Monkfish Roasted Like Lamb With Garlic And Fennel
- 1 large monkfish tail, about 2 to 2 1/2 pounds
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 bulb fresh fennel, including feathery greens
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup fish stock
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Using a very sharp knife, cut away the thin dark membrane that runs along the bottom of the monkfish tail.
- (If you can't get it all, carefully sever the membrane in two or three places to keep the tail from contracting as it cooks.)
- Cut three cloves of garlic into thin slivers.
- Using the point of a knife, cut tiny incisions all over the tail and push the garlic in.
- Trim the base of the fennel and pull off the outer layer of the bulb if it's stringy or discolored.
- Cut off the top, chopping the feathery greens for a garnish.
- Cut the bulb into quarters, then thinly slice those.
- Place half the butter in the bottom of a large roasting dish and place in the oven.
- When the butter is melted, arrange the fennel in the pan, then lay the monkfish on top.
- Season with salt and pepper and dot with the remaining butter.
- Cover with foil and roast for 35 minutes, basting twice.
- Remove the foil so the monkfish colors lightly.
- Baste once more and bake 10 minutes longer, or until the flesh is tender.
- Remove the pan from the oven.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fish to a serving platter, arrange the fennel around it and keep it warm.
- Pour the roasting juices into a small saucepan and add the fish stock.
- Boil rapidly until the liquid is reduced by half.
- Blend the mayonnaise with the minced garlic in a deep bowl.
- Remove the stock mixture from the heat and carefully whisk a ladleful into the mayonnaise.
- Pour the mayonnaise mixture back into the stock and reheat very gently, if necessary; do not boil.
- Slice the monkfish and spoon the sauce over.
- Sprinkle with the fennel leaves and serve at once.
monkfish tail, garlic, fresh fennel, unsalted butter, salt, fish stock, mayonnaise, garlic
Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1666 (may not work)