Embark on a culinary journey to the heart of Mexican cuisine with our delectable fish fillets in mole verde. This traditional dish, originating from the state of Oaxaca, tantalizes taste buds with its vibrant green sauce, a harmonious blend of fresh herbs, roasted tomatillos, and aromatic spices. Savor the tender fish fillets, enveloped in the rich, flavorful mole, accompanied by a medley of vegetables and warm tortillas. Indulge in the perfect balance of flavors and textures, as the acidity of the tomatillos complements the earthy notes of the herbs and the subtle heat from the spices. This recipe is a testament to the culinary artistry of Mexico, a symphony of flavors that will leave you craving for more.
In addition to the classic fish fillets in mole verde, this comprehensive article presents a diverse collection of recipes that explore the versatility of this enchanting sauce. From enchiladas and tamales to enfrijoladas and tacos, each recipe unveils a unique expression of mole verde's magic. Discover how this versatile sauce can transform simple ingredients into extraordinary dishes, adding depth and complexity to every bite.
Embark on this culinary adventure and immerse yourself in the vibrant flavors and rich traditions of Mexican cuisine. Let mole verde captivate your palate and transport you to the heart of Oaxaca, where culinary artistry meets culinary passion.
FISH FILLETS IN MOLE VERDE
Provided by Roberto Santibañez
Categories Food Processor Fish Garlic Herb Mushroom Pepper Bake Dinner Bon Appétit Sugar Conscious Pescatarian Paleo Dairy Free Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Kosher
Yield Makes 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Position 1 rack in center and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 375°F. Finely chop tomatillos in processor. Add cilantro and blend until coarsely chopped. Add 1/2 cup water and next 12 ingredients; blend tomatillo sauce until smooth.
- Place 2 shallow ovenproof bowls on each of 2 large rimmed baking sheets. Divide half of mushrooms among bowls; sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Drizzle 11/2 teaspoons oil, then 2 tablespoons tomatillo sauce over each. Top each with 1 fish fillet; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with remaining mushrooms and tomatillo sauce. Drizzle 1/2 teaspoon oil over each. Cover baking sheets with foil, sealing sheets at edges. Bake until fish is just opaque in center, about 25 minutes.
HERB-ROASTED SEA BASS WITH SALSA VERDE
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Lightly brush baking sheet with olive oil. Place fish fillets on baking sheet. Brush fish with olive oil; drizzle with lemon juice. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper, then herbs.
- Bake fish until just opaque in center, about 10 minutes. Transfer fish to plates. Spoon some Salsa Verde over fish. Pass remaining Salsa Verde separately.
FISH IN FOIL WITH SWEET ONIONS, TOMATOES, AND MOJO VERDE
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- In a large sauté pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and the butter over medium-high heat. When the butter foams, add the onions, stirring to coat, and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 8 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden. Let cool.
- Stack two pieces of aluminum foil that are large enough to wrap the fish in on top of one another. Fold up the sides of the foil so that it resembles a little boat. Pour the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil into the boat and spread it over the bottom. Lay the potatoes in the boat in one layer, and season with salt and pepper.
- With a sharp knife, make slashes in one side of the fish about 1 1/2 inches apart, going almost to the bone, and season with salt and pepper. Repeat on the other side of the fish. Lay it on top of the potatoes. Spoon the mojo verde on top of the fish. Lay the tomatoes on top of it and spoon the rest of the mojo on them. Spoon on the caramelized onions. Pour the wine around the fish.
- Fold the foil over to enclose the fish, crimping the edges to seal and set on a baking sheet.
- Roast the fish for about 1 hour, or until cooked through (carefully open the foil to check: the fish should flake easily when tested with a fork); cooking times can vary significantly depending on the thickness and type of fish. (The baked fish can be kept warm, and still retain its moisture, for up to 30 minutes if kept wrapped.)
- Serve with lemon wedges and, if you like, extra mojo verde on the side.
- Recommended wine: A wine with soft acidity and sweetness, such as a Vouvray or an American Pinot Blanc.
MOLE VERDE
Among the seven most well-known mole varieties, tomatillo-based mole verde is one of the easiest to prepare because of its use of fresh chiles and herbs rather than dried chiles and spices. Romaine, cilantro and epazote get blended into the mole of seared chiles, garlic, onion and toasted nuts and seeds to make an earthy sauce. Fresh epazote and hoja santa add depth of flavor, with unique notes of pungency and anise, but they can be tough to find, so dried options can be used. This mole can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months, ready for weeknights when all you want to do is warm up some tortillas and mushrooms for a perfect taco, or you could serve it over Mexican rice with roasted cauliflower.
Provided by Jocelyn Ramirez
Categories sauces and gravies
Time 1h
Yield 8 cups (8 to 10 servings)
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Add the tomatillos, poblano, onion, serrano chiles and garlic to a large preheated comal or cast-iron skillet set over medium heat. Cook everything until lightly charred and soft on all sides, about 20 minutes. The poblano should take the longest to cook, while the garlic cloves will be done in about 5 to 8 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat a dry small to medium skillet over medium. Once warmed, toast the sesame seeds, stirring constantly, until golden and fragrant, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the toasted seeds to a large bowl and set aside.
- Toast the pepitas in the same skillet, stirring constantly, until golden, popped and fragrant, 4 to 5 minutes. Add them to the bowl with sesame seeds.
- Toast the almonds in the same skillet, stirring constantly, until lightly seared and fragrant, 4 to 5 minutes. Add them to the bowl with the seeds.
- Toast the bay leaves and cloves until the leaves lightly brown and the cloves become fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add to the same bowl with the seeds.
- Stem and seed the charred chiles, and add them along with the remaining charred ingredients and the toasted ingredients to a blender. Add the romaine, cilantro, epazote, hoja santa (if using) and 2 ½ cups vegetable stock. Blend until almost smooth yet slightly lumpy and textured. Use more of the vegetable stock as needed to smooth out the mixture. If you don't have a high-powered blender, you may need to blend in two batches, adding equal amounts of the wet and dry ingredients to each batch.
- Heat a large, deep pot over medium-low. Once warmed, add the oil. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, carefully add the mole from the blender. There will be some splatter. Stir in the salt and simmer the mole for 15 to 20 minutes, until the flavors meld together, stirring occasionally to make sure the mole doesn't burn at the bottom of the pot.
- Serve with seared mushrooms, tofu steaks or roasted cauliflower, paired with Mexican rice. Extra mole can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a week or frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
OVEN-STEAMED COD OR MAHI MAHI IN GREEN TOMATILLO SALSA
I love tomatillo sauce with a range of fish, from salmon to shellfish to the lighter fish I am focused on this week. I used cod for my recipe tests.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Time 1h15m
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Place the tomatillos in a saucepan, fill with water and bring to a simmer. Simmer 10 minutes. Drain and place in a blender. Add the chiles, chopped onion, garlic, salt and cilantro. Blend until smooth.
- Heat the oil in a large, heavy saucepan or skillet over medium-high heat. Drizzle in a drop of the tomatillo purée to test the heat. If it sizzles and sputters immediately, the oil is hot enough. Add the tomatillo purée, and stir constantly until it thickens and begins to stick to the pan, about 5 minutes. When you run your spoon down the middle of the pan it should leave a canal. Stir in the stock, bring to a simmer, and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often, until it has reduced by about a quarter and coats the front and the back of a spoon like cream. Keep warm.
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a sheet pan with foil and oil the foil. Season the fish fillets with salt and pepper and lay on the foil. Place a pan of just boiled water on the floor of your oven and place the baking sheet with the fish in the oven on the middle rack. Bake 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets, until the fish is opaque on the surface and you can pull it apart with a fork. Remove from the heat, transfer to plates or a platter, and spoon on the sauce. Garnish with cilantro and lemon or lime wedges, and serve. You will have some sauce left over.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 242, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 11 grams, Fat 6 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 34 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 849 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams
SALMON IN LUXURIOUS GREEN SESAME PIPIAN (SALMON EN PIPIAN VERDE
In Mexico, pipian is a simple mole that emphasizes the nuts or seeds that are blended in to thicken the sauce. Where mole is an exuberant symphony orchestra, pipian is a lively string quartet. The seed that has traditionally thickened a sauce like this is Mexico's pumpkin seed.
Provided by Witch Doctor
Categories Mexican
Time 1h5m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a blender or food processor, process the salsa to a smooth puree.
- Heat the oil in a very large (12 inch) skillet over medium high heat. When it is hot, add the salsa all at once. Stir as the salsa reduces to the consistency of tomato paste, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the broth and the tahini. Return to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and let simmer 10 minutes. Taste and season with salt, usually about ½ tsp, and a little sugar. (The sugar will help balance the natural tartness of the salsa.).
- While the sauce is simmering, pour the peas into a microwaveable bowl, sprinkle on a Tbsp of water, cover with plastic wrap and poke a couple of holes in the top. Microwave on high until the peas are hot and tender, anywhere from 1 minute for frozen peas to 4 or 5 minutes for fresh peas; discard water.
- When the sauce has simmered for 10 minutes, nestle the fish fillets in it, completely submerging them. Continue simmering gently until the fish flakes when pressed firmly, usually 5 to 6 minutes for ½ inch thick fillets. (Check it by lifting up a fillet on a metal spatula and pressing it with your finger or the back of a spoon.).
- Transfer a fish fillet to each dinner plate. Spoon a portion of the sauce over the top. Strew with the peas, sesame seeds and cilantro.
- Variations:.
- You can replace the peas with a couple of medium-large red-skin boiling potatoes cut into eighths (microwave them until tender, about 8 minutes). Mix the potatoes into the sauce after transferring the fillets to the dinner plates. A can of white beans makes a great replacement for the peas; drain and rinse them before adding them to the sauce. This dish is also wonderful made with boneless, skinless chicken breasts or semi-boneless quail; poach the birds in the sauce as described or, for added flavor, brown them in oil in the large skillet, then remove them and, without washing the skillet, cook down the pureed salsa. Tahini is an easy addition because it's smoothly ground, but you can use the very traditional pumpkin seeds or almonds or peanuts; puree them with the salsa, but stir carefully as you cook the mixture down to a paste (it will stick more easily than the salsa alone) After the sauce has simmered 10 minutes, it will likely be quite coarse looking; reblend the hot sauce in a loosely covered blender to smooth it out.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 323.9, Fat 14.3, SaturatedFat 1.9, Cholesterol 62.3, Sodium 1009.4, Carbohydrate 15.9, Fiber 4.6, Sugar 5.2, Protein 32.8
Tips:
- Use fresh fish. This will give your dish the best flavor and texture.
- Choose a firm-fleshed fish. This will hold up well in the mole verde sauce.
- Season the fish fillets with salt and pepper before cooking. This will help to enhance their flavor.
- Cook the fish fillets until they are opaque and flake easily with a fork. Do not overcook them, or they will become tough.
- Prepare the mole verde sauce while the fish is cooking. This will save you time and ensure that both the fish and the sauce are hot when you serve them.
- Serve the fish fillets with the mole verde sauce and your favorite sides. Rice, beans, and tortillas are all great options.
Conclusion:
Fish fillets in mole verde is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The mole verde sauce is flavorful and complex, and it pairs perfectly with the delicate flavor of the fish. This dish is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
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