Citrus Meunière Recipes

JULIA CHILD'S SOLE MEUNIERE

Steps:

• Use paper towels to pat the sole fillets dry very well and season both sides with salt and pepper. Lightly dredge fillets in flour, shaking off any excess
• Bring a wide skillet to medium heat and add clarified butter.
• Place fillets in, not overcrowding the pan, about 2 fillets per skillet and brown on the first side, for about 1-2 minutes. Flip over and cook on the the side for 1-2 minutes or until fish is lightly golden brown.
• Remove fish to a platter and in the same skillet, melt butter and add capers and lemon juice. Use a spatula to scrape any bits from the bottom and reduce heat. Stir in chopped parsley.
• Spoon lemon caper sauce over fish and serve immediately.

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.

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.

PECAN-CRUSTED FISH WITH CITRUS MEUNIèRE

Steps:

• Season the fish with salt and pepper. Place the pecans, flour, thyme, orange zest, and cayenne in a food processor and pulse until well blended but not powdery. Transfer the pecan mixture to a plate. In a shallow bowl or pie plate, whisk together the egg and milk. Dip the fish into the egg mixture, then into the pecan mixture. Press to coat the fillets.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, and when hot but not smoking, add the fish. Reduce the heat to medium or medium-low and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side. Remove to a platter or plates and keep warm while you make the sauce.
• Spoon finished sauce over fish. Serve immediately.
• Melt the butter in a pan and let it foam and turn golden brown. Swirl the pan to see the milk solids on the bottom. When it is nice and brown, pour in the juices and swirl the pan to mix. Add the parsley, season with salt, pepper, and a few drops of hot sauce, and swirl.

BROWN BUTTER SAUCE WITH LEMON BEURRE MEUNIèRE

Steps:

• Cut butter into pieces and in a small heavy skillet melt over moderately low heat. Simmer butter until golden brown with a nutty aroma, about 5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and immediately add lemon juice, salt, parsley, and pepper to taste, swirling skillet to incorporate (butter will foam).
• Serve sauce immediately.

FISH MEUNIERE WITH CAPERS

Steps:

• For the fish: Set oven to 200 degrees, and place a heatproof plate in the oven.
• Place flour in a baking dish. Season dry fish fillets with salt and pepper, set aside for 5 minutes or until moisture shows on the surface.
• Coat fish with flour, shake off any excess, and set aside on a baking sheet.
• In a large (12 inch) non-stick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over high heat until shimmering.
• Add 1 tablespoon of butter and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Add two fillets skin side up, to the skillet, and reduce heat to medium high. Cook the fish without distubing it, about 3 minutes, or until the edges are opaque and the bottom is golden.
• Carefully flip the fish (you may need two spatulas to do this without breaking it), and continue to cook for another two minutes or until the thickest part flakes when a toothpick is inserted.
• Transfer the fish to the oven to keep warm while you cook the remaining fillets.
• Wipe the pan clean, and repeat steps 6 through 11 with the other two fillets.
• For the browned butter: Heat remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a stainless steel skillet over medium high heat until the butter melts.
• Continue to cook, swirling the pan, until the butter is golden brown and smells nutty, about 1 - 1 1/2 minutes more. Remove from heat.
• To serve: Remove fish from the oven and sprinkle with parsley. Add the lemon juice and capers to the browned butter, swirl to combine. Taste butter sauce, add salt or pepper to taste. Spoon the butter sauce over the fish, and 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.