Open Faced Snakehead Sandwich
A fresh herb salad and a citrusy vinaigrette flavored with ground sumac and lemon juice give this sandwich a pop of brightness and complement the delicate white fish. These are great for a lunch or summer dinner.
Yield: 2 servings
Time: 30 minutes
2 4-oz. portions skinless, boneless snakehead fillets
2 slices Italian bread, sliced diagonally ¾” thick
2-3 Tbsp. salted butter, softened
2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
1 ½ c. fresh herbs (a combination of basil, dill, parsley, cilantro), packed, coarsely chopped
2 poached eggs (see this video for an easy technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrq3iZcvHAw)
Sumac Vinaigrette
2 Tbsp. lemon juice, freshly squeezed
¼ tsp. Dijon mustard
1½ tsp. honey
½ tsp. grated fresh garlic (recommend using a microplane)
6 Tbsp. canola oil
½ tsp. fine sea salt
1¼ tsp. ground sumac
¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp. chopped fresh chives
Make Vinaigrette: In a medium bowl whisk together lemon juice, mustard, honey, and garlic until blended. Gradually drizzle in the oil a little bit at a time while whisking constantly to create an emulsion. Whisk in salt, sumac, pepper, and chives. Taste and adjust seasoning. Transfer 3 Tbsp. of vinaigrette to a large, flat bowl and dip fillets into dressing, thoroughly coating both sides (let stand in dressing until ready to cook). Set remaining dressing aside.
Make poached eggs and set aside.
Spread both sides of bread generously with butter. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and grill bread on both sides until golden brown. Transfer to two plates.
Wipe skillet clean and return to heat. Add fillets to hot skillet and cook until lightly browned on both sides, flipping once, 3-4 minutes total or until cooked through. Remove from pan to prevent further cooking.
Just before serving toss the chopped herbs with enough dressing to lightly coat. Spread tops of bread slices with mayonnaise, top each slice with half of the salad, a fillet, then a poached egg. If desired, drizzle a little of any remaining vinaigrette over sandwiches and serve.
Original Sumac Dressing by https://therealfoodgeek.com/sumac-dressing-with-lemon-ready-in-5-minutes/ with modifications.