Ingredients
Method
Prepare the Salad and Dressing
- Whisk together the fish sauce, lime juice, palm sugar, and grated garlic in a small bowl until the sugar dissolves. Taste and adjust - it should be sour first, then savory, with mild sweetness underneath.
- Combine the julienned green mango, sliced shallots, and bird's eye chili in a large mixing bowl. Toss together and set aside without the dressing.
Prepare the Snapper
- Pat each snapper fillet completely dry on both sides with paper towels. Using a sharp knife, score the skin with 3 shallow diagonal cuts about 1 cm deep to prevent curling.
- Season the flesh side with fine sea salt and white pepper. Leave the skin unseasoned at this stage to keep it as dry as possible.
Sear the Snapper
- Heat a 12-inch stainless steel or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add the neutral oil and swirl to coat - the oil should shimmer and move freely when you tilt the pan.
- Place the fillets skin-side down into the hot oil. Immediately press each fillet flat with a fish spatula for 30 seconds to maintain full skin contact with the pan.
- Cook skin-side down for 5 to 6 minutes without moving, until the skin is deep golden and the flesh has turned opaque roughly 80 percent of the way up.
- Flip each fillet carefully and cook flesh-side down for 60 to 90 seconds until just cooked through. Remove from heat and rest for 1 minute.
Finish and Plate
- Add the mint, cilantro, and toasted cashews to the mango bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat, working quickly so the herbs stay fresh.
- Divide the mango salad between four plates. Place one snapper fillet skin-side up on each plate so the crispy skin stays exposed. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.
Notes
For extra-crispy skin, season the fillets with salt and leave them uncovered on a rack in the fridge for up to 1 hour before cooking - the surface dries out further and the skin crisps even faster in the pan.
