Braised Monkfish In Milfoil Yarrow Recipes

"POOR MAN'S LOBSTER" - MONKFISH WITH HERB BROWNED BUTTER

Steps:

• Cut fillets: Cut each monkfish into 3 or 4 even size pieces. (Note 1)
• Season: Sprinkle both sides of fish with salt and pepper.
• Rack for resting: Place a rack over a tray (optional, for resting fish, Note 5)

BRAISED MONKFISH IN MILFOIL (YARROW)

Steps:

• Peel the zucchini, cut in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds. Plunge into boiling, salted water and cook until tender. Drain, refresh, and drain again. Pick over, wash, rinse and pat dry the milfoil (yarrow). In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, combine the zucchini and the milfoil. Process until smooth; set aside. Cut the monkfish into 4 thick slices. Wrap the bacon around the fish and secure with string. Melt the oil and 2 T. of the butter in skillet over moderate heat. Add the fish and cook 4 mins on each side. Remove and keep warm. Pour off the fat and deglaze the pan with 2 cups water. Bring to a boil and reduce slightly until thickened. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter and season. Add any juices that are rendered by the cooked fish. On individual plates, place a small amount of the pureed zucchini and milfoil. Place the fish on top. Spoon the deglazed pan juices over the fish and season. Garnish with additional sprigs of milfoil if desired.

MONKFISH WITH CAPER BUTTER

Steps:

• Remove any gray membrane from the fish. Mix flour and mustard together and season with salt and pepper. Dip the fish slices in seasoned flour on one side only and arrange on a plate, floured side up.
• Melt the butter in a small skillet. Add the shallots and cook on medium until both the butter and shallots have browned and acquired a nutty aroma. Do not allow them to blacken. Remove from heat, stir in capers, season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Warm 6 dinner plates or a platter. Heat olive oil in a large skillet, preferably cast iron. When very hot, add the fish medallions, floured side down, and sauté until they turn golden, no more than a minute or so. Transfer them, cooked side up, to the plates or platter.
• Briefly warm the caper sauce. Add the lemon juice and tarragon and spoon a little of the sauce over each medallion. Garnish with lemon wedges and serve.

BRAISED FISH, POT-ROAST-STYLE

Steps:

• Put the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When it is hot, sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper, and add it to the pot. Cook, undisturbed, until it is well browned, 5 or 6 minutes. (If you're using halibut fillet, and it has skin, brown the nonskin side.) Transfer it to a plate, browned side up.
• Add the onion, thyme, saffron, carrots, fennel and potatoes; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until the onion begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and smoked paprika, and cook, stirring, until the tomato paste darkens a bit, 2 or 3 minutes. Add the wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot, and let it bubble away until it almost disappears.
• Add the stock, bring to a boil and let it bubble vigorously until the liquid reduces by about a third, about 10 minutes. Adjust the heat so the mixture simmers; when the vegetables are nearly tender - about 10 minutes later - nestle the fish, browned side up, among the vegetables; keep the browned crust above the liquid. Cook, undisturbed, until the fish and vegetables are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Transfer the fish to a cutting board, and divide the vegetables among shallow bowls. Slice the fish and put it on top of the vegetables. Taste the cooking liquid, and adjust the seasoning; ladle it over all, garnish with the parsley and serve.

BRAISED MONKFISH WITH WILD MUSHROOMS AND CIPOLLINI ONIONS

Steps:

• Wrap bay leaf, rosemary, 2 sprigs thyme, peppercorns, and fennel seeds in a piece of cheesecloth and tie to form a bouquet garni; set aside. In a large saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, fennel, celery, and garlic; saute until tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Pour over wine and stock, add bouquet garni, and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the liquid thickens to a sauce consistency, 45 to 60 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve, reserving liquid.
• Place cipollini onions in a roasting pan over medium heat. Drizzle with 1/2 cup oil, and season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine. Cook for 5 minutes, add mushrooms, and cook until vegetables are tender; set aside.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large skillet, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil over high heat. Pat fish dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and pepper. Place in skillet and cook until browned on both sides.
• Add reserved liquid to a Dutch oven. Whisk in butter, tarragon, remaining 2 sprigs thyme, and vinegar. Add mushroom mixture and fish. Cover, and transfer to oven. Cook until just heated through, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Transfer fish to shallow bowls. Spoon sauce over fish, and serve.

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.

MONKFISH FILLETS DIJON STYLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Select a baking dish large enough to hold the monkfish fillets in one layer without crowding. Pour olive oil over the bottom. Turn the fillets in the oil to coat well all over. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Brush the fillets with mustard. Scatter onions and garlic around the fillets.
• Place the baking dish on top of the stove and heat until the oil begins to sizzle. Add the white wine and scatter the mushrooms around the fillets. Bring the wine just to a simmer.
• Place the baking dish in the oven and bake 15 minutes. Baste the fillets and return to the oven. Continue baking about 5 minutes. Swirl the butter in the sauce. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.