Sole Provencal 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.

SOLE PROVENCAL

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute onion and celery in oil, until tender. Add tomatoes, parsley, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes. Add sole fillets and continue cooking for 10 minutes; or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove fish to a warm platter. If thicker sauce is desired, add a small amount of flour and cook until mixture is thickened and starts to boil.

PAN-FRIED DOVER SOLE

Steps:

• Spread crushed crackers onto a plate. Pour eggs into a shallow dish.
• Place fish in a 1-gallon plastic bag and add flour; gently shake until completely coated.
• Heat oil in a large, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Dip each flour-coated piece of fish in the egg, allowing excess to drip back into dish. Press coated fish in the cracker crumbs until evenly coated.
• Fry fish in the hot oil until lightly browned and fish flakes easily with a fork, about 5 minutes per side. Season fish with dill and salt.

COD PROVENçAL

Steps:

• Neatly trim the cod fillets. Score the skin of each fillet 3-4 times at regular intervals. Lay the fish in a shallow dish and sprinkle both sides of the fillets with the salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Set aside or chill overnight, see box, far right.
• Deseed and finely slice the peppers, then finely grate the garlic and lemon zest over the peppers. Carefully slice the fennel on a mandolin, or as finely as possible with a sharp knife, then tip half the fennel into a bowl of iced water and set aside.
• Brush the salt off the fish or, if it has dissolved, wipe the brine off with kitchen paper. Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large non-stick pan, cook the fish, skin side down, for 4 mins until the skin is crisp and browned, then remove from the pan.
• Put 1 tbsp more oil into the pan. Fry the fennel and the marinated peppers together for 4-5 mins until soft and starting to brown. Throw in the tomatoes and the balsamic vinegar, then continue to cook for 2-3 mins until they soften and release their juices. Scatter over the olives, capers and herbs, then toss everything together.
• Nestle the fish fillets, skin side up, among the vegetables, then lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 5-6 mins until the fish is just cooked through. Lift the fish from the pan and give the sauce a final simmer and stir, then turn off the heat. This dish is better served warm rather than hot, so don't worry about the vegetables or fish resting before you serve.
• Drain the reserved fennel and pat dry with kitchen paper. Toss with the juice from half the grated lemon, 2 tbsp olive oil and the anchovies. To serve, spoon the vegetables into the middle of two large dinner plates. Sit the cod, skin side up, on top of the vegetables and top with a neat bundle of fennel salad. Drizzle everything with a touch more oil, then scatter with the small basil leaves.

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.

PROVENCAL SAUCE FOR DOVER SOLE

Steps:

• For fish: Preheat oven to 375°F and heat large oval sauté pan over medium high heat. Season the fish with salt and pepper; lightly dust flesch side with flour; coat pan with oil and add fish, flour side down. Cook until golden brown. Turn over and finish in oven for 8-10 minutes. Meanwhile make the sauce.
• For sauce: Heat sauté pan over medium heat and add oil, shallots and garlic and cook until golden (toasted).
• Add wine, tomato paste, and tomatoes or fruit depending, and cook down until tomatoes or fruit begin to break down.
• Add vegetable broth and season with salt and pepper. Finish with fresh herbs.

SOLE EN PAPILLOTE WITH TOMATOES AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450°F. Fold four 15-inch-square pieces of parchment in half. Starting at fold of each piece, draw half a large heart shape. Cut along lines; open. Place 1 fish fillet next to crease on each piece of parchment. In a small skillet, warm 1 tbsp oil over medium heat. Sauté sliced garlic and pepper flakes until garlic turns golden, 1 minute. Remove skillet from heat; stir in tomatoes, capers and olives. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper. Divide tomato mixture among fish. Top each fillet with 2 teaspoon wine, 1 teaspoon butter and 2 thyme sprigs. Fold other half of parchment over fish. Starting at top of each parchment half-heart, make small, tight, overlapping folds along outside edge to seal packet; twist tail ends tightly to seal completely. Place packets on a large rimmed baking sheet; roast 8 minutes. Broil or toast ciabatta until golden; rub with garlic clove halves and brush with remaining 4 teaspoon oil. Transfer packets to plates. Slit tops with a knife; gently open. Serve 1 slice ciabatta with each packet.

SOLE PROVENçALE

Steps:

• In 1-quart saucepan, heat mushrooms, wine, tomato paste, tomato, onion, garlic and half of the thyme to boiling; reduce heat to medium. Cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
• Meanwhile, sprinkle salt and remaining thyme over fish fillets; roll up fillets. In 8-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook rolled fish, seam side down, in oil 4 to 5 minutes, turning as needed, until lightly browned on all sides.
• Top fish with tomato mixture; reduce heat to low. Cover; cook 5 minutes longer or until fish flakes easily with fork.

SOLE FLORENTINE

Steps:

• Melt 4 tbls butter in a large frying pan, over medium low heat. Add the juice of one lemon.
• Put flour on a paper plate.
• In a separate low dish, mix the water with the beaten eggs.
• Dust the filets with flour, then dip both sides in the beaten egg.
• Fry gently on each side until fish laked easily.
• Remove fish to a heated plate.
• Add the rest of the butter and lemon juice to the frying pan.
• Add the spinach, turning gently until just "wilted".
• Serve spinach under each serving of fish.

COD PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Arrange fillets in 8x8x2 inch square baking dish.
• Saute onion and garlic in oil in medium-size skillet over medium heat 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly softened. Add tomatoes, capers, basil, olives, lemon juice, oregano, salt if using and pepper.
• Simmer, stirring occasionally for approximately 8 minutes. Spoon the sauce over the fish.
• Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes or until cooked through.

FISH PROVENCALE

Steps:

• Thaw fish, if frozen.
• Sprinkle each fillet with salt& pepper.
• Roll up fillets& secure with tooth pick.
• Cook onion, garlic& mushrooms In butter or margarine in a large skillet for about 5 minutes.
• Add wine, tomatoes, parsley, sugar& bouillon and bring to a boil.
• Add fish, reduce heat, cover& simmer for 15- 20 minutes or until fish flakes easily.
• Remove fish to a platter, cover& keep warm.
• Boil skillet mixture, uncovered, til reduced to about 1 1/2 cups.
• Combine water& corn starch& add to skillet.
• Cook, stirring constantly,'til mixture is thickened& bubbly.
• Spoon sauce over fish.