Roast Fillet Of Sea Bass With Parsnip Purée Caramelised Garlic Recipes

PAN-ROASTED SEA BASS WITH LEMON FENNEL OIL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Rinse fillets and pat dry. Season fillets with salt and pepper. In a 9- to 10-inch cast-iron skillet (or non-stick skillet with handle wrapped in foil) heat 1 teaspoon oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sear fillets skin side down, pressing flat with a metal spatula to prevent curling, 2 minutes. Transfer skillet to middle of oven and roast fillets 5 minutes, or until just cooked through.
• While fish is roasting, in a small skillet whisk together remaining 3 teaspoons oil, lemon juice, fennel seeds, and salt and pepper to taste and heat over moderately low heat until hot but not smoking.
• Serve fillets skin sides up and spoon sauce over them.

ROAST FILLET OF SEA BASS WITH PARSNIP PURéE & CARAMELISED GARLIC

Steps:

• For the crisps, peel parsnips and slice lengthways, using a mandolin to slice as thinly as possible. Deep-fry in hot oil until crisp. Drain on kitchen towels to absorb any excess fat and set aside in a dry place. Can be made up to 1 day ahead and kept in an airtight container.
• For the caramelised garlic, peel the shallots and garlic. Blanch the shallots in boiling salted water for 10 mins or until tender. Cut them in half if large and drain well. Put the garlic in a small saucepan of boiling salted water, bring to the boil for 2 mins, then drain and change the water. Repeat 4 times and drain well. Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan over a medium heat, add the shallots and garlic and cook until caramelised, shaking the pan so they don't stick. Can be made in the morning and reheated.
• For the purée, peel the parsnips and cut them into big chunks. Cook in boiling salted water until tender. Bring the milk to the boil and set aside. Drain the parsnips well, then put in a blender with the butter and some of the boiled milk and blend until totally smooth: the purée should be the consistency of double cream, so add more milk if necessary. Season and keep warm or make ahead and reheat.
• Scale and fillet the fish. Remove any pin bones (or ask your fishmonger to do this, but keep the bones for the sauce). Rinse under cold water and pat dry with kitchen paper. Score the skin of the fish several times with a sharp knife to help prevent it from curling during cooking. Leave the bones (but not the heads) to soak in cold water.
• To make the sauce, heat a little olive oil in a pan and cook the shallots for about 5 mins until golden and soft. Add the mushrooms and continue to cook for 10 mins, stirring occasionally. Drain the fish bones, add to the pan and cook for 5-6 mins. Add the vinegar and let it come to the boil for 3 mins, then add the stock, season lightly and simmer for 30 mins, skimming at regular intervals. Pass through a fine sieve into a clean pan, bring back to the boil and whisk in the butter to thicken and gloss the sauce.
• Heat a non-stick frying pan until smoking hot, add a few drops of oil, then add the fish, skin side down. Season with salt and pepper and press the fish down with a palette knife if it begins to curl up. Once the skin is well browned, turn the fillets over and cook the other side; the whole process should take no more than 5-6 mins, depending on the thickness of the fish. To serve, spoon the purée on to warmed plates, make a hollow in the centre, and fill with the caramelised garlic and shallots. Pour the sauce around the purée, place the fish on top and add a few parsnip crisps for garnish.

ROASTED CHILEAN SEA BASS WITH CHIVE OIL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the chives in a food processor. Turn on the processor and add the olive oil through the feed tube in a thin steady stream. Season with salt and pepper. Stop to taste, then adjust, adding more oil, chives, salt or pepper as desired. Strain through a fine sieve into a bowl and reserve.
• Place the sea bass in a sauté pan or roasting pan just large enough to fit the fillets. Sprinkle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place in the oven and roast until the fish is just barely cooked in the center. It will continue to cook once it is removed from the oven. (It should take about 9 minutes per inch of thickness.)
• Transfer the sea bass to serving plates and sprinkle with the chive oil.