Coconut Ginger Red Snapper with Bok Choy

As an avid lover of Iron Chef, I was instantly inspired in the Wholefoods seafood section when we made eye contact. There it was, laying in it's bed of ice, begging to be cleaned, cooked, loved, respected and consumed.

My secret ingredient:

A whole red snapper

It took me back to memories of my childhood, when my mom would make traditional Filipino dishes with a whole fish, and friends would come over to the house and politely cover their noses and wonder "What the hell is that smell?" (sidenote: this is not a negative comment towards my mother's cooking in anyway, just to the people that grew up with a strict diet of pizza and burgers)

I figured it was finally time to be a grown up in the kitchen and attempt to create my very 1st whole fish dish. "Coconut Ginger Red Snapper with Bok Choy"

The ingredients:

The must have staples: Olive Oil, Salt & Black Pepper

Miscellenous: Tomatoes & Long Green Pepper

Fresh Ginger & 1 can Coconut Milk

Classic combo: Red onion & Garlic

The sides: Bok Choy and White Rice

First, you must heat your Coconut Milk in the skillet for about 8-10min. Mince your Onions, Garlic, and Ginger. Add to the Coconut Milk. Let cook for another 1-2min.

(Tip: save a tspn of your already chopped minced garlic, you'll need it for your bok choy later)

Second, start your rice, so it's ready when you're ready! If you don't have the convenience of a rice cooker, it's just a ratio of 1:1 (1 part rice to 1 part liquid). Here is also when you want to prep your veggies, just rough chop the tomatoes, green peppers, and bok choy.

Third, stuff the tomatoes into the opening of the fish (which should've been cleaned out by the gentlemen/women behind the counter. Also, if you ask nice, they will scale the fish as well). Season it with S&P on both sides, then throw it in the Coconut Milk mixture. Depening on the size of the fish, let cook for 20-30min.

As you wait, heat some Olive Oil in a pan, and throw in your Bok Choy. It's going to look like a lot of greens, but I promise it will cook down (like spinach or kale). As it begins to cook down, add the minced Garlic.

Final thoughts: To create a dish you never thought you could accomplish, may be one of the best meals you will consume in your life.

Bon appetit!

-nRm