Flounder Chowder House Food

FISH EN PAPILLOTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a bowl, mix together the onion, zucchini, carrot and garlic. Adds the oil, season with salt and pepper, to taste, and toss to combine. Put each fish fillet in a large square of parchment paper and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Arrange the vegetables on top, dividing evenly. Top the vegetables with 2 lemon slices, 2 sprigs thyme, a pat of butter and 1 tablespoon white wine, layering in order. Fold the parchment paper around the edges tightly in 1/4-inch folds to create a half moon shape. Make sure you press as you crimp and fold to seal the packets well, otherwise the steam will escape. Arrange the packets on a baking sheet. Bake until the fish is cooked through, about 12 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish. To serve, cut open the packets and serve directly in the parchment on a plate or remove the fish to the plate using a spatula, being sure you don't leave the juices behind.

CAJUN FRIED FLOUNDER WITH DIJON TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the tartar sauce: Stir together the mayonnaise, mustard, relish, dill, vinegar, sugar and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Make the flounder: Soak the fish in the buttermilk in a bowl for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, pour enough oil to go 1 1/2 inches up the sides of a large, deep cast-iron skillet. Heat over medium heat to 375 degrees F.
• Sprinkle the fish lightly with salt and pepper. Place the cornmeal and flour in a shallow dish or paper bag. Sprinkle the fish with the Cajun seasoning. Add the fish to the flour mixture and coat each piece evenly. Transfer the breaded fish to a plate or cutting board.
• Add the fish to the oil in batches and fry until the pieces start to float to the top and are golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on a wire rack after cooking to let the extra oil run off. Sprinkle a little lemon juice on top of each fillet before serving. Serve with the tartar sauce.

FLOUNDER MILANESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F and place a sheet pan in the oven.
• Dry the fish on both sides with paper towels. Combine the flour, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper on a dinner plate. In a low, shallow bowl, whisk the eggs with 1 tablespoon water. Put the bread crumbs on another plate. Dredge the fish on both sides in the seasoned flour and dust off the excess. Dip both sides into the egg mixture and, finally, dredge both sides in the bread crumbs.
• Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan and cook 2 fillets at a time over medium to medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until cooked through. Transfer the fish in one layer to the sheet pan in the oven. Add more butter and oil and cook the rest of the fillets, transferring them to the sheet pan as they're done. Toss the arugula with enough Lemon Vinaigrette to moisten. Place one fillet on each plate and pile the arugula salad on top. Heat the capers in the saute pan for 30 seconds and sprinkle over the fish and salad. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan, a squeeze of lemon juice, and the fleur de sel. Serve hot.
• In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.

FLOUNDER PICCATA WITH HARICOTS VERTS AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Make an ice bath with salted water.
• Blanch the haricots verts in the boiling water until tender but still crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Immediately shock in the ice bath to stop cooking. Drain the excess water and set aside on a sheet tray.
• Coat a small saute pan with olive oil and add 1 tablespoon of the shallots and some salt (save the remaining shallots for the sauce). Sweat over medium heat until softened and translucent, about 1 minute, then add the mushrooms. Stir and cook until the mushrooms start to soften, 2 minutes more. Add a pinch of salt and the crushed red pepper flakes and continue cooking until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the haricots verts to the pan and toss to coat. Taste for seasoning and set aside.
• Put the flour in a shallow dish. Coat a large skillet with olive oil and heat over medium-high until the skillet is hot. Sprinkle both sides of the fish with salt and dredge in the flour. Gently shake off the excess flour and lay the fish skin-side down in the oil. Cook until the outside edges of the first side turn white and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes, then flip and cook until the fish turns white and opaque, 1 minute more. Remove the fish from the skillet and set aside on plates or a platter.
• Use a paper towel to carefully wipe out the skillet used to cook the fish. Lower the heat to medium and lightly coat with olive oil. Add the remaining diced shallot with a pinch of salt and sweat until the shallots soften, about 30 seconds. Add the white wine and chopped lemon supremes and cook, stirring often, until it comes to a boil. Add the capers, lemon juice and lemon zest and simmer until the liquid is reduced by half. Add the chicken stock and a pinch of salt and continue to reduce at a simmer by half.
• Add a pat of butter and cook, swirling the pan, until melted, then add another pat. As the butter melts, swirl the pan to fully incorporate. Continue adding butter, one pat at a time, until the sauce is thickened. (You should need between 3 and 4 pats total.) If the sauce reduces too much, adjust with a small splash of chicken stock to thin it out. Season to taste with salt and stir in the parsley.
• Arrange the haricots verts and mushrooms next to the fish on plates. Top the fish with the sauce and garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley.

FLOUNDER FRANCESE WITH TOASTED ALMONDS, LEMON AND CAPERS

Steps:

• Toast almonds over moderate heat and reserve.
• Preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium to medium high heat. Season the fish with salt and pepper. Beat eggs with cream. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil to the skillet, 2 turns of the pan then add 2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces. Dip the fish into the eggs and cook on both sides until just golden, 5 to 6 minutes total. Transfer fish to a plate and cover with loose a foil tent to retain heat.
• Add wine to the pan and reduce by half, 1 minute, then add 1 tablespoon butter and a handful of parsley to the pan. Stir in the lemon juice and zest and the capers. Turn off heat. Pour sauce over fish and top with sliced almonds.
• Return skillet to heat. Add remaining 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 more turns of the pan. Add chopped garlic and let it speak by coming to a sizzle. Wilt in spinach, turning to coat in extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Serve spinach alongside flounder.

PAN-FRIED FLOUNDER

Steps:

• Wash fillets in cold water and pat dry. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Dredge fillets in flour. Place oil and 2 tablespoons butter in flat, heavy-bottomed skillet and heat on medium-high until butter melts. Keeping heat at medium-high, cook fish on 1 side about 3 minutes (more or less, depending on size of fillets), until deep brown and crispy. Turn fish and cook on second side, about 3 minutes. Turn fish only once.
• Remove fish to serving platter. Turn off heat. Into hot skillet, whisk in remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Add lemon juice. Pour in capers, liquid and all. Whisk. Pour thin sauce over fish fillets. serve at once.