Lemon Poached Sole Food

SOLE WITH LEMON-CAPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Using a paper towel, dry the sole fillets very well. Season the fish evenly with 1 teaspoon salt. Heat a medium skillet over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter to the pan. When the butter is fully melted and the bubbles have subsided, dredge both sides of 2 fillets in the flour. Shake off the excess flour and add the fish to the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium high. Cook the fillets until beginning to brown around the edges on the first side, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a fish spatula, flip the fish gently and cook for another 30 seconds. Remove the fillets to a plate and continue with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon butter and fish.
• When all 4 fillets are cooked and out of the skillet, add the capers and garlic and cook over medium heat, stirring, until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add the chicken stock and lemon juice and stir, scraping up the bits from the bottom. Season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Simmer for about 2 minutes to reduce the liquid slightly. Finish the sauce by stirring in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, chili paste and oregano. Spoon the sauce over the fish, sprinkle with the parsley and serve.

LEMON SOLE

Steps:

• Preheat 2 medium non-stick skillets over medium-low heat for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, lay the fillets on a piece of wax paper, parchment, or a baking sheet and blot dry with paper towels. Season the fillets with salt and pepper. (If the fillets tapers down to a very thin tail, fold the tail back to make a more uniformly thick fillet.) Put the flour on a plate. Dredge the rounded-sides of the fillets in the flour and shake off any excess.
• Raise the heat to medium-high and add 1 tablespoon of butter to each skillet. When the butter stops foaming, add 2 fillets to each pan, rounded-side down, and cook, lightly shaking the skillets occasionally, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Turn off the heat, flip the fillets with a spatula, and let the fillets finish cooking in the residual heat in the pans, about 2 minutes more. Transfer the fillets to 4 warm plates and cover loosely with foil.
• Add the lemon juice and water to one of the skillets. While moving the skillet in a circular motion, add the remaining 3 tablespoons butter, little by little, until melted and a smooth, creamy sauce is formed. Stir in the parsley and thyme and season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon some of the sauce over each fillet and serve immediately.

EASY SOLE MEUNIERE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Have 2 heat-proof dinner plates ready
• Combine the flour, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a large shallow plate. Pat the sole fillets dry with paper towels and sprinkle one side with salt.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of butter in a large (12-inch) saute pan over medium heat until it starts to brown. Dredge 2 sole fillets in the seasoned flour on both sides and place them in the hot butter. Lower the heat to medium-low and cook for 2 minutes. Turn carefully with a metal spatula and cook for 2 minutes on the other side. While the second side cooks, add 1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest and 3 tablespoons of lemon juice to the pan. Carefully put the fish filets on the ovenproof plates and pour the sauce over them. Keep the cooked fillets warm in the oven while you repeat the process with the remaining 2 fillets. When they're done, add the cooked fillets to the plates in the oven. Sprinkle with the parsley, salt, and pepper and serve immediately.

SOLE MEUNIèRE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200 degrees and place a large oven-safe plate or baking sheet inside.
• Place flour on a large, shallow plate. Season both sides of fish fillets with salt and pepper to taste. Dredge fish in flour, shaking off excess.
• In a 12-inch nonstick or enamel-lined skillet over medium-high heat, heat 2 tablespoons clarified butter until bubbling. Place half of the fish fillets in the pan and cook until just done, 2 to 3 minutes per side, then transfer to the plate or baking sheet in the oven to keep warm. Add 2 more tablespoons clarified butter to skillet and heat until bubbling, then cook remaining fillets. Wipe out the skillet.
• Arrange the fish on a warm serving platter. Top with parsley. In reserved skillet, heat remaining 4 tablespoons unsalted butter until bubbling and golden, 1 to 2 minutes, then pour evenly over fillets. Serve immediately, with lemon wedges on the side.

POACHED FILLET OF SOLE

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Add the onion, shallots and garlic; cook, stirring as needed, until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the wine, lemon juice, tarragon, bay leaf and pepper. Add the fish, gently spooning the onion mixture over the filets. Reduce the heat and simmer, until partially cooked, about 3 minutes.
• Gently stir in the tomatoes; simmer, covered, until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork, about 2 to 3 minutes. Discard the bay leaf. Serve, topped with the sauce.
• Per Serving: Calories 254; Fat 7g (sat 1g); Cholesterol 68mg; Sodium 132mg; Carbs 13g; Fiber 2g; Protein 29g; Calcium 64mg.
• This is good with brown rice and a salad.

OVEN-POACHED PACIFIC SOLE WITH LEMON CAPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Oil or butter one or two baking dishes large enough to accommodate the fish fillets in one layer. Lay the fish in the dish(es) and season with salt and pepper.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a small or medium skillet and add the shallot. Cook, stirring, until tender and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the wine to the pan, bring to a boil, and pour the wine and shallots over the fish. Return the skillet to the stove (make sure the heat is off) for later use. Cover the baking dish with foil and place in the oven. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or 5 minutes for each 1/2 inch of thickness, until the fish is opaque and pulls apart easily with a fork.
• While the fish is in the oven, whisk together the garlic, capers, lemon juice and olive oil. You can also mash the garlic in a mortar and pestle and work in the capers, lemon juice and olive oil, though I prefer the capers chopped, even some intact, and not puréed.
• When the fish is done remove it from the oven and carefully transfer to a platter or plates. Cover and keep warm. Pour the liquid in the baking dish into the skillet and turn the heat on high. Reduce, stirring often, to about 1/4 cup - it should be thick - and stir in the garlic and caper mixture and the parsley. Whisk together, taste and adjust seasoning, pour over the fish and serve.

SOLE ROLLS (POACHED IN MILK)

Steps:

• Platter:.
• Line a serving platter with the fresh baby spinach leaves; arrange slices of tomato around edge of spinach; sprinkle salt and pepper and chopped green onion around tomato slices. Set aside.
• Filling:.
• Heat oil in a medium frypan, saute onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Add tomato, spinach, capers and ricotta cheese, cook, stirring 1 minute or until heated through. Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper, set aside to cool. Do not rinse the frypan, it will be used to poach the roll.
• The Sole:.
• Squeeze lemon over fillet and sprinkle with the dill. Spread the filling evenly over the fillet. Starting at the tail end, (shortest end), roll fillet up like a jelly roll. If necessary use toothpicks to hold.
• Add the milk to the frypan, bring to simmer and deglaze. Carefully add the filled sole roll to the milk, seam side down, spoon milk over the roll; cover and simmer/poach for about 10 minutes, or until fish flakes and is cooked through. Sprinkle with parmesan shreds and carefully remove to the centre of the arranged platter; cut the roll evenly in two; drizzle a little of the reduced milk over platter arrangement and fish; sprinkle with green onion; serve immediately.

CLASSIC SOLE MEUNIèRE

Steps:

• For fish:
• Place flour in pie dish. Rinse fish; pat with paper towels. Sprinkle both sides of fish with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper. Dredge fish on both sides with flour; shake off excess. Place on platter.
• Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until oil is hot and shimmers. Add butter; quickly swirl skillet to coat. When foam subsides, add fish and cook until golden on bottom, 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully turn fish over and cook until opaque in center and golden on bottom, 1 to 2 minutes. Divide fish between 2 warmed plates; tent with foil. Pour off drippings from skillet; wipe with paper towels.
• For sauce:
• Place skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter; cook until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in parsley and lemon juice (sauce may sputter). Spoon sauce over fish. Serve with lemon wedges.

SOLE WITH LEMON-BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Place wine in a large, lidded skillet. Fold each sole fillet into thirds. Arrange in skillet; season with coarse salt and ground pepper. Lay two overlapping lemon slices on each piece of fish.
• Bring wine to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; simmer gently until fish is opaque throughout, 3 to 5 minutes. With a spatula, transfer fish to serving plates.
• Return liquid in skillet to a boil; cook until reduced to 1/3 cup, 1 to 2 minutes. Add lemon juice; remove from heat. Whisk in butter until smooth. Season with salt; strain, if desired. Serve with fish; garnish with fresh herbs and pepper, if desired.