Tilapia Fajitas with Chimichurri and Saffron Rice with Olives
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Tilapia Fajitas with Chimichurri and Saffron Rice with Olives

Ingredients

  • 4 tilapia fillets (7 to 8 oz. each; look for sustainable fish)

  • Salt

  • About 1 tsp. smoked paprika

  • Pepper

  • 3 tbsp. butter

  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped or grated

  • 4 piquillo peppers or 1 large roasted red pepper from a jar, chopped

  • 1 bunch scallions, chopped, whites and greens separated

  • 1 cup white rice

  • A fat pinch of saffron threads

  • 1 ¾ cups chicken stock

  • ½ cup drained, sliced pimiento-stuffed olives

  • 1 cup each fresh flat-leaf parsley and cilantro leaves, plus an extra handful of parsley for the rice

  • About 1/4 cup EVOO

  • 1 lemon, juiced (about 4 tbsp.)

  • 1 shallot, coarsely chopped

  • 1 jalapeño or serrano chile, coarsely chopped

  • 2 tbsp. drained capers

  • 2 tbsp. sherry vinegar

  • 3 tbsp. olive oil

  • 1 large red or white onion, halved and thinly sliced

  • 10 to 12 mini sweet peppers—halved, seeded, and sliced lengthwise into strips

  • 12 corn tortillas

Preparation

Step 1

Season the fish on both sides with salt. Let stand for about 10 minutes. Pat the fish dry; season with paprika and pepper. Halve the fillets lengthwise. Put the thinner halves in one pile and the thicker ones in another.

Step 2

In a large saucepan or skillet with a lid, heat 2 tbsp. butter over medium to medium-high. When it foams, stir in a third of the garlic. Add the piquillo peppers and scallion whites; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the scallions soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the rice and stir until toasted, about 1 minute more. Stir in the saffron. Add the stock. Bring to a boil. Cover the rice and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until the rice is almost tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Add the olives and the handful of parsley. Let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork.

Step 3

In a food processor, pulse 1 cup each parsley and cilantro, the EVOO, half the lemon juice, the shallot, chile, capers, and vinegar until finely chopped. Transfer the chimichurri to a small bowl

Step 4

Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Add 1 tbsp. olive oil, one turn of the pan. Add the remaining 1 tbsp. butter. When it foams, add the thicker pieces of fish and cook, turning once, until browned and just opaque in the centers, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a platter. Add the 4 thinner pieces of fish and cook, turning once, until browned and just opaque in the centers, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to the platter. Drizzle with the remaining lemon juice. Cover the fish with foil to keep warm.

Step 5

Add the remaining 2 tbsp. olive oil, two turns of the pan, to the skillet. Increase heat to high. Add the onion and mini peppers. Cook, tossing often, until the vegetables are crisp-tender and the edges begin to brown. Add the remaining garlic; season with salt and pepper. Add about 1/4 cup water and stir the vegetables, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to release the browned bits.

Step 6

Working over an open flame on a gas stovetop or in a stainless steel or cast-iron skillet (heated over high), cook the tortillas until charred, about 30 seconds per side.

Step 7

Break the fish into bite-size pieces. Serve with the peppers and onions, tortillas, and chimichurri. Top with the scallion greens. Serve with the rice.

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