Redfish on the Half Shell with Nola BBQ Butter

By / Photography By | April 04, 2019

Ingredients

SERVINGS: 4 Serving(s)
  • 4 redfish fillets, scaled, skin on
  • 3–4 tablespoons Jess It Up seasoning mix (recipe follows)
  • 2–3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup NOLA BBQ butter, more to taste (recipe follows)
Jess It Up Seasoning Mix
  • 4 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoons ancho chile powder
  • 2 tablespoons coarse black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons granulated garlic
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1½ tablespoons cumin
  • 1 tablespoon ground thyme
NOLA BBQ Butter
  • 1 stick European-style unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon Creole mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon minced chives
  • ¾ tablespoon Crystal hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sorghum syrup (or molasses)
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon granulated garlic

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare a sheet pan with parchment paper. Season the redfish fillets liberally with the seasoning mix on both sides. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a cast-iron skillet on high heat, until almost smoking.

Place a fillet (or 2, if your pan is large enough) in, skin side down. Sear until you can see the fish starting to discolor on the edges, and the skin releases easily from the pan (about 2–3 minutes). Turn the fish, and cook for another 2 minutes, then place on the prepared sheet pan. Repeat with the remaining fillets, adding a fresh tablespoon olive oil as needed to the skillet. Finish in the oven for about 5–10 minutes, or until the flesh comes free easily from the skin in the middle of the fillet. Transfer to a plate (or individual plates), put a spoonful of room temperature NOLA BBQ butter on top, garnish with parsley or chives and serve immediately.

Jess It Up Seasoning Mix

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Store in an airtight container or spice jar for several months (or as long as it smells good: test by shaking the jar or container, open it and smell). This blend is great on pork and chicken as well!

NOLA BBQ Butter

Put the butter in a bowl, and use a fork to mash in the rest of the ingredients. Mix together well, then press into a sealable container. It keeps well in the fridge for at least a week, and can also be frozen for future use.

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Ingredients

SERVINGS: 4 Serving(s)
  • 4 redfish fillets, scaled, skin on
  • 3–4 tablespoons Jess It Up seasoning mix (recipe follows)
  • 2–3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup NOLA BBQ butter, more to taste (recipe follows)
Jess It Up Seasoning Mix
  • 4 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoons ancho chile powder
  • 2 tablespoons coarse black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons granulated garlic
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1½ tablespoons cumin
  • 1 tablespoon ground thyme
NOLA BBQ Butter
  • 1 stick European-style unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon Creole mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon minced chives
  • ¾ tablespoon Crystal hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sorghum syrup (or molasses)
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon granulated garlic