Redfish on the Half Shell

By Flyer920

The "half shell" in this classic Texas dish is actually the scales-on skin of the fileted fish. Ask your fishmonger to leave the scales on.

Ingredients

• 6 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tbsp. finely chopped shallots
• 1 tbsp. finely chopped cilantro
• 1 tsp. finely chopped thyme
• 1 ⁄2 tsp. chili powder
• 1 ⁄2 tsp. paprika
• 4 10–12-oz. boneless redfish, snapper,
• or sea bass filets, scales left on
• 1 tbsp. canola oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper,
• to taste
• 12 thin lemon rounds

Preparation

Step 1

1. Build a medium-hot charcoal fire or heat a gas grill to medium.

2. Put butter, shallots, cilantro, thyme, chili powder, and paprika into a bowl. Using a hand mixer, whip mixture until fluffy. Brush scales of fish with oil. Flip filets; season flesh with salt and pepper and smear each with 1 tbsp. butter mixture. Top each filet with 3 lemon rounds.

3. Place fish, scale side down, on grill and cover. Cook, basting occasionally with remaining butter mixture, until scales are blackened and fish is cooked through, 12–15 minutes.