Grouper Provencal Ala Derek Food

GROUPER WITH FENNEL AND OLIVE RELISH

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium low heat. Saute the onions with salt and pepper until soft but not brown, about 5 minutes. Add the fennel and cook 3 to 5 minutes more. Set aside to cool.
• Transfer the onion mixture to a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. The relish can be refrigerated overnight.
• Heat a grill. Brush fillets with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• To serve, place fish on a serving platter or individual plates and top with relish.

PROVENCAL SHELLFISH STEW

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and fennel and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are golden, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, pepper, and saffron and cook another minute. Stir in the vermouth and simmer until reduced by about half. Lightly crush the tomatoes through your fingers into the pot; stir in their juices, add the water, orange zest, bay leaf, cover, and simmer until the flavors come together, about 20 minutes.
• Adjust the heat so that the broth simmers briskly. Stir in the clams, cover the pot, and cook until they just begin to open, 6 to 8 minutes. (To keep the clams from overcooking, transfer any fully opened ones to a bowl.) Add the scallops and shrimp and cook, uncovered, until they are just cooked through and opaque, 2 to 3 minutes more. Stir in the vinegar, parsley, and return any of the cooked clams along with their juices. Season with salt, if needed. Divide stew and shellfish among 4 warm bowls. Serve.

FLORIDA GROUPER WITH CUCUMBER SLAW AND KEY LIME BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• For the slaw: Toss together the cucumber, bell pepper, carrot, rice vinegar, lime juice, cilantro, sugar, soy sauce and sesame oil. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• For the key lime butter sauce: Bring the wine, shallots and bay leaves to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Once boiling, add the heavy cream and lime zest and juice. Bring back to a boil and cook until reduced by half. Mix the cornstarch and water together and slowly whisk into the reduced cream.
• Once the mixture thickens turn the heat to low and add the butter a little at a time, whisking each time until fully incorporated. Run through a fine strainer and keep warm until serving.
• For the grouper: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it just begins to smoke. Season the grouper filets with salt and pepper, put in the skillet top-side down and cook until the flesh begins to crisp, about 2 minutes. Do not flip; transfer the skillet to the oven and cook until the grouper flakes easily, 5 to 6 minutes.
• To serve, spoon some Key Lime Butter Sauce on each of 4 plates and top with a grouper filet browned-side up. Top each filet with some Cucumber Slaw and serve.

ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Boil asparagus for 3 to 5 minutes. Add olive oil and salt and pepper, to taste.

ARTICHOKES PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Cook 1/2 chopped onion, 2 chopped garlic cloves and a pinch of salt in a skillet with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 5 minutes. Pour in 1/2 cup white wine and reduce by half. Add 2 chopped tomatoes, two 9-ounce packages frozen artichoke hearts, 3 tablespoons water, 1 strip lemon zest and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, covered, 6 minutes. Stir in chopped olives, basil and salt and pepper.

TUNA PROVENCAL

Steps:

• In a large bowl flake tuna with a fork. Stir in capers, black olives, onion and tomatoes. Pour in oil and vinegar and toss to coat. Season and serve with watercress on whole grain bread. Alternative: Arrange mixed greens on plate and top with a quartered boiled new potato, quartered boiled egg and steamed green beans. In center place a scoop of the tuna salad.