Fast food my way - No, not Jacques Pepin's

I love Jacques Pepin. The man is truly a master but he scares me. I remember watching him on one of his earlier PBS series where his daughter (Claudine) would be cooking with him... such a brave woman. It was so typical of many parents with their children in the kitchen - the watchful eyes, the directions, the taking of your knife and demonstrating how they want it done. I'd watch the show and only realize that my fists were clenched or my legs crossed tightly when the show was over. I was always scared for her, but Claudine handled herself well. Every time. Okay, so the only reason that I included Jacques Pepin's name in the title of this post is because he has a book by the title: Fast Food My Way. However, it's a phrase I use a lot when chatting with my friends of about quick meals I make when I don't have a lot of time or energy to spend in the kitchen. It aptly describes the dish I am sharing with you today - Grey Snapper in a Coconut Milk Sauce.

All you need are a few ingredients and this dish is done in about 20 - 25 minutes. It goes well with rice but when I made it, I had it with a crusty homemade bread. It was so good. Just let the bread sit in the bowl or pan and soak up the sauce. Use a couple of napkins; place one over your chest to prevent our clothes from being soiled. Trust me, that heavenly, yeasty bread pregnant with sauce is bound to drip!

INGREDIENTS

• 2 pounds grey snapper fillets, cleaned and cut into 4 x1-inch thick pieces
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 1/2 cup diced onions
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/3 cup chopped cilantro, divided equally
• 2 cups fresh coconut milk or 1 cup canned coconut milk and 1 cup tap water

DIRECTIONS

1. Season fish lightly with salt and pepper and set aside.
2. Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat.
3. Add ginger, onion and garlic, sprinkle salt, toss to mix and reduce heat to low and cook until the aromatics are softened, do not let them get brown.
4. Stir in the turmeric and cook for 1 - 2 minutes.
5. Turn heat to high and pour in coconut milk, add half of the cilantro, season lightly with salt and pepper. Let the pan come to a boil and then reduce heat to low and let simmer for 5 - 6 minutes.
6. Turn heat to high and place fish in pan in single layer, cover and let pan come to boil. As soon as the pan comes to a boil, remove the cover and let the fish cook for 6 - 8 minutes; spoon sauce over the fish to baste as it cooks or if you like, carefully flip fish over halfway during the cooking process.
7. Toss in the remaining cilantro and shake pan for it to settle into sauce; taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary. Let the dish rest for a couple of minutes then serve while still hot.