Monkfish in Brodetto with Artichokes
- 1 1/2 pounds small artichokes (or more if using large ones; see Preparing Artichokes, page 213)
- 1 lemon for acidulated water
- 2 pounds monkfish fillets
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt or kosher salt, or to taste
- 1 cup all-purpose flour for dredging
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 teaspoon peperoncino, or to taste
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 3 tablespoons capers, drained
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
- A large, heavy-bottomed saucepan 13-inch diameter or larger, with a cover
- To prepare the artichokes, trim and cut them into wedges, about 1 1/2 inches wide; soak them in acidulated water (see Preparing Artichokes, page 213).
- To remove the monkfishs silver skinthe translucent membrane covering the outside of a filletpierce it with the tip of a sharp knife, run the blade under the skin, and peel it away in strips.
- Slice the fillets crosswise into chunks, 3 to 4 inches wide; season with 1/3 teaspoon of salt, and dredge them in the flour.
- Pour the 1/3 cup olive oil into the big saucepan, and set it over high heat.
- Shake excess flour off the fish pieces, and lay them in the hot oil.
- Cook for a minute or more, until crisp and opaque on the underside; turn the pieces, and brown them for a minute or so on the other side.
- Remove them to a bowl.
- Dump the onion into the pan and cook for a couple of minutes over medium-high heat, stirring and scraping the bits off the pan bottom.
- Drain the artichoke wedges, and scatter them in the pan.
- Season with another 1/3 teaspoon of salt and the peperoncino.
- Cook the onion and artichokes together for 6 or 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until everything is wilted, dry, and starting to color.
- Drop the tomato paste into a hot spot in the pan, toast it for a minute, then stir it in with the vegetables.
- Pour in the wine, turn the heat to high, and cook, stirring and deglazing the pan bottom, until the wine is reduced and syrupy.
- Scatter the capers in the pan, stir and cook them for 1/2 minute, then pour in 3 cups of hot water.
- Sprinkle in the remaining salt, stir well, and bring the sauce to a boil.
- Adjust the heat to maintain a steady bubbling, cover the saucepan, and cook the sauce for 8 minutes or so, until the artichokes are fairly tender.
- Nestle all the monkfish pieces in the sauce, and pour in any fish juices that accumulated in the bowl.
- Bring the sauce back to a boil, and continue cooking, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the artichokes and fish are both tender and easily pierced with a knife tip.
- Cook uncovered for a few minutes, if necessary, to thicken the sauce to a consistency you like.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning.
- Just before serving, sprinkle over it the parsley, and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil.
- Serve right from the pot, or from a big warm bowl.
artichokes, lemon, monkfish fillets, salt, flour, extravirgin olive oil, onion, peperoncino, tomato paste, white wine, capers, fresh italian parsley, a large
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/monkfish-in-brodetto-with-artichokes-384321 (may not work)