Browned Butter Sauteed Fish 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)

LEMON BUTTER SAUCE FOR FISH

Steps:

• Place the butter in a light coloured saucepan or small skillet over medium heat.
• Melt butter then leave on the stove, whisking / stirring very now and then. When the butter turns golden brown and it smells nutty - about 3 minutes, remove from stove immediately and pour into small bowl. (Note 2)
• Add lemon juice and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir then taste when it has cooled slightly. Adjust lemon/salt to taste.
• Set aside - it will stay pourable for 20 - 30 minutes. See Note 3 for storing.
• Pat fish dry using paper towels. Sprinkle with salt & pepper, then flour. Use fingers to spread flour. Turn and repeat. Shake excess flour off well, slapping between hands if necessary.
• Heat oil in a non stick skillet over high heat. When the oil is shimmering and there are faint wisps of smoke, add fish. Cook for 1 1/2 minutes until golden and crispy on the edges, then turn and cook the other side for 1 1/2 minutes (cook longer if you have thicker fillets).
• Remove immediately onto serving plates. Drizzle each with about 1 tbsp of Sauce (avoid dark specks settled at the bottom of the bowl), garnish with parsley and serve with lemon on the side. Pictured in post with Kale and Quinoa Salad.

PAN-ROASTED FISH FILLETS WITH HERB BUTTER

Steps:

• Pat fillets dry with a paper towel. Season on both sides with salt and pepper.
• Heat a heavy 10-inch nonstick or cast-iron skillet over high heat. When the pan is hot, add the oil. Place the fillets in the pan, skin side down (if applicable), laying them down away from your body. If fillets have skin, press down gently with a spatula for about 20 seconds to prevent curling.
• Lower heat to medium and let sizzle until fish is golden and caramelized around edges, about 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully flip fillets and add butter and thyme to pan. Tilt pan slightly to let the melted butter pool at one end. Use a spoon to baste the fish with the pooled butter. Continue basting until golden all over and cooked through, 45 to 90 seconds more, depending on the thickness of your fish. Serve immediately with chopped parsley (if using) and lemon wedges.

COD WITH BROWN BUTTER LEMON SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut the peels from the lemons, revealing the flesh. Cut the segments free from the membranes, then dice and place in a bowl. Squeeze any remaining juice from the membranes into the bowl. Set aside.
• Heat a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add 4 tablespoons butter and begin to cook, stirring, until the butter begins to brown. Add the brioche, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, continually tossing and swirling the brioche until evenly toasted, about 4 minutes. Remove the croutons to a plate and let cool. Wipe out the pan.
• Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper. Heat the same pan over medium-high heat. Add 4 tablespoons butter and the oil and begin to cook over the heat, stirring. Add the fish and cook, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the fish and continue to cook, basting occasionally with the butter from the pan, another 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the fish to a plate. Wipe out the pan.
• Turn the pan to medium heat and add the remaining 4 tablespoons butter. Let melt, then add the capers and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Continue to cook until the butter browns, then add the wine, lemon juice and segments and parsley. Swirl together. Spoon the sauce over the fish and garnish with the croutons.

FISH FILLETS WITH BROWN BUTTER (PAN-FRIED)

Steps:

• 1. Season fish on both sides with salt and pepper.
• 2. Lightly dredge fish in flour and shake off excess. (I like to season the flour with salt and pepper as well.)
• 3. When pan is hot, add olive oil followed immediately by 1-2 tablespoons butter.
• 4. When butter is melted, place fish in the pan and jiggle pan for the first 10 seconds to keep the fish from sticking.
• 5. Cook until golden crust forms on meat.
• 6. Carefully turn fish on the other side and again jiggle pan for the first few seconds.
• 7. Cook until skin turns golden brown.
• 8. Remove to a warm plate.
• 9. Pour out the cooking fat from the pan. Then put the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter.
• 10. Melt them until they become hazel color.
• 11. Turn off the heat. Add the lemon juice and few leaves of thyme or oregano. (you can leave the herbs out)
• 12. Pour the brown butter sauce over the fish fillets and serve.
• 13. *Make sure you pat dry the fillets before working with them. *The cooking time of the fish depends on the thickness of the fillets. *It's better not to cover the fish while frying them so they won't become soggy from the trapped steam.

BROWNED BUTTER SAUTEED FISH

Steps:

• Using a food processor, finely grind almonds. Combine in a shallow dish with bread crumbs, garlic salt, and paprika.
• In a separate shallow dish, whisk egg and buttermilk.
• Over medium heat, melt butter in a frying pan large enough to hold fish fillets without crowding (use two pans if necessary). When butter is nicely browned (about 8 minutes), add olive oil.
• Pat dry fish fillets. Roll thoroughly in egg-milk mixture, then dredge in bread-crumb mixture. Add to hot pan. Cook, without disturbing, until browned (about 6 minutes), then flip and cook other side until just opaque. Serve with a squeeze of fresh lemon.

ROASTED FISH WITH BROWN BUTTER CORN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Season fillets with salt and pepper and place in a baking pan, skin-side down.
• In a small bowl, mash together the butter, about two-thirds of the garlic, and the lemon zest if using. Smear on top of fish fillets. Roast until cooked through to taste, 7 to 12 minutes depending upon variety of fish and thickness of fillets.
• Meanwhile, in a blender or food processor, purée half the brown buttered corn with broth or water, oil, lemon juice and remaining garlic. Stir in remaining corn. Serve sauce over fish, garnished with herbs.

SAUTEED SEA BASS FILLETS WITH BROWN BUTTER BRUSSEL SPROUTS AND TRIPLE MUSTARD VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Set fish on a large plate and sprinkle generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Drizzle olive oil over fish sufficient to cover all surfaces and allow fish to marinade for 5 to 10 minutes. Heat a large skillet (nonstick works well) on high heat. Just as skillet starts to smoke add fish and immediately reduce heat to medium. Cook fillets on 1 side until fish releases easily from pan and is golden brown and slightly crispy. Turn fillets and continue to cook until fish is just cooked through, time will depend on thickness of fillets. If you have particularly thick fillets, you may need to reduce heat to very low and cover pan to finish cooking. Serve fish immediately with Triple Mustard Vinaigrette, and Brown Butter Brussels Sprouts.
• In a large skillet heat butter until it is foamy and just starts to brown on the edges. Add cipollini and cook on high heat, tossing frequently, until cipollini are nicely browned and just starting to get tender. Add Brussels sprouts, and cook, tossing frequently, until they are well browned on the cut sides and just starting to turn bright green. Add enough chicken stock to just cover Brussels sprouts and add bay leaf. Bring stock to a simmer and cook until vegetables are just tender and liquid has reduced nearly all the way. Add more stock to pan if liquid reduces before vegetables are tender. Add salt and pepper, to taste, and stir in thyme. Serve Brussels sprouts in their sauce.
• Place mustard seed in a small skillet and cook over medium-high heat, shaking pan frequently, until seeds start to pop. Immediately transfer seeds to a small bowl. Add shallot, vinegar, grain mustard, honey and dry mustard and whisk to combine. Add some salt and pepper and allow mixture to sit for 5 to 10 minutes to meld flavors and dissolve salt. Whisk in olive oil, then add parsley and adjust seasoning, to taste. Serve at room temperature.

SAUTEED FLOUNDER WITH SEASONED BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Pat fillets dry, season with salt and pepper and dredge in flour and shake off excess flour. In a measuring cup, melt butter in microwave. Heat non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Pour in clear butter and leave milk solids in measuring cup. Place fish in hot butter and cook until golden. Flip fillet and cook other side until golden. Remove golden fish to paper towels to drain. In a small skillet, heat butter over medium high heat until milk solids begin to brown. Stir in lemon juice and parsley. Drizzle browned butter over fillet and serve immediately.

CRISPY GOLDEN SAUTEED FISH

Steps:

• Prepare the fish by rinsing and patting dry, without squeezing the delicate fish flesh. Salt and pepper both sides of the fish. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a medium saute pan.
• Cook's Note: Do not use a nonstick pan.
• The oil should be glossy, but not smoking. While the oil is heating, take a fresh paper towel and pat the fish dry a second time, and dredge the fish in flour on both sides, patting off the excess. This will make your beautiful crust-searing foolproof! Place the fish in the pan and cook undisturbed for 3 minutes. Flip the fish, being firm with the spatula in order to scrape up the whole golden-seared crust when you flip. Once flipped, place 1/2 tablespoon of butter on top of each piece of fish, and allow it to melt into the saucepan. It may brown somewhat, but it should not burn. Allow the mixture to cook another 2 minutes and then remove the fish. Deglaze the pan with the lemon juice (be careful with splatters!), and quickly scrape up the brown bits of flavor. Toss in the parsley, taste for seasoning, and spoon a teaspoon of the rich lemony butter onto the fish and serve.

BROWN BUTTER FISH FLORENTINE

Steps:

• In shallow dish, place flour. Sprinkle fish with salt and lemon-pepper seasoning; dip in flour to coat.
• In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat butter over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly, until light golden brown. Add fish. Cook 6 to 8 minutes, turning once, until outside is browned and fish flakes easily with fork. Remove to plate; cover to keep warm.
• Add spinach and bell pepper to butter in skillet. Cook 2 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender. On 4 dinner plates, spoon spinach mixture; top with fish. Sprinkle with almonds.