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Cuba · Yellowtail Snapper

Cuban Whole Fried Yellowtail

Rabirrubia Frita

In the fishing village of Cojímar, a pan-size yellowtail is soaked in lime and garlic and fried whole until the tail is crisp enough to eat.

  • Prep 15 min
  • Cook 20 min
  • Serves 2–4
  • Level Easy
Photo: franzconde · CC BY 2.0
Served with: Puerto Rican Plantain Chips ↓En Español

Ingredients

Tap each item as you gather it.

For the fish

For frying

Method

Step by step, the way it is done on the island.

  1. Score and marinate. Cut 3 deep slashes on each side down to the bone. Rub the fish with the lime juice, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper, inside and out, and let it sit 20–30 minutes.
  2. Heat the oil. Heat about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of oil in a deep skillet to 350 °F (175 °C).
  3. Dredge. Scrape off the bits of garlic, pat the fish very dry and dust it in flour, shaking off the extra.
  4. Fry. Fry 5–6 minutes per side until deep golden and crisp at the fins. Turn only once, using two spatulas. Drain on a rack.
  5. Serve. Top with raw onion rings and serve hot with lime wedges.

On the side

The side dish that belongs with it, full recipe included.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rican Plantain Chips

Platanutres

Green plantain shaved paper-thin and fried into crunchy, salty chips. Puerto Ricans snack on them at the kiosks of Piñones while the fish fries.

  • Prep 10 min
  • Cook 15 min
  • Serves 4
  • Level Easy

You need

  • 2 large green plantains
  • Vegetable oil for frying
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp garlic powder (optional)

How to make it

  1. Peel. Cut off the ends of the plantains, slit the skin along the ridges and pry it off.
  2. Slice thin. Slice the plantains lengthwise or on a long diagonal as thin as possible, under ⅛ inch (2–3 mm), using a mandoline or vegetable peeler.
  3. Fry. Fry in small batches in oil at 350 °F (175 °C) for 2–3 minutes, stirring so they do not stick, until golden and crisp.
  4. Season. Drain on paper towels and toss right away with the salt and garlic powder. They keep crisp for a day in a closed container.

Photo: Scott Ehardt · Public domain

More ways to cook Yellowtail Snapper

Same fish, a different corner of the sea.

Sicily, ItalyYellowtail Baked in Parchment
Isla de Margarita, VenezuelaYellowtail Stuffed with Seafood
Pernambuco, BrazilYellowtail Roasted in Banana Leaf