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    Home » Recipes » Seafood Recipes

    Blackened Red Snapper

    Published: Feb 27, 2021 · Modified: Jun 23, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley

    12.8K shares
    • Facebook546
    • Yummly
    4.87 from 79 votes
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest image of Cajun Style Florida Snapper

    My Blackened Red Snapper with fresh fruit salsa and lime margarita sauce will simply blow you away! The big, bold flavors of the cajun seasoning, tempered with the fruit salsa and margarita sauce, make this restaurant-quality dish a culinary masterpiece!

    Blackened Snapper  with fruit salsa on white plate.

    If you’re looking for a red snapper recipe that’s easy to make and will seriously impress your friends and family,

    During my restaurant days, blackening fish like Red Snapper was a favorite of my guests. Adding my Lime Margarita Sauce made it even more delicious.

    Ingredients to make Blackened Red Snapper

    ingredients to make recipe

    Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make my Cajun Style Florida Snapper. In Chef Speak, this is called the “Mise en Place,” which translates to “Everything in its Place.”

    Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed the up cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

    What other types of fish can I use for this dish?

    If you don’t like snapper or simply can’t find it at your grocery store, there are many types of fish you can use instead of snapper.

    • Grouper
    • Rockfish
    • Mahi-Mahi
    • Halibut

    you can always use your personal favorite if it’s not listed, but I would stay away from steak-style fish, such as tuna and swordfish. Tilapia and Flounder would work, but the white fish fillets are more delicate, and they would have a tendency to break apart.

    How to make Blackened Red Snapper

    how to season fish
    • Trim the snapper fillets if needed, and rinse them in cold water. Pat the fillets dry with paper towels.
    • Mix the Cajun seasoning with cracker meal and brown sugar.
    • Press one side of the snapper fillets into the seasoning mixture, coating the fillet evenly. Make sure you get enough of the spice mixture on the snapper.
    fish cooking in skillet
    • High heat is necessary to properly blacken the snapper. When the saute pan is hot and add just enough olive oil to keep the snapper from sticking.
    • Carefully place fish fillets, seasoned side down, into the pan.
    • Allow the fillets to cook undisturbed until the coating has browned, then turn to sear the other side of the fish.
    fish in baking pan

    Remove the seared snapper from the pan and place it in a baking dish. Add a little water to the pan to help keep the fish moist while baking.

    Place the baking dish in a preheated 350-degree oven for 8-10 minutes.

    How to make fruit salsa.

    fruit salsa being prepared

    Making the fruit salsa is really easy. Mix the diced fruit, onions, cilantro, lime juice, and salt together. (strawberries will soften and bleed, so if you make this ahead of time, don’t add the strawberries until serving time)

    What kind of fruit can I use to make fruit salsa?

    The salsa recipe can be made with a variety of fruit. Peaches, nectarines, apricots, watermelon, kiwi, and blueberries can be substituted in any combination you like.

    Onions do add that salsa flavor, as well as the cilantro, but both of those could be left out if you can eat them.

    Remember this is your dinner and should be made the way you like to eat!

    How to make lime margarita sauce

    lime margarita sauce being prepared in non stick skillet
    • In a small saute pan, add 1 tbsp of butter, and after it melts, add the brown sugar and blend well.
    • Add the lime juice and tequila, and allow the alcohol in the tequila to burn off. Add in the last tbsp of butter and allow the mixture to thicken.

    **Do not overheat the sauce will break. Wait until you are ready to serve the snapper before the final heating of the margarita sauce.

    Do I have to use Tequila in the sauce?

    No, you don’t. If you can’t have alcohol or don’t like the taste, you can replace the tequila with apple juice, chicken or vegetable stock, or water.

    If you don’t like tequila, you can replace it with rum, gin, white wine or your favorite spirit.

    cooked cajun style florida snapper fillet with fruit salsa and lime margarita sauce on a white plate

    Then it is simply a matter of putting the dish all together and serving it with rice or your favorite grain along with the vegetable of your choice. And you’ve got a restaurant-style dinner at a fraction of the cost of dining out!

    More Recipes You’ll Love!

    • Blackened Salmon with a Gorgonzola Cream Sauce
    • Pan Seared Halibut
    • How to Poach Mahi-Mahi (or your favorite fish)
    • Grilled Atlantic Rockfish

    Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

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    cooked cajun style florida snapper fillet with fruit salsa and lime margarita sauce on a white plate
    Print Recipe Save Saved!
    4.87 from 79 votes

    Blackened Red Snapper

    When you want to spice it up a bit at the dinner table, try my Blackened Red Snapper with a lime margarita sauce and fresh fruit salsa.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time20 mins
    Total Time35 mins
    Course: Entree
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 640kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Ingredients

    Cajun Style Red Snapper

    • 2 tablespoons Cajun Style Seasoning
    • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon unseasoned cracker meal
    • 16 ounce snapper fillets 2 -8 ounce fillets
    • 1 tablespoons olive oil

    Lime Margarita Sauce

    • 2 tablespoon butter
    • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
    • juice from one lime
    • 1 ounce tequila

    Fruit Salsa

    • 2 ounces diced mango peaches or cantaloupe can be substituted
    • 2 ounces diced Pineapple
    • 2 ounces diced Strawberries
    • 2 ounces diced red onions
    • 1 tablespoon cilantro finely chopped
    • pinch of sea salt
    • juice from one lime
    US Customary – Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Snapper

    • Remove the skin and trim snapper fillets and rinse in cold water, pat dry with paper towels
    • Mix Cajun seasoning with cracker meal and brown sugar. Place on a plate to coat the snapper.
    • Press one side of snapper fillets into seasoning mixture coating it evenly
    • In a very hot saute pan carefully add just enough olive oil to keep fish from sticking.
    • Carefully add the prepared snapper fillets, seasoned side down into the pan
    • Allow the snapper fillets to cook undisturbed until the coating has browned, then turn to sear the other side of the fish.
    • Remove fillets from the pan, and place in baking dish seasoned side up, and add a little water to the pan
    • Place baking dish in preheated 350-degree oven for 15 minutes

    Fruit Salsa

    • mix diced fruit, onions, cilantro, lime juice, and salt together. (strawberries will soften and bleed, so if you make this ahead of time, don't add the strawberries until serving time)

    Lime Margarita Sauce

    • In a small saute pan, add 1 tbsp of butter and after it melts, add in brown sugar and blend well.
    • Add in the lime juice and tequila, allow the alcohol in the tequila to burn off. Add in the last tbsp of butter and allow the mixture to thicken.
    • **Do not overheat the sauce will break, wait until you are ready to serve the snapper before the final heating of the margarita sauce

    Nutrition

    Calories: 640kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 114mg | Sodium: 241mg | Potassium: 1280mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 7071IU | Vitamin C: 50mg | Calcium: 144mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

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    1. Jennifer

      February 03, 2023 at 5:57 pm

      Silver or gold tequila?

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        February 03, 2023 at 7:36 pm

        what ever you like.

        Reply
    2. Blynn

      January 27, 2023 at 12:57 pm

      5 stars
      Can you recommend a good rice dish to accompany this? TIA!

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        January 28, 2023 at 8:30 am

        It all depends on what type of rice you enjoy eating, but I would serve plain-style rice. I have been using brown rice these days, and the best way to cook any rice is to use chicken broth instead of water. Add a little butter and black pepper, and you’ve got very flavorful rice without adding anything to it. This will work for white rice too.
        That being said, you can always add any of these extras, giving them a quick saute: chopped onions, green peppers, green onions, corn, peas, or tomatoes. You do want to saute any vegetables added to let them caramelize a little before adding to the rice. Letting them cook with the rice will add flavor to the rice but the flavor of the veggies will be boiled out.

        Reply
    3. Tiffany

      August 15, 2022 at 11:33 am

      If I can’t find cracker meal, what is a good substitute?

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        August 15, 2022 at 5:49 pm

        you can use panko bread crumbs instead, they have a nice texture

        Reply
    4. Katie

      July 16, 2022 at 6:39 pm

      5 stars
      I don’t rate recipes, ever. This was unbelievable. Make it! You will not believe how delicious it is. Awesome recipe.

      Reply
    5. Jody

      June 23, 2022 at 3:08 pm

      5 stars
      By far the best snapper dish I have ever made. The combined flavors of the spice, fish, salsa, and sauce created an explosion of happiness in my mouth. It has left such an impression that here I am, the following morning, writing a recipe review for the first time in my life. Thank you, Chef Dennis!

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        June 23, 2022 at 3:20 pm

        Thanks for the comment and great review Jody! I’m very happy to hear you enjoyed the Snapper and I hope you find more recipes on my blog to try!

        Reply
    6. Keli

      April 27, 2022 at 10:05 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious Fish Recipe!

      Made it with a Mango Pico De Gallo like Salsa and the sauce was awesome!

      Great recipe. Will definately make again!

      Reply
    7. Sarah

      November 30, 2021 at 9:55 pm

      5 stars
      This is by far one of the best fish recipes I have ever made (and as a Florida native, I’ve cooked my fair share of fish). I did exactly as the recipe instructed not to and over-heated the sauce. It broke and separated. I almost gave up and ate it without the sauce, but instead decided to remake it (which only took all of 5 or so minutes). It did not disappoint! This recipe is truly fantastic and I can’t wait to make it for years to come. Thank you, Chef Dennis!

      Reply
    8. Sabrina

      March 07, 2021 at 1:33 pm

      5 stars
      Spicy and really delicious! Love it.

      Reply
    9. Kim Guzman

      March 06, 2021 at 3:15 am

      5 stars
      What a delicious and light meal. I love tequila and it’s not used enough. I can’t wait to try this.

      Reply
    10. Addison

      March 05, 2021 at 5:50 pm

      5 stars
      This sauce sounds so flavorful! Yum!

      Reply
    11. Elizabeth

      March 05, 2021 at 4:49 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe! Will make again! 

      Reply
    12. michele

      March 05, 2021 at 1:30 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve always been at a loss with what to do with snapper so this recipe is a welcome addition to my recipe collection. Love the lime margarita salsa

      Reply
    13. Alexandra

      March 04, 2021 at 11:26 pm

      5 stars
      That lime margarita sauce is so delicious with the fish!

      Reply
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    My name is Dennis Littley or "Chef Dennis" as I'm known both at work and across the blogosphere. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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