Whole roasted snapper with lime and tamarind

Babiche Martens

This whole-fish dish not only looks impressive, it's delicious and really easy to prepare.

Ingredients

1 Tbsp	Tamarind concentrate
3 cloves	Garlic, peeled
2 cm	Ginger, peeled
1	Shallot, peeled
3 tsp	Palm sugar, grated
1	Bird's eye chilli
1 ½ kgs	Whole snapper (Main)
2	Limes, thinly sliced
2	Kaffir lime leaves
1 Tbsp	Fish sauce
1 Tbsp	Fresh dill
1 Tbsp	Coriander leaves
1 Tbsp	Vietnamese mint leaves
2	Red banana chillies, sliced

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 180C.
2. In a food processor put the tamarind, ginger, garlic, shallot, sugar, chilli, lime leaves and fish sauce and process until a coarse paste is created.
3. Cut three deep slits on each side of the fish and massage the paste into each.
4. Put the lime slices and some of the fresh herbs into the cavity, reserving some herbs for garnishing.
5. Roast for 30 minutes then let sit for 5 minutes.
6. Scatter with herbs and chilli, then serve with extra limes and rice.