Fried Trout with Brown Sage Butter and Capers

Fried Trout with Brown Sage Butter and Capers

Fried Trout

This is probably not the lightest dish! But the infamous “they” said that fish has a high water content and when you fry it in oil, the fish itself does not absorb the oil, so if you put that delicious crispy skin aside, you can actually still have a healthy meal. ;-). Trout is a great local fish that we find often at the markets in Colorado. The trout is brought in fresh, and you can sure taste the difference!
This was another inspiration from my favorite guide – “The Flavor Bible“, pairing the fresh trout with butter, sage, capers and lemon. It’s actually super fast and easy to cook!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup organic canola oil
  • 3 whole trout
  • 1/2 cup flour for dredging
  • 6 tbsp butter
  • 20 sprigs of fresh sage
  • 3 tbsp of capers
  • rock salt
  • 2 tbsp fresh chopped Italian parsley
  • lemon as needed

Directions:

Sprinkle rock salt on the inside and outside of the fish. In a large deep skillet, add the oil to medium-high heat. Pat the capers dry and add to the oil.  Once the capers pop, you can remove them with a sieve and place onto a paper towel to drain some of the oil. Dredge the fish in the flour, then place the fish into the oil. Cook for 3-5 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan add the butter to medium high heat. Once hot and bubbling, add in the sage leaves. Cook until sage becomes crispy and the butter turns brown. Make sure not to burn the butter. Remove the fish and place onto a platter. Pour the sage butter onto fish and sprinkle with the parsley. Serve with lemon wedges. This served 5 hungry adults. Also served with the side dish of Haricot Vert (with Almonds and Parmesan).

Soy-Marinated for “Open Blue’s” Cobia

Soy-Marinated for “Open Blue’s” Cobia

soy-cobia

What is Cobia you ask? Cobia is a mild flavored white fish, and a great sustainable substitute for salmon or sea bass. It has also been called black kingfish. Open Blue’s Cobia fish are carefully raised in deep pristine waters and is always sourced from the open ocean. Open Blue Cobia is pure, healthy and safe – free of contaminants, hormones, colorants and pesticides. They raise their fish in a stress free, low density and high-energy environment. This results in healthier fish that is naturally high in protein and very rich in Omega 3 (DHA & EPA), with levels almost 2X as high as farmed Atlantic salmon. There is a great story about Open Blue and their founder Brian O’Hanlon, by Daniel Stone of National Geographic (click here to read more).

Open Blue Cobia is a truly versatile fish that offers a world of culinary possibilities. I have had some amazing Cobia dishes created by one of our favorite restaurants in Boulder, Centro Latin Kitchen on Pearl street.  If you want to buy Cobia you can find it at this website: http://www.chefsfreshfish.com/Cobia-Fillet-p/e725a.htm

I will be posting my own recipes for Cobia, starting with this one:

Soy Marinated Cobia

For the Fish:

  • 1 ½ pound of Cobia cut into 6 even pieces
  • 1/2 cup chopped green onions
  • 3 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
  • 3 tablespoons Chinese rice wine or dry Sherry, divided
  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil or vegetable oil, divided
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce

For the Sauce:

  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Asian sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons Chinese rice wine or dry Sherry
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions

PREPARATION

For fish:

Rinse fish and pat dry. Mix green onions, ginger, 1 tablespoon rice wine, 1 tablespoon oil, and soy sauce in 11x7x2-inch glass baking dish. Add fish and turn to coat. Let marinate 1 hour at room temperature (but no longer as you will loose the taste of the fish).

For sauce:

Bring first 6 ingredients to boil in heavy small saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until sauce is slightly thickened and reduced to 1/3 cup, about 6 minutes.

Remove fish from marinade and place on several layers of paper towels to drain; reserve marinade. Pat fish dry. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a iron skillet, then fish pieces, spreading evenly. Cover and cook 30 seconds. Uncover and loosen fish pieces with metal spatula. Reduce heat to medium and cook 1 minute. Turn fish pieces over; cook 1 minute. Add remaining 2 tablespoons rice wine and reserved marinade from fish. Cover and cook 1 minute. Remove skillet from heat; let fish stand covered until just opaque in center, about 1 minute. Using metal spatula, transfer fish and sauce from skillet to plate. Spoon sauce over fish; sprinkle with green onions.

Tilapia with Arugula Salad

Tilapia with Arugula Salad

Tilapia goes great with prosciutto and Sage, by adding lots of flavor to this mild fish. Here are the list of ingredients:

  • 1.5 lbs. Tilapia filets
  • 2 tbsp Butter (1 tbsp at a time)
  • 1 tbsp EVOO
  • ⅓ cup chopped Shallots
  • 5 slices of medium thick Prosciutto chopped
  • ⅓ cup chopped Sage leaves
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Directions: place 1 tbsp butter in pan on medium high heat, add prosciutto. Cook prosciutto for approximately 5 minutes or until crispy, remove and place on a paper towel to drain additional fat. Leave the liquid in the pan, add the 2nd tbsp of butter and oil, and add the shallots and sage. Cook until both shallots and sage are crispy. Strain them leaving liquid in the pan, and place on paper towel. Turn heat up to high and add tilapia filets, searing each side to make it crispy, approximately 3 minutes on a side. (Add more butter if liquid does not cover base of pan). Cook until fish is flakey, but do not over cook. Remove fish to a plate. Quickly warm up prosciutto, sage and shallots, approximately one minute, then place on top of fish. Serve with Arugula salad (below).

Arugula Salad ingredients

  • 4 cups Arugula
  • 1 ripe Anjou pear
  • 5 strips of bacon chopped in ½” pieces
  • ⅓ cup feta cheese
  • 3 Tbsp. EVOO (oil)
  • 1 Tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar
  • Salt

Toss the arugula with olive oil, then add salt. Add other ingredients and toss again, add in the balsamic.

Serves 4 people

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