How to Blacken Snapper

Blackened snapper has a dark, spicy crust.

Blackening is a cooking method traditionally associated with Cajun food made famous by Louisiana chef Paul Prudhomme. It involves coating meat with a spice mixture and charring the spice mixture quickly over an extremely high heat, cooking the fish and "blackening" the outside. The blacken seasoning can be purchased at most grocery stores or made just as easily from spices you probably have in your pantry. Fishes that hold up well to blackening include catfish, tuna and snapper.

Things You'll Need

• Blacken seasoning
• Or
• 2 tbsp. salt
• 2 tbsp. sweet paprika
• 2 tbsp. onion powder
• 2 tbsp. garlic powder
• 2 tbsp. black pepper
• 2 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 2 tsp. dried oregano
• 2 tsp. dried thyme
• Bowl
• 4 fillets snapper
• Butter
• Shallow pot
• Cast iron skillet
• Fish spatula

Instructions

Blackening

1. Combine the spices and salt in a bowl if you are making your own blacken seasoning.

2. Melt the butter in the pot. Dip the fish into the butter.

3. Dredge the fish in the blacken seasoning so that an even coating is formed on both sides of the fish.

4. Heat the cast iron skillet on high. Add some melted butter to the skillet.

5. Grab the snapper by the tail portion. Place the head end of the fillet into the pan closest to you and gently lay the fish into the butter. If your fillets have skin on them, start this step with the flesh side in the pan.

6. After two minutes, turn the fish using the spatula and cook for two minutes more.

7. Remove the fish from the skillet. It should have a very dark brown or black external appearance and should flake easily.

Tips & Warnings

• If you like spicier foods, add more cayenne to your blacken seasoning. Play around with the amount of individual spices to make a blacken seasoning that is unique to you. Open your windows when cooking because blackening causes a lot of smoke.

• Always drop food into skillets away from you to prevent hot butter from splashing you. Be careful if you cook over gas, as flareups can occur when using such a high heat.

References

• Soul Food and Southern Cooking: Blackened Red Snapper Recipe
• Cajun Crawfish Pie: Blackened Fish
• Gumbo Pages: The So-Called "Cajun Food Craze"
• The Cooking Dish: How to Blacken Chicken or Fish