HALIBUT VERACRUZ

Red Snapper Veracruz is the signature dish of the major port city Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico.

Veracruz is known for it's abundance of seafood and a rich culinary history which was heavily influenced by the Spanish. The tomatoes, garlic, and onions (and sometimes jalapeno) marry Mexico with the olives, olive oil, and capers of Spain.  And I must say, this is a marriage made in heaven.

It's very low fat, healthy, and a dish that comes together in about 30 minutes. You can use a variety of fish in this recipe. I'm not a fan of Red Snapper which is the more traditional fish used in Mexico, so I use Halibut, Swordfish and Chilean Sea Bass (although the Chilean Sea Bass is now on the avoid list of the Sea Food Watch Guide). My favorite is Alaskan Halibut and that is what I used this time. I didn't use any jalapenos in my sauce because I wanted to taste the halibut in it's pure, delicate state.

This is a perfect dish to make in the summertime when tomatoes are at their peak.

HALIBUT VERACRUZ

3 TBSP. Olive oil

1 medium brown onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

5 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeds removed, and chopped

10 Spanish style green olives, pitted and chopped (stuffed with pimiento are fine)

2 TBSP. capers

3 Bay leaves

A couple of grinds of pepper

Salt to taste

2 pounds Halibut or other white fish

Heat oil in a large saucepan. Add onion and garlic. Cook until tender but not browned. Add tomatoes,  olives, capers, bay leaves, and salt to taste. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Simmer gently uncovered for 10 minutes.

Sprinkle fish with salt and place in skillet with sauce. Cover fish with the sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover skillet. Simmer for 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.

Serves 6