Peppered Petrale Sole With Mushrooms And Lavender Recipes

PEPPERED PETRALE SOLE WITH MUSHROOMS AND LAVENDER

Steps:

• In a large skillet on medium heat, sauté mushrooms and garlic in butter for 1 minute.
• Place fillets over mushrooms and sprinkle with the dried lavender (or my posted Lavender Rub), cracked black pepper (omit if using rub), and smoked paprika.
• Cover and cook over low-medium heat for 5-10 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork, adding the tomato slices the last minute of cooking. (The petrale sole cooked a total of 6 1/2 minutes. fyi).
• Garnish each fillet with lemon slices, green onions (and/or chives) and a sprig of fresh lavender. Season with salt, to taste.

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.

PAN-SEARED PETRALE SOLE WITH LOCAL WINTER VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Sprinkle fillets with 2 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. In large nonstick skillet over moderately high heat, heat 1/2 tablespoon oil until hot but not smoking. Working in two batches (wipe pan clean and add 1 1/2 teaspoons oil between batches), fry fish until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to platter and loosely cover with foil to keep warm.
• In large nonstick skillet over moderate heat, heat remaining tablespoon oil. Add leeks and garlic and sauté 2 minutes. Add butter, broccolini, cauliflower, and green beans and sauté until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Transfer vegetables to serving platter and sprinkle with remaining teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Top with fish and drizzle with any butter and pan juices remaining in skillet.