Ingredients
1 fresh lemongrass stalk, bottom 6 inches only, thinly sliced (about 1/4 cup)
1 fresh Thai chile, halved lengthwise and seeded
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon teaspoon coriander seeds, crushed
1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
1/2 cup sugar
Coarse salt
1 cup white-wine vinegar
1 cup water
1 pound small Italian eggplant, stemmed and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
Canola oil, for brushing
1 1/2 pounds red snapper fillets, skinned
1/2 honeydew melon (about 2 pounds) seeded, rind removed, and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
Preparation
Combine lemongrass, chile, bay leaf, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, sugar, 1/4 cup salt, vinegar, and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring once. Reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Transfer to a measuring cup; let cool.
Preheat grill to medium-high. (If you are using a charcoal grill, coals are ready when you can hold your hand 5 inches above grill for just 3 to 4 seconds.) Brush eggplant slices with oil, and grill, flipping once, until cooked through and blackened in places, about 2 minutes per side. Let cool slightly.
Place snapper into a skillet, and cover with water by 1 inch. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons salt. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, and cover with a round of parchment or a lid; let stand until snapper is opaque and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spatula, carefully transfer snapper to a plate. Cover with parchment to keep it from becoming dry. Discard poaching liquid. When snapper is cool enough to handle, gently flake into 1-inch pieces.
Arrange grilled eggplant, poached snapper, and melon slices on a large platter. Drizzle with 1 cup lemongrass sauce. Cover platter with plastic wrap, and refrigerate, along with remaining lemongrass sauce, for at least 2 hours (or up to 4 hours). Serve cold with extra sauce on the side.
