Crisp Skinned Tilefish Over Provencal Cabbage Food

CRISP-SKINNED TILEFISH OVER PROVENCAL CABBAGE

Steps:

• Turn the heat to medium-high under a heavy skillet (you'll note I used a big cast-iron pan, which I like). Add the oil and let it get hot; dredge the fillets on their skin side in the cornmeal or flour, then cook on one side only until nicely crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon.
• Add the cabbage and cook, stirring occasionally, until it wilts. Add the tomatoes, porcini, olives, and capers; stir, then add the liquid. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is tender, the tomatoes falling apart, the sun-dried tomatoes and mushrooms tender -- 10 minutes or so, maybe 15. Add a little more liquid if necessary.
• Rest the fillets on top of the cooked vegetables, over medium-heat and cook, undisturbed, until they're cooked through, 5 to 10 minutes more -- a thin-bladed knife will pierce their thickest parts immediately. Serve attractively, fish over or surrounded by vegetables. Garnish with parsley or any other green herb that you have on hand, and like.

CRISP ROASTED CABBAGE

Steps:

• Cut the duck skin and fat into small pieces and put in a saucepan with 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer and cook until the fat is melted and the skin is brown and crisp, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Scoop out the duck-skin cracklings, drain on paper towels and season with salt. Reserve the duck fat.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Heat 3 tablespoons duck fat (or olive oil) in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the cabbage in batches, about 1 minute per side; transfer to a baking dish. Drizzle with 1 to 2 tablespoons duck fat (or olive oil), season with salt and toss. Roast until crisp on top, about 15 minutes, then turn the wedges and roast until the other side is crisp, about 8 more minutes. Sprinkle with the duck-skin cracklings and roast 2 more minutes. Drizzle with the vinegar.

CRISP, CRUNCHY CABBAGE

Steps:

• Heat oil and saute cabbage for apprx 5 min (cooked but still crisp) Add sproats, caraway seeds, salt& pepper.
• Toss lightly to mix and serve.

CRISP-SKIN FISH WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Snap the woody ends off the asparagus, and discard. Cut the tomatoes in half, spoon out and discard the seeds. Finely slice the tomato flesh, then cut into small dice. Set both asparagus and tomatoes aside.
• Heat the 1 tbsp olive oil in a large frying pan. Season the fish with salt and pepper, and cook skin-side down over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes, gently pressing, until skin is crisped and golden. Turn and cook the other side for 3-4 minutes, depending on the thickness, until cooked.
• Meanwhile, cook the asparagus in simmering salted water for 3-4 minutes. Drain well. For the dressing, gently warm the 3 tbsp olive oil in a small saucepan with the tomatoes, olives, capers and parsley leaves. Toss the asparagus in a little of the dressing. Arrange the asparagus on each of four warmed dinner plates, top with the fish, and spoon the warm tomato dressing around the fish.

FISH SOUP PROVENCALE

Steps:

• Remove any skin and cut the fish into one inch cubes.
• Heat the oil in a heavy casserole or skillet and add the onion, leeks, garlic, red and green peppers and the saffron and cook over medium heat until softened.
• Add the wine, tomatoes, water, thyme, bay leaf, anise seed, pepper flakes and salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
• Simmer for ten minutes.
• Add the fish and the mussels, stir gently and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Remove thyme sprig and bay leaf and taste for seasoning.
• If any mussels are unopened, cook for a bit longer.
• Sprinkle with basil (or parsley) and serve.