Mangrove Snapper Recipe: The Fastest Way to Make Your Fish

As the winter season approaches, mangrove snappers will appear more frequently. If you want to bring some home, ensure you know how to cook them.

The mangrove snapper recipe described in this post is super-easy to follow and yields an impressive outcome. Let’s check it out!

What Is Mangrove Snapper?

Mangrove snappers, also known as gray or mango snappers, have dark brown or gray bodies with red-orange patches on their sides. These fish mostly live in coastal waters close to seagrass beds, reefs, and mangroves.

Even though mangrove snappers are pretty small, their white, sweet, and flaky flesh are unbeatable. You can fry, bake, or broil them; all options bring tasty meals.

How to Cook Mangrove Snapper

There are several ways to cook mangrove snapper, but we highly recommend frying as it gives a remarkably crisp texture. Then, add sauce to enhance the flavor of your cuisine.

Step 1: Prepare Ingredients

Aside from the mangrove snapper, the ingredients needed for this recipe are familiar, including:

• Olive oil
• Butter
• Minced garlic
• Lemon
• Capers with juice
• Parsley
• Salt
• Pepper

Step 2: Cook the Snapper

Pat the mangrove snapper on a plate using a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Otherwise, your fish will release water while frying. Moreover, ingredients can adhere better to dry fish.

Now, add one tablespoon of olive oil to a large pan. Then, fry your fish for three to five minutes per side. The exact time depends on how thick the snapper is.

If the surface turns golden brown, you can remove your fish from the pan and lay it on a plate. 

Step 3: Make the Sauce

Add the butter to a hot skillet and let it melt. Then, add a lemon slice to the pan. Once it caramelizes after one minute, remove it from the pan. Now, you have the sauce.

Add minced garlic to the pan and cook until you notice the fragrant. Then, add capers with juice and the mangrove snapper back.

You will cook your fish for three minutes to absorb the seasonings. After that, spoon the sauce over it.

Remove the fish from the pan. Then add pepper and salt if necessary. Now your food is ready to serve!

You can also customize this mangrove snapper recipe. For example, you can add chili flakes to the sauce to make it spicy. And if you serve the dish with your kid, try adding the snapper to a tostada or taco.

Other Ways to Cook Mangrove Snapper

Mangrove snappers, with their natural sweetness, can work with many recipes. Aside from the one we have discussed, the following options are also worth considering.

Pineapple Crusted

Mangrove snapper and pineapple go together so nicely. If you want to enjoy summer flavors in fall and winter, this recipe will be what you need.

To prepare the dish, please follow these steps:

• Coat the mangrove snapper with olive oil.
• Season both sides of the fish with pepper and salt.
• Cook sugar, vinegar, and lemon juice over medium heat. When the bubbles appear, add the fish.
• Add pineapples, pepper, onions, and coconut milk to the pan and cook for ten minutes.

Herb Crusted

The snapper also pairs well with French tastes. Take these steps, and the outcome will wow you:

• Heat vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat.
• Add celery, bell peppers, and onions to the pan.
• Add pepper and salt, then cook for three minutes.
• Next, put eggplants and cayenne into the pan, and cook for five minutes.
• You also need thyme, basil, garlic, zucchini, and squash. Put all of them in the pan and simmer for ten minutes.
• Season your snapper with pepper, and salt.
• Add the fish to the mixture of herbs and vegetables and cook until it becomes crispy.  
• Serve the mangrove snapper with mustard.

FAQs

Is Mangrove Snapper Good to Eat?

Yes, mangrove snapper makes delicious ceviche, sashimi, and sushi. It’s a fantastic option for those who have never tried raw fish.

What Is the Difference Between Red Snapper and Mangrove Snapper?

We often grill or broil red snapper. It can also serve as a terrific ingredient for fish tacos. On the other hand, the juicy and sweet flavor of mangrove snapper makes it more suitable for baking and frying.

Conclusion

As you see, the mangrove snapper recipe is very easy with three simple steps. The whole process takes only 20 minutes to bring you a delicious and nutritious dish.

If you feel that a whole snapper is too much for your serving, you can cut the fish throat separately to make a delicious grilled snapper throat and sip it with your favorite drink. It sounds great, right?

Hopefully, you will succeed with this guide. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to challenge your skills with more recipes. We will cover it in the next article. Thank you for reading!

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5 from 1 vote

Fried Mangrove Snapper

This mangrove snapper recipe calls for simple ingredients. After 20 minutes, you will have a delicious treat that pairs well with rice.

This summary table will help you picture which ingredients you need and how to turn them into tasty cuisine.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Bahamian, Cuban, Florida, Jamaican, Louisiana, Texas

Keyword fresh, fried mangrove snappers, winter

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 424kcal

Equipment

• 1 large pan

Ingredients

• 2 pounds mangrove snapper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 tbsp butter
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 lemon slice
• 3 ounces capers with juice
• 1/4 cup parsley
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper

Instructions

• Pat the mangrove snapper dry with paper towels.
• Add olive oil to a pan and fry your fish for three to five minutes.
• Remove the fish and set it on a plate.
• Melt butter and add lemon slices to a pan. Turn off the heat when the lemon caramelizes.
• Add garlic, capers, and the snapper back to the pan, and cook for three minutes.
• Spoon the sauce over the fish.
• Remove the fish from the pan.
• Add parsley, pepper, and salt to enjoy your dish.

Notes

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

• Calories: 424
• Sugar: 0
• Sodium: 524 mg
• Protein: 45 g
• Carbohydrates: 0 g
• Fat: 26g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 142 mg