk lemongrass, white part only, chopped
1 tablespoon sugar
1 piece (2 inches) fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 banana leaves
4 snapper fillets (7 ounces each)
1 lime, quartered

Steps:

  • Preheat a grill pan over medium heat.
  • Place oil, tamarind pulp, nuoc nam, garlic, shallots, chile, turmeric, shrimp paste, lemongrass, sugar, ginger, and salt in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until a smooth paste is formed.
  • Place banana leaves on the grill for about 2 seconds to make them more pliable. Using tongs, transfer them to a work surface. Trim tops and bottoms of each leave and place a fish fillet in the center of each leaf. Evenly divide the oil mixture between each fillet and spread over fish in an even layer.
  • Working with one fish at a time, fold one side of the leaf over the fish, then the other, then fold in ends. Repeat process until all fillets are wrapped. Wrap banana-leaf-wrapped fish in aluminum foil.
  • Place foil-wrapped fish on grill and grill, turning once, until a metal skewer or sharp, thin-bladed knife inserted into the center of the fish comes out hot, 5 to 6 minutes per side.
  • Carefully unwrap fish from foil and place each banana-leaf-wrapped fillet on a plate; serve immediately with lime wedges.

Tips:

  • Choose firm and fresh fish fillets for best results.
  • Marinate the fish in a mixture of herbs, spices, and citrus juice to enhance its flavor.
  • Soak the banana leaves in warm water for at least 30 minutes to soften them and make them pliable.
  • Wrap the fish tightly in the banana leaves to prevent the marinade from leaking out during cooking.
  • Cook the fish over medium heat to prevent it from overcooking and drying out.
  • Garnish the cooked fish with fresh herbs, lime wedges, and chili peppers for a vibrant and flavorful presentation.

Conclusion:

Banana leaf-wrapped snapper is a delicious and healthy dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is a great way to enjoy the delicate flavor of snapper while also infusing it with the unique aromas and flavors of banana leaves. This recipe is easy to follow and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. So next time you are looking for a new and exciting way to cook fish, give banana leaf-wrapped snapper a try!

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