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Pescado en hoja santa
Fish wrapped in hoja santa
Pescado en hoja santa: Veracruz and Oaxaca fish fillets wrapped in anise-scented hoja santa with tomato and chile
Hoja santa is a big, heart-shaped leaf with a sweet aniseed and pepper scent, and in Veracruz and Oaxaca cooks wrap fish in it for a weekday lunch or a Lenten Friday meal. Fillets are seasoned, topped with tomato, onion, jalapeño and garlic, folded into the leaves and baked or steamed so the fish takes on the perfume. Suitable as part of a balanced diet: lean, high-protein fish with vegetables and no flour. About 230 kcal and 7 g carbohydrate per portion; serve with salad or a couple of corn tortillas. The usual mistake is wrapping too loosely, so the juices run out and the fish dries. If you cannot find hoja santa, use banana leaf with a few fennel fronds or tarragon sprigs. Chef's tip: pass each leaf over a gas flame for a second; it softens and folds without tearing.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 4 white fish fillets (snapper, sea bass or hake)about 150 g each, skinned
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 limejuiced
- 8 hoja santa leaveslarge
- 2 tomatoessliced
- ½ white onionthinly sliced
- 1 jalapeñosliced
- 2 cloves garlicthinly sliced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 400°F (350°F fan). Season the 4 white fish fillets (snapper, sea bass or hake) with ¾ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper and 1 lime juice.
5 minStep 2: Soften the 8 hoja santa leaves leaves by passing them briefly over a flame or dipping in hot water. Overlap 2 leaves for each parcel.
3 minStep 3: Put a fillet on each pair of leaves and top with 2 tomatoes, ½ white onion, 1 jalapeño, 2 cloves garlic and a drizzle of 2 tbsp olive oil.
5 minStep 4: Fold the leaves round to make a snug parcel, then wrap each in foil (or tie with string and steam).
3 minStep 5: Bake for 15–18 minutes (or steam for 15) until the fish is opaque all the way through and flakes when pressed.
17 minStep 6: Open the parcels at the table and eat the fish with the leaf, which is edible when soft.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 32 g
- Carbs
- 7 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pescado en hoja santa take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of lime?
- Lemon, same amount.
- What can I use instead of tomatoes?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
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