Dry the fish well inside and out with paper towels. Holding a sharp paring knife at 45-degree angle to the fish, cut three to-the-bone diagonal slashes into each side of each fish (fig. 1.1). Place both fish in a large, flat container, such as a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish.

In a food processor, combine the scallions, cilantro, parsley, 2 teaspoons coconut oil, the lime zest, ginger, garlic, salt, black pepper, and cayenne. Pulse quickly until the mixture forms a thick, bright-green paste (fig. 2.1). Measure out ½ cup of the paste into a small bowl, cover, and refrigerate for use in the sauce. With a slender rubber or small metal offset spatula, spread the remaining paste into the slashes on both sides of each fish and into the cavities (fig. 2.2), keeping the skin largely free of paste. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 450 degrees. Have ready a broiler pan fitted with its slotted top (or a rimmed baking sheet fitted with a wire rack).

Remove the snappers from the baking dish and thoroughly pat them dry with paper towels. In a 12-inch heavy-bottomed skillet, heat ⅓ cup of the remaining coconut oil over high heat until shimmering. Very carefully lower one fish into the skillet—if the tail sticks out the skillet, don’t worry. Quickly cover with the splatter screen and fry the fish without disturbing for 20 seconds. Remove the screen and, using 2 wide metal spatulas, ease the fish onto its other side (fig. 4.1). Fry for another 20 seconds, then transfer the fish to the broiler pan.

Add the remaining coconut oil to the pan, heat until shimmering, and fry the second fish as you did the first, transferring it to the broiler pan next to the first. Roast until the thickest part of the fish feels firm when pressed with a finger, the flesh flakes when prodded with a knife, and spots of albumin (the egg white–like substance) are visible in the slashes, about 10 minutes (fig. 5.1). Remove the pan from the oven and let the fish rest for about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small skillet over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Remove the skillet from the heat, add the reserved seasoning paste, and whisk to combine (fig. 6.1).

Using a wide metal spatula, transfer the fish to a large warmed platter. Pour the sauce over the fish and serve with lime wedges and Caribbean Coconut-Scallion Rice. (To fillet the fish at table, begin at the head and use a sharp, thin knife, held parallel to the fish and close to the bone, to cut along the backbone to the tail. With a wide serving spatula, lift the top fillet away from the spine. Then, beginning at the tail, pull the spine away from the bottom fillet, using a knife to assist in separating the bones from the flesh. Discard the bones and allow the fillets to bathe in the sauce. Repeat this process with the second fish.)