Name: Crispy skin Snapper with Caper Salsa Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: International
Ingredients: 3 5-6oz. skin-on snapper fillets; 1 small garlic clove, grated and mashed; 1 cup chopped herbs (such as parsley & cilantro); 2 Tablespoons chopped capers from Flora Fine Foods; 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice from 1 lemon; 7 Tablespoons (or more) extra-virgin olive oil, divided; 1 teaspoon chili paste (sambal oelek); Kosher salt, and freshly ground pepper

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5 from 7 reviews

Delicious crispy skin snapper with fresh lemon herb Caper Salsa is a quick and easy fish dinner recipe for any occasion. You will learn how to cook perfectly crispy fish skin, 14 recipe ideas for how to use capers, and 8 additional side dish recipe ideas. The caper salsa goes well in the summer during the grilling season with meats and seafood, and as a salad dressing or marinade.

Recipe post may have affiliate links; read our disclosure policy. Photographs ©Carlos Leo, Spoonabilities

Hello my friends. Finally, I was able to release a new recipe today. I was taking time off to re-inspire and re-nourish myself. Maybe I took a little too long?. During this time, I was selecting the recipes I would like to make for the next six months. Most of the influences for my selections come from Mediterranean cuisine, Dominican food, and dishes from the restaurants that we love. I want this food blog to reflect my passion for ethnic food, and give you easy recipes with simple ingredients. I’m trying to do more healthy food, but once in a while you will see some decadent desserts, fun cocktails, and what we like to eat on our cheat day(s). We also want to continue with our main goal of Spoonabilities which is to help you with finding recipes and ideas to use the leftover jars of mustards, jams or anything else that is left behind in your fridge or pantry.

Last week was a busy week because I was testing recipes and getting the final approval from my Chief Tasting Officer Geoffrey. I was also testing some recipes with products from our friends at Flora Fine Foods. My early inspiration that drew me into the kitchen to learn how to cook was Italian food, which always has been one of my weaknesses. Because of that, I completely enjoy our partnership with Flora Fine Foods. They have a fantastic selection of imported Italian products. I use their capers in this week’s recipe of Crispy-skin Snapper with Caper Salsa. This caper salsa is fresh, herby and lemony; perfect for any fish or seafood dinner.

More Recipes made with Flora Fine Food

UPDATE: If you haven’t read (or made) the other recipes made with Flora Fine Food products, after you read this post, check out the following mouthwatering recipes inspired by Italian & Mediterranean food:

Roasted Red Pepper Pasta with Sicilian Olives. This vegetarian recipe can be made vegan by just changing the pasta.
Spiced Lamb Meatballs with Piquillo Pepper Pesto. This is my favorite recipe so far. Maybe because I love lamb.
Cauliflower Crust Pizza with Artichokes and Roasted Red Pepper. This recipe is also vegetarian with the option to make it vegan just substituting the cheese for vegan cheese.
Summer Antipasto Salad in a Jar is a great meal prep idea for your busy week. With five different variations, you can take this salad to work every day of the week, or keep for easy week-night dinners.

For a while I have wanted to make a recipe with snapper, but I was afraid to damage this beautiful and flavorful fish. For my everyday meals, I tend to cook fish in the oven. I prefer to cook economic white fish, cod or salmon, and I have never pan-fried fish. Therefore, I decided to test this snapper recipe a couple of times before sharing it with you. And honestly, it was much easier than I thought. With the cooking technique that I explain below, the snapper comes out perfectly cooked with a delicious crispy skin.

Herb & Lemony Caper Salsa

This fish recipe takes less than 15 minutes if you make the Caper Salsa first. However, you can also make the salsa while the fish is cooking. I prefer to make the caper salsa first to allow the ingredients to marinate and enrich the salsa. To make this salsa you need flat parsley, cilantro, capers, lemon, grated garlic, Sambal Oelek (chili paste), and extra virgin olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. I didn’t use either salt or pepper since I found the caper salsa perfect for my taste. I rinse the capers and think after a rough chop the capers still infuses enough salt into the salsa.

How to Make Crispy Fish Skin

Through my research, I found this is the best way to make fish skin crispy. Since you start with a cold pan, you need to be patient. Here are the steps:

Rinse and pat dry the fish: Line a plate with a paper towel and put the fish skin side down. Take some more paper towel and dry the other side. Repeat the step for the skin side.
On a dry clean plate, place the fish and sprinkle both sides with salt, pepper & extra virgin olive oil. Be generous with the salt, but don’t overdo it.
In a COLD nonstick skillet, add a Tablespoon of olive oil. Place the snapper skin side down and turn on the stove to medium heat. The skillet will heat up gradually until fat starts to cook out of the fish.

When the fat begins to cook, take a flexible spatula and press the fish against the pan for a few seconds. This step is very important because it will help cook the whole skin thoroughly. This first side takes around 4-5 minutes, but if your fish is thick, you may want to cook it for 6 or 7 minutes. The key here is to make sure the skin is crispy before flipping, and the flesh is mostly opaque.
Turn to the other side for about a minute or two.

Side Dishes to Serve with Snapper and Caper Salsa

To plate the crispy-skin snapper, spoon the caper salsa onto the plate and place the fish skin side up on top of the salsa. Here are a few suggestions for what side dishes you can serve with this fish dinner:

Zucchini noodles, but before you put on the plate add some of the caper salsa and combine
Grilled zucchini and topped with more caper salsa
Roasted fingerling potatoes
Pecan Honey Mustard Dressing on Green Beans
Microgreens in a very light vinaigrette or use the caper salsa as a vinaigrette
Grilled Summer Vegetables with Black Olive Vinaigrette
Mashed potatoes
White rice

What to do with a Leftover Jar of Capers

Now that you used some capers for the salsa, you have an open jar sitting in your refrigerator waiting for the next recipe. Here are 14 ideas to give you the best suggestions for what to do with your leftover jar of capers:

Bagel and lox or smoked salmon tartine with fried capers
Tuna salad or chicken salad
Chicken piccata or fish piccata
Garlic butter caper sauce for pasta
Caper cream sauce for chicken, pork or veal
Add it into a salad dressing
Caper tapenade
Arugula Salsa Verde
Caper Cream Cheese
Eggplant Caponata
Pasta Puttanesca
Tahini Caper Salad Dressing
Make your own tartar sauce
Turkey burgers with coleslaw

I hope you get to make this Crispy-skinned Snapper with Caper Salsa recipe or any of our recipes. Let me know in the comment section what you think about this recipe, and if you try it. If you share this recipe or your creation, tag us @spoonabilities on Instagram and use the hashtag #Spoonabilities. Thank you.

Have a wonderful week!

Carlos
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