Fillets of Sole or Flounder with Lemon Butter Sauce
- 2 whole Lemons, Medium-Sized
- 14 Tablespoons Butter, Cut In Pieces And Divided Into Two Parts Of Equal Weight (3 And 1/2 Ounces Or 7 Tablespoons Each)
- 1 cup White Unbleached Flour
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- Olive Oil: Enough To Cover The Bottom Of Each Of 2 Pans
- 6 whole Fillets Of Sole Or Flounder: A Whole Fillet Of Sole Will Be In 3 Pieces--1 Larger And 2 Smaller Ones. If Frozen, The Whole Fillets May Come Individually Wrapped. Thaw Them In The Refrigerator
- 4 Tablespoons Fresh Parsley, Flat-Leaf Or Curly, Finely Chopped And Divided Into Two Equal Portions
- 6 sprigs Fresh Parsley, One To Garnish Each Plate
- A timing note: The fillets and sauce are best if made right before serving them.
- The actual cooking time is quite short and the ingredients may all be arranged, ready to put together, in advance.
- A preparation note: The fish is most easily prepared in two pans (half of the fillets in each one.).
- If you would like to increase the number of servings to 8, increase only the number of fillets.
- Theres no need to adjust the amounts of ingredients for the sauce.
- There will be enough sauce in either case, whether 3 or 4 fillets are sauteed in each pan.
- You will also need:
- 1.
- Two large rimmed baking sheets, lined with parchment paper: one for flouring the fish and the other on which to place the sauteed fillets while you make the sauce.
- 2.
- Two wide, flat-bottomed pans.
- 3.
- Some aluminum foil for covering the sauteed fillets while making the sauce.
- 4.
- A whisk.
- For the fillets and the sauce:
- 1.
- Peel the lemons, removing both the zest and the pith, so that the segments of the fruit are revealed whole.
- Run a knife down between the sides of the segments and remove the flesh of each segment whole.
- Then, break them up into smaller pieces.
- (A photo illustration of this step may be found on the related link.)
- Put the segments of both lemons into a small bowl and set them aside at room temperature.
- Squeeze out the juice remaining in the lemons, divide it into 2 equal portions in two separate cups and set these aside as well.
- 2.
- Place the 2 portions of cut up butter on two small plates or in small bowls (3 and 1/2 ounces or 7 tablespoons in each portion).
- Put the butter in the freezer while the fillets are being prepared.
- 3.
- Pour the flour into one of the parchment-lined, rimmed baking sheets.
- Add the salt and pepper and mix them into the flour with a fork.
- 4.
- Pour enough olive oil into 2 wide, flat-bottomed pans to cover the bottom of each and rise up the sides just a very little.
- There should be enough oil in which to quickly saute the fish, but, at the same time, theres no need to waste good olive oil.
- 5.
- Heat the pans of oil gradually over a medium low flame and, while the oil heats, place the fillets in the seasoned flour and turn them just to coat them lightly.
- 6.
- When the oil is hot and just barely shimmering, place half of the fillets in each pan and saute them (turning them once as they cook) to a light golden colour on each side.
- Transfer them to the second baking sheet lined with parchment and cover them lightly with aluminum foil to keep them warm while making the sauce.
- (The fillets will go back into the sauce for a brief re-heating, too.)
- 7.
- Spoon out all but about 1 tablespoon of oil from each pan.
- Place the 2 portions of cold butter bits and the 2 portions of lemon juice conveniently near the stove.
- Arrange the serving plates out on a counter or work space so that the fillets may be served quickly once the sauce is done.
- Place the segments of lemon and the sprigs of parsley near the plates for garnishing the fillets.
- 8.
- Prepare the sauce, 1 pan at a time: Place a pan over medium heat.
- Whisk in half of the bits of butter, a piece at a time (7 tablespoons or 3 and 1/2 ounces each).
- When all the butter has been added, whisk in half the lemon juice and half of the chopped parsley.
- 9.
- Return half of the fillets to the pan of sauce and turn them gently so that they are covered in sauce and begin to absorb it.
- Set the pan aside, off the heat, and make the second pan of sauce in the same manner and add the rest of the fillets to it.
- 10.
- Arrange the fillets on plates.
- Garnish each plate of fillets with some of the reserved lemon segments.
- Drizzle whatever sauce remains in the pans over the fillets and place a small whole branch of fresh parsley on each plate.
- An acknowledgement: Fillets of Sole or Flounder with Lemon Butter Sauce is adapted from a recipe that appeared in the Austrian cooking journal Gusto in 2006 (No.
- 10-a).
lemons, butter, white unbleached flour, salt, black pepper, olive oil, or flounder, fresh parsley, parsley
Taken from tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/fillets-of-sole-or-flounder-with-lemon-butter-sauce/ (may not work)