Jerk Stuffed Fish

 I love fish… almost any kind there is; whether its Snapper, Tilapia, Salmon, (the list is long).  Maybe my love for fish came from my love of the ocean and feeling at home in the water.  As a child my Dad used to tell me, “I think you are part fish, Tasha!” Maybe in a past life I was. 🙂 I think it goes back to growing up in Jamaica during the summers and always going to the beach with my family and eating Fried Fish and Festival at Hellshire.  Those are some of my favorite memories.

Eventhough this fish recipe is different from the fish i used to eat at Hellshire, it is still one of my favorites. Instead of frying the fish I add a signature Jamaican seasoning called Jerk.  Jerk seasoning is a blend of Allspice (Jamaican pimento) and Scotch bonnet peppers, cloves, cinnamon, scallion, nutmeg, thyme, and garlic.  You will find this rub in any Jamaican household you visit.

So, if you are a fan of heat, then you will love this fish.

Start off with purchasing your favorite whole fish, Tilapia and Snapper are great for this.  I went with whole Tilapia.  Make sure when you buy your fish from the market always ask the seafood department to slice and scale your fish so that you do not have to do it at home.  Makes it a lot easier. 

Wash and pat dry the fish.  Season with black pepper and seasoned salt.  Cut slits on both sides so that you have pockets to stuff the jerk compound you will make nest.

The ingredients needed are a stick of unsalted butter, scallion, jerk seasoning, fresh thyme, garlic, and a packet of cock or chicken seasoning.

Add the unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons of jerk seasoning, 4 stalks of chopped scallion, 3 sprigs of  fresh thyme, 1 tablespoon of chopped garlic, and the packet of cock seasoning in a blender and mix well until it is a smooth compound.  You can add more jerk seasoning depending on how hot you want it.

Next……

In each of the slits drop the jerk compound inside the pockets.  Make sure that you leave a little of the jerk mixture left over to spread on top of the fish.

Cut aluminum foil, big enough to wrap the fish.  Spray the aluminum with cooking spray, this well help the fish to not stick. Spread the left over mixture on top of the fish.

Wrap the fish in the aluminum making sure the top is formed like a pocket that will allow you to open the fish to cook.  Place the fish in a 350 degree oven, cook for 1 hour.

Definitely serve with festival……. Now This is SOOOOO Yummy! 

Can’t you tell?????? 😛

Jerk Stuffed Fish

2 whole fish, cleaned and scaled

1 stick of unsalted butter

4 stalks of scallion, chopped

2 tablespoons of jerk seasoning, more if u want it very hot

1 tablespoon of garlic, chopped

1 packet of cock or chicken seasoning

3 sprigs of fresh thyme

Wash and pat dry the fish.  Season with black pepper and seasoned salt.  Cut slits on both sides so that you have pockets to stuff the jerk compound you will make nest.

Add the unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons of jerk seasoning, 4 stalks of chopped scallion, 3 sprigs of  fresh thyme, 1 tablespoon of chopped garlic, and the packet of cock seasoning in a blender and mix well until it is a smooth compound.  You can add more jerk seasoning depending on how hot you want it.