I love to cook with ingredients that might otherwise be discarded, like fish collars. If you’re tempted to treat them as scraps, please don’t throw them away or use them merely for a stock. They’re delicious as the main focus of a dish—think of them as the spareribs of the sea. Here, croaker collars are marinated in citrus, chipotle, ginger, and fish sauce, and served with a mango salad full of funk, spice, and crunch.
Recipe information
Total Time
2 to 3 hours
Yield
Serves 4
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Juice 1 each of the limes, lemons, and oranges into a medium mixing bowl. Add the olive oil, chipotle pepper, ginger, 1 teaspoon of the cilantro, and the fish sauce. Whisk until well combined. Divide the marinade in half.
Step 2
Place half of the marinade in a large zip-top bag. Season the fish with ½ teaspoon of the salt and add to the marinade. Seal and move the fish around to evenly coat. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours.
Step 3
Segment the remaining lemon, lime, and orange and add to the marinade in the mixing bowl. Add the mangos and stir to combine.
Step 4
Heat the vegetable oil in a small sauté pan set over medium-high heat. When the oil shimmers, add the shallot, garlic, dried shrimp, chile, peanuts, chile powder, and remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until shallot is translucent and peanuts are browned slightly, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the mixture to the bowl with the mango and toss the salad to combine.
Step 5
Bring 1 inch of water in a large pot to a simmer over medium-high heat. Remove the fish from the marinade and set in a steamer basket. Place the basket in the pot, cover, and steam until fish is cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
Step 6
Garnish the fish with the coconut flakes, mint, and remaining 1 tablespoon of cilantro and serve with the mango salad.
Recipe notes
Back to topSee Related Recipes and Cooking Tips
11 of Our Favorite Marcus Samuelsson Recipes
From piri-piri short ribs to “unbelievably good” roasted carrots.For the Most Succulent Fish, Cook the Collar
This ocean-friendly cut is cheaper than fillets—and richer in flavor.
