Fishfilletbraisedinvanillascentedtomatosauce Recipes

BRAISED FISH WITH FENNEL AND TOMATO

Steps:

• Prepare braising liquid Pour the oil, wine, and water into a large (13-inch) skillet, then add the fennel, tomatoes, garlic, and lemon slices. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over moderate heat until the tomatoes begin to fall apart and the fennel softens, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Braise fish Sprinkle both sides of the fish with salt and pepper and arrange the fillets in the pan, partially submerging them in the sauce. Cover and simmer until the fish is opaque throughout, 6 to 8 minutes (or 8 to 10 for thicker fillets).
• Serve Spoon some of the braising sauce into a shallow bowl, then top with fish. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with pepper.
• Buy four fillets of the same size (4 to 5 ounces each) so they cook at the same rate. A 1 1/2-inch thickness is ideal, allowing the fillets to cook evenly inside and out. Much thicker and the exterior could toughen before the center has cooked.
• If the skin on your lemons is not too bitter (check by tasting a washed one), you may want to leave it on; this will help the slices hold their shape. Otherwise, remove the rind before slicing.

BROWNED AND BRAISED FISH IN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Put half the oil in a deep skillet wide enough to accommodate the fish. Turn heat to medium high. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper, and dredge skin side in flour. When oil is hot (a pinch of flour will sizzle), put fish in pan skin side down and cook, adjusting heat as necessary so fish browns but does not burn. Cook without turning 5 to 10 minutes, until bottom of fish is nicely browned. Turn off heat, and carefully remove fish to a platter, browned side up.
• Let pan cool a few moments, and wipe it out with paper towels. Add the remaining oil and the onion, garlic and pepper; cook together over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and, if you are using them, capers. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes break up, 5 to 10 minutes; adjust heat so mixture bubbles steadily but not violently.
• Return fish to pan skin side up, and cook just until fish is tender. Garnish, and serve fish with sauce.