Description
Red Snapper with Creamy Creole Sauce is a vibrant, flavorful dish combining tender, flaky red snapper fillets with a rich, spicy Creole-inspired sauce made from fresh vegetables, tomatoes, and heavy cream. This quick and easy meal is packed with bold flavors and creamy texture, perfect for elevating any weeknight dinner or special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Fish
- 4 fresh red snapper fillets, skin-on
Fats & Oils
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce Components
- 1 cup diced tomatoes (canned or fresh)
- 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
- 1 cup heavy cream
Garnishes & Seasonings
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 green onions, sliced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Vegetables: Finely chop the onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic. In a skillet, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped vegetables and sauté gently for about 5 minutes until tender and fragrant.
- Add Tomatoes and Seasoning: Stir in the diced tomatoes and Creole seasoning with the sautéed vegetables. Let the mixture simmer, allowing the spices to meld with the tomato flavor, forming the bold base of the sauce.
- Incorporate the Cream: Slowly pour the heavy cream into the sauce while stirring continuously. Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce gently thicken as you prepare the fish.
- Cook the Red Snapper: Season the red snapper fillets with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a separate skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the fillets skin-side down first for 3 to 4 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until golden and just cooked through.
- Combine and Serve: Plate the cooked red snapper and spoon the creamy Creole sauce generously over the top. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and sliced green onions before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh, high-quality red snapper for the best flavor and texture.
- Do not overcook the snapper to keep it flaky and juicy.
- Adjust Creole seasoning to suit your preferred level of heat.
- Simmer the sauce slowly to enhance creaminess and depth.
- Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consume within 2 days.
- Freeze leftovers is not recommended due to texture changes.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent sauce curdling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing
- Cuisine: Creole
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet with sauce
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: red snapper, creole sauce, creamy sauce, seafood recipe, quick dinner, gluten-free, spicy fish, weeknight meal