Sole Milanese Food

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.

FISH MILANESE

Steps:

• Place flour, eggs and bread crumbs in three separate shallow bowls, and season each with salt and pepper. Crumble the oregano with your fingertips and add to the bread crumbs; mix well.
• Season fish with salt. Working with one piece at a time, dredge in flour (shake off excess), dip in egg (shake off excess) then dredge in bread crumbs, pressing to adhere. Transfer to a large plate.
• In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat. Add 2 fillets and cook until golden underneath, about 3 minutes. Flip fish and cook until golden on the second side and cooked through, 2 minutes longer. Transfer to a large paper towel-lined plate, and season with salt. Wipe out skillet. Repeat with 1 tablespoon of the butter, 1 tablespoon of the oil and the remaining fish.
• Wipe out skillet and melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Add shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until shallot is softened and butter is golden brown, about 2 minutes. Stir in the garlic until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil, plus the lemon juice, parsley, capers and caper brine, and mix well. Transfer the brown-butter vinaigrette to a small heatproof bowl, and season with salt and pepper.
• Divide the fish, arugula and avocado among plates, and drizzle with the brown-butter vinaigrette. Serve with lemon wedges.

VEAL MILANESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 175 degrees F.
• In a shallow dish, beat eggs and season with salt and pepper. Pour flour into another shallow dish. Mix together the bread crumbs, basil and thyme in a third shallow dish. Have ready one large plate.
• Season the veal with salt and pepper. Working with 1 piece of veal at a time, dip it first in the flour, shaking off excess. Next, place the floured veal into the beaten eggs, coating completely. Place the veal into the bread crumb mixture and gently press crumbs into the veal. Set aside on large plate and continue with remaining veal slices.
• In a large skillet with high sides, heat the oil to 375 degrees F. Have ready a baking sheet fitted with a rack. Carefully place 2 pieces of breaded veal in the hot oil and fry until golden brown on both sides, about 6 to 8 minutes total. Place cooked veal on rack, season with salt and place in oven to keep warm. Continue with remaining veal.
• Serve with lemon wedges.

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.

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.

EASY SOLE MEUNIERE (BAREFOOT CONTESSA)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Have 2 heat-proof dinner plates ready.
• Combine the flour, 1 teaspoon 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.

COLD STEAMED PETRALE SOLE WITH UNCOOKED TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut tomatoes in half along the equator. Place a strainer over a bowl and squeeze out seedpods. Rub seedpods against strainer to extract juicy pulp. Discard seeds. Place a box grater in a wide bowl, and using the large holes of the grater, grate tomatoes by rubbing the cut side against the grater, with the skin side cupped in your hand. When you feel the holes of the grater against the inside of the tomato skin, you are done. Add juice from seedpods.
• Turn on a food processor fitted with a steel blade and drop in the garlic. When it is chopped and adhering to the sides of the bowl, stop the machine and scrape down the sides with a spatula. Add tomatoes, salt, pepper and balsamic vinegar. Process in machine for 1-2 minutes, until sauce is frothy. With machine running, slowly add olive oil. Alternatively, purée at high speed in a blender for 1 minute, until frothy. Transfer to a bowl, taste and adjust seasonings. Stir in tarragon. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Cover and set aside at room temperature if serving in an hour or two, or refrigerate for up to a day.
• Steam the fish. Prepare the fillets by slapping them - not too hard - with the flat side of a knife, just to break down fibers so they don't curl too much when you steam them. Season with salt and pepper. You will probably have to steam the fish in batches. Brush your steamer rack with olive oil and place as many fish fillets on top as will fit in one layer. If the fish fillets are too long to lie on the rack, fold them over at the middle. Combine about 1 inch of water and a couple of basil sprigs in the bottom of your steamer and bring to a boil. Place steaming rack in pot and steam fish for 5 minutes, until opaque and fish pulls apart when you insert a fork into it. Remove from heat, transfer to a lightly oiled platter and allow to cool. Sprinkle with orange zest, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or longer.
• About 30 minutes before you wish to serve, whisk basil and remaining orange zest into the tomato sauce. Taste and adjust seasonings. Remove fish from refrigerator and pour on half the sauce. When ready to serve, spoon some sauce onto each place, top with the fish and more sauce, and serve.

MEDITERRANEAN SOLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Place each fillet on a piece of heavy-duty foil or parchment (about 12 in. square). Sprinkle fillets with pepper; top with lemon slices. Drizzle with wine and 1 tablespoon oil., In a small bowl, combine tomatoes, olives, capers, lemon juice, garlic and remaining 1 tablespoon oil; spoon over fillets. Fold foil or parchment around fish, sealing tightly., Place packets on a baking sheet. Bake until fish just begins to flake easily with a fork, 10-12 minutes. Open packets carefully to allow steam to escape. Sprinkle with parsley.