Question: Some of my best recipes have come from your column. I would love to add one more. It's the Crunchy Grouper from Parker's Lighthouse 3 in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. I'm drooling already!
- Gayle Hutchens, Indianapolis
Answer: "The best of everything" is the proud boast of Florida's Palm Beach County, a sensational bit of geography that stretches 47 miles along the pristine Atlantic coastline of Florida's "Gold Coast." Within the area is the golfing paradise, Palm Beach Gardens, which is the headquarters of the Professional Golfers' Association of America. The annual PGA Seniors' Championship features legends such as Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Chi Chi Rodriguez as well as "rookie" seniors Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino, who debuted in the tournament in 1990.
The Parker Lighthouse 3's Crunchy Grouper is an easy meal with great taste. Place the fillet in a buttered, toasted bun and add lettuce, tomato and tartar sauce to create a tasty sandwich, or serve the fillet as an entree. Almonds and cornflakes give the batter-dipped fish a crusty crunch, but they must be pressed firmly into the fillet or they won't stick. For best results let the breaded fillet set up in the refrigerator one hour before frying.
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RECIPE
CRUNCHY GROUPER
2 teaspoons flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon sliced or finely chopped almonds
2 tablespoons slightly crushed corn flakes
1 (5-ounce) grouper fillet
Oil for deep-fat frying
Combine flour, salt and pepper in bowl. Set aside. In small bowl, beat egg lightly. Set aside. Chop almonds and crush cornflakes and place in bowl. Set aside.
Dredge fillet in seasoned flour to coat evenly. Dip fillet in egg. Coat fillet with mixture of almonds and cornflakes, pressing mixture firmly into fish. Refrigerate one hour.
Preheat oil in deep-fat fryer to 350 degrees. Fry fillet 1 to 2 minutes or until fish is cooked and crust is golden brown. Drain on paper towel. Makes one serving.