Salt-Baked Snapper with Ice Wine Nage

Preparation

1. Step 1

   To prepare snapper: Heat oven to 400 degrees. Finely grate zest of lemon and orange into a large bowl. Squeeze juices from lemon and orange into a separate bowl, and reserve for preparing nage. To bowl of zests, add the salt, juniper berries, fennel seed, star anise and egg whites. Mix well. Spread half the mixture flat on a baking tray. Rub snapper all over with olive oil, and place on top of salt mixture. Spread with remaining salt mixture, patting it down and leaving mixture thinner at edges than on top. (This is where crust will be cracked after baking.) Bake 30-35 minutes for medium-rare fish, 40 to 45 minutes for medium.

2. Step 2

   While fish bakes, prepare nage and vegetables: Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add onions, and sauté until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add endive and carrots, and sauté for 2 minutes. Add wine, reserved lemon and orange juice and saffron. Raise heat to medium-high and boil until nage is reduced by about a third, about 5 minutes.

3. Step 3

   Remove nage from heat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer vegetables to a bowl, and set them aside. Return pan to low heat, and whisk in remaining 10 tablespoons butter, a tablespoon or two at a time. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Return vegetables to pan, and reheat just until warmed. Add parsley, remove from heat, and keep warm.

4. Step 4

   To serve, use a kitchen mallet to crack salt crust lightly around edges of fish. Remove salt crust with a knife, and transfer portions of fish fillet to each of four plates. Top with nage and vegetables, and serve immediately.