Ingredients

Recipe courtesy of Emeril Lagasse
20 (1/4-inch thick) slices Roma tomatoes (recommended: Romanita tomatoes)
1/4 cup chiffonade fresh basil leaves, plus more for garnish, if desired
1/2 cup julienned sweet onions
1/4 cup pitted and sliced kalamata olives
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
4 (4 to 6-ounce) skin-on or off red snapper fillets
Essence, recipe follows
12 thin slices lemon, seeds removed
1/4 cup good-quality extra-virgin olive oil
Rice Pilaf, for serving, recipe follows
Tomato Water, recipe follows, optional
Chiffonade fresh basil, for garnish

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Combine the tomatoes, basil, onions, and olives in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Season both sides of the fillets with 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and Essence. Arrange the fish on the baking sheet, followed by the tomato mixture and then the lemon slices. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over each fillet.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the snapper is cooked through. To serve, place a portion of Rice Pilaf on an entree plate. Use a spatula to remove the fish, along with the tomatoes, onions and lemons from the baking sheet and place over the Rice Pilaf. Drizzle with tomato water, if desired, and garnish each fillet with a chiffonade of fresh basil.

Substituted Penzey’s Mural of Flavors for Essence.

Emeril’s ESSENCE Creole Seasoning (also referred to as Bayou Blast):
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika

2 tablespoons salt

2 tablespoons garlic powder

1 tablespoon black pepper

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon cayenne pepper

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients thoroughly.

Yield: 2/3 cup