Braised Fish with Fennel and Tomato
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 1/3 cup dry white wine
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 medium fennel bulb, halved, cored, and thinly sliced lengthwise
- 2 medium tomatoes, cored and coarsely chopped (1 1/2 cups)
- 3 to 4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
- 4 thin lemon rounds
- Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
- 4 skinless fillets firm-fleshed fish, such as grouper, halibut, sea bass, or snapper
- Prepare braising liquid Pour the oil, wine, and water into a large (13-inch) skillet, then add the fennel, tomatoes, garlic, and lemon slices.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over moderate heat until the tomatoes begin to fall apart and the fennel softens, 12 to 15 minutes.
- Braise fish Sprinkle both sides of the fish with salt and pepper and arrange the fillets in the pan, partially submerging them in the sauce.
- Cover and simmer until the fish is opaque throughout, 6 to 8 minutes (or 8 to 10 for thicker fillets).
- Serve Spoon some of the braising sauce into a shallow bowl, then top with fish.
- Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with pepper.
- Buy four fillets of the same size (4 to 5 ounces each) so they cook at the same rate.
- A 1 1/2-inch thickness is ideal, allowing the fillets to cook evenly inside and out.
- Much thicker and the exterior could toughen before the center has cooked.
- If the skin on your lemons is not too bitter (check by tasting a washed one), you may want to leave it on; this will help the slices hold their shape.
- Otherwise, remove the rind before slicing.
extravirgin olive oil, white wine, water, fennel bulb, tomatoes, garlic, lemon rounds, salt, firmfleshed fish
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/braised-fish-with-fennel-and-tomato-393788 (may not work)