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Mulet Farci à la Saint-Louisienne

Yields4 ServingsPrep Time30 minsCook Time45 minsTotal Time1 hr 15 mins

Mullet stuffed with onions, peppers, tomatoes, and bread crumbs.

 salt and black pepper (to taste)
 2 bay leaves
 1 bunch of cilantro and/or parsley, stems and leaves separated and chopped
 1 mullet (3 to 4 pounds), whole (cleaned: fins, gills, internal organs, scales removed)
 1 crushed bread crumbs
 2 garlic cloves, minced
 1 bunch of green onions (bulbs and lower part of stems), chopped (optional)
 3 tomatoes (half finely chopped chopped; half cut into quarters)
 1 tbsp tomato paste
 2 onions, sliced
 1 chile pepper, cleaned and quartered
 1 tsp thyme
 cooking oil, for frying
1

Preheat oven to medium heat.

2

Begin making the broth: Heat two cups of water in a saucepan. Add the salt, black pepper, bay leaf, and cilantro and/or parsley stems. Simmer.

3

Cut the fish: With a sharp knife, carefully cut open the fish from head to tail along its dorsal ridge (the "top edge" of the fish's "back"). Gently peel back the skin, taking care not to tear it. Remove the bones and the edible flesh of the fish. Set aside the head, skin, and tail to use later.

4

Separate the bones from the flesh. Add the bones to the broth in the saucepan. Continue to simmer.

5

Prepare the stuffing: Moisten the bread crumbs with a few tablespoons of water. Crush, chop, or grind together the cilantro, parsley, garlic, and green onions, salt, and pepper to form a paste. In a large bowl, combine this paste with the boneless fish, the bread crumbs, and the finely chopped tomatoes and/or tomato paste. Stir to mix well.

6

Stuff the fish: Gently fill the fish skin with the stuffing so as to make it resemble its original shape. Use a needle and kitchen thread to sew the dorsal cut closed.

7

Arrange the chopped onions, chile peppers, and quartered tomatoes on a baking dish. Sprinkle with thyme and a few tablespoons of cooking oil. Place the stuffed fish over the vegetables. Cover with a sheet of aluminium foil to make a "tent".

8

Place the baking dish in the over. While the fish is roasting, strain the broth into a bowl. After 25 minutes, remove the foil from the baking dish and pour the broth over the vegetables. Roast for an additional 20 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and the fish is browned.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 4