Asian themed Grilled Fish

1 whole fresh fish ( I used Branzino. In the US you can find this in WholeFoods or any fresh fish market. Make sure the fish is as fresh as you can get. Never use frozen fish)

1 big lunch of lemon grass crush lightly and/or cilantro

2-5 crush garlic and/ginger 

1 big lemon sliced 

Salt to taste

2 tsp masala paste ( Thai red curry paste )

2 Tbsp olive oil

Method:

Scale & Wash the fish thoroughly ( I use turmeric in the water to get Smells off). Put big slashes on the skin to get the masala in. First rub salt inside the belly and outside on the skin. Rub the masala paste through the slashes and in the belly. Stuff belly with garlic-ginger, cilantro and/or lemon grass. Put lemon slices in the slashes. Drizzle olive oil generously. MarinAte in fridge for 30 min to an hour. Grill in oven or BBQ. Ready when flesh is white and opaque. Do not overcook. Serve with rice or roast potatoes. 

Moqueca, Brazilian seafood stew

 Sunita Shenoy's new favorite recipe adapted from NYT cooking https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018000-moqueca-brazilian-fish-stew

That is the the original recipe which has many variations. My version: I fry sliced garlic, white onions till translucent, then add slices red peppers followed by chopped root vegetables ( carrots, turnips or radishes, yam or sweet potato, sun chokes and/or celery roots). Add spices ( coriander cumin powder, big punch saffron, chili powder) fry for a 2-3 min, then add chopped tomatoes, herbs ( fresh cilantro including stems, fresh sage, dried oregano, bay leaf). Fry a bit then add one big can of coconut milk. Boil together till everything is cooked and infused. I add a cup of red wine and half a lemon ( both optional). Now add a mix of seafood and boil together. I use a big handful of each: shrimp, white fish such a halibut or cod fish, mussels. All my measurements are are “andaza” (approximation). You cannot go wrong with this simple stew even if your proportions of ingredients vary.