Tomato Monkfish Food

MONKFISH WITH OLIVE SAUCE AND TOMATO COMPOTE

Steps:

• Season the smoked monkfish with salt and freshly ground pepper. To plate, first place 1 cup of Tomato Compote in the center, then add the 2 smoked monkfish fillets, and pour the Black Olive Sauce around the plate. Garnish with a bay leaf and drizzled with olive oil, if desired.
• Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and scallions and sweat for several minutes until the onion is translucent, stirring occasionally so the scallions don't burn. Meanwhile, blanch the tomatoes in a pot of boiling salted water for 15 to 20 seconds, just long enough so that you will be able to peel the skin. Drain the tomatoes, and peel their skins. Then chop with the garlic and thyme, until garlic and thyme are minced. Add the chopped tomatoes, garlic, and thyme to the saucepan. Stir to combine, adjust heat to a simmer, and let reduce until thick. Add a pinch of sugar, to taste.
• In a medium bowl, combine the chopped onion, garlic, shallot, and black olives. Over the bowl, rub the flowers of the thyme together with your hands to sprinkle the thyme dust into the bowl. Add the olive oil and sherry wine, and stir to combine. Transfer mixture to a small saucepan, and cook over medium heat until sauce has developed a smooth consistency. Add a pinch of salt, to taste.

MONKFISH IN TOMATO-GARLIC SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a Lg. skillet, warm 1/4 cup of olive oil. Add the sliced garlic and cook slowly over very low heat, shaking the skillet, until the garlic is deep golden brown, about 15 minutes. Remove about 1/4 cup of garlic slices and reserve. Add paprika to remaining garlic in skillet and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and cook over moderately high heat for 1 minute. Add the water and simmer until the sauce reduces to 1 1/2 cups, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• In a very Lg. skillet, heat the remaining 3 Tbls of olive oil. Season the fish with salt and pepper. Cook over high heat until browned on the bottom, 2 minutes. Turn, transfer to the oven and roast until just cooked though, 15 minutes.
• Transfer fish to a Lg, warmed platter. Pour any juices from the skillet into the sauce and simmer 2 minutes. Spoon the sauce onto plates and set the fish on top. Scatter the fried garlic over the fish and serve immediately.

MONKFISH ROASTED WITH HERBS AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Tie the monkfish fillets with butcher's twine at 2-inch intervals. Season with salt and pepper.
• Line the bottom of an earthenware or other low-sided baking dish with thyme and rosemary sprigs. Tuck bay leaves here and there, if using. Lay the fish on top of the herbs and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Scatter the lemon slices and whole olives over fish. Set aside for 30 minutes to marinate. Heat oven to 425 degrees.
• Meanwhile, make the olive paste: Put pitted black olives, garlic and 1/4 cup olive oil in a small food processor and pulse to a rough paste. (Alternatively, chop olives finely with a knife and stir together with garlic and oil.)
• Roast fish, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned on top and firm to the touch. Check with a paring knife to be sure fish is cooked through. Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Snip twine with scissors and remove from fish. Cut fish into 4 portions and spoon some of the roasted lemon slices and whole olives over the top. Dab each piece with a teaspoon of olive paste, or pass olive paste separately.

SEARED MONKFISH WITH BALSAMIC AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Combine sun-dried tomatoes, 2 tablespoons olive oil, balsamic vinegar, tomato oil, garlic, and sugar in a small bowl. Toss to coat and set aside.
• Use a sharp knife to cut the purple translucent membrane away from each fillet. Cut each fillet crosswise into 3 to 4 pieces. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear monkfish until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Flip and continue cooking until opaque throughout, 2 to 3 minutes more. Reduce heat to low, remove fish to a plate, and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.
• Pour sun-dried tomato mixture into the skillet and quickly stir around the pan until just warmed, about 20 seconds. Spoon topping over fish and garnish with parsley.

MONKFISH WITH TOMATOES AND OLIVE OIL

Steps:

• Slice monkfish into medallions about one-inch thick. Place in a dish, sprinkle with lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
• Heat one tablespoon of oil in heavy skillet, add bread crumbs and saute until they are golden. Remove from pan and wipe out pan.
• Heat another two tablespoons of the olive oil in the skillet. Add onion and saute over medium heat until tender. Add garlic and saute briefly, then add tomatoes. Stir tomatoes in with other ingredients for a minute or two, just enough to warm them without cooking them through. Remove vegetables from pan.
• Add one more tablespoon of the oil to pan and cook the monkfish over medium heat, about three minutes on each side, until just cooked through. The monkfish will probably not take on any color. Arrange monkfish medallions on a warm platter or on individual plates.
• Return tomato mixture to skillet, add remaining two tablespoons of oil, stir, season with salt and pepper and add basil. Pour this mixture around the medallions of fish. Sprinkle the fish with the bread crumbs and serve.