Blackened Snakehead with Piña Colada Salsa

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Adapted via Maryland DNR

Blackened Snakehead with Piña Colada Salsa

Ingredients
  

Fish Ingredients
  • 1 snakehead filleted
  • 1 1/2 tbsp paprika
  • 3/4 tbsp granulated garlic (or 1 tablespoon garlic powder)
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
Piña Colada Salsa Ingredients
  • 1 pineapple
  • 1 can cream of coconut
  • 1/2 bunch cilantro
  • 1 Habañero pepper optional

Method
 

Salsa Directions
  1. Peel the pineapple and discard the skin.
  2. Cut the pineapple length-wise into slices about 1/4 inch thick.
  3. Dice the pineapple into 1/4 inch squares.
  4. Place pineapple squares in a mixing bowl.
  5. Remove leaves from cilantro and roughly chop, then add them to the mixing bowl.
  6. In a separate bowl add the cream of coconut and stir with a fork until smooth.
  7. Combine 6 tablespoons of the cream of coconut to the pineapple cilantro mixture.
  8. Add the diced Habañero pepper, and place salsa in refrigerator.
Fish Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Cut snakehead fillets into 4 pieces each.Pat the flesh dry and coat each piece of fish on one side with a generous amount of blackening seasoning.
  3. Place a tablespoon of cooking oil into a cast iron skillet or sauté pan and heat to high.
  4. Place each piece of fish (seasoned side down) on the pan and press gently with a spatula.
  5. Allow the fish to sear for approximately 3 minutes.
  6. Gently turn fish over and sear for 1 minute.
  7. Place the fish in the oven and cook until desired temperature is reached (about 3-5 minutes depending on the thickness of the filet).