Lake Superior Whitefish Provençal Recipes

MICHIGAN'S WHITEFISH DINNER

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400°F. Arrange the racks with one in the middle of the oven, and one near the broiler.
• Clean the fish by very swiftly rinsing it under cold water, then patting it dry gently and thoroughly with a paper towel.
• Line a heavy sheet pan with foil and place the filets on the foil lengthwise.Squeeze the lemon over the filets evenly. Season with salt and pepper. Stir the mayonnaise in a small bowl until smooth. Using the back of a spoon, spread the mayo over the fish (it will be slippery against the wet surface of the fish; keep spreading. It won't be perfectly even). Dust the fish with paprika.
• Bake the fish for 10 minutes. Turn the broiler on and move the pan to the top rack. Broil until golden and bubbly, 1-2 minutes longer. Cut each filet into thirds and serve immediately.

LAKE SUPERIOR WHITEFISH PROVENçAL

Steps:

• For the Provençal "Salad": Combine above ingredients in a glass bowl, and allow to rest at room temperature while you prepare the fish. This may be prepared several hours or up to a day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated if not serving within two hours.
• For the Fish: Add oil or butter and shallots to a warm pan, and sauté for a minute or two over medium-high heat - just until shallots start to become translucent. Add the white wine or stock - enough so that the entire bottom of the pan is covered with about ¼" of liquid. Simmer for another minute or two to allow to reduce slightly. Add Whitefish fillet(s) to pan, skin-side down (the skin is easily removed when fish is cooked). Baste fillet(s) with wine/stock mixture and reduce heat to medium-low. Cover pan and continue cooking for 8 - 10 minutes. Baste fish occasionally during cooking, making sure the liquids are slowly simmering (not boiling).Fish is fully cooked when the it's the same color all the way through, and internal temperature reaches 140°F.
• To Serve: Portion and serve fish over Israeli Cous Cous and Steamed Asparagus (as shown here), or with rice and fresh greens.

SEARED LAKE SUPERIOR WHITEFISH WITH A MOUSSELINE MUSTARD SAUCE OVER A BED OF SPINACH AND MUSHROOMS SERVED WITH SAFFRON POTATOES

Steps:

• Heat a deep fryer to 350 degrees F.
• Saute mushrooms in a skillet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil until soft. Keep warm in pan.
• Saute spinach in pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil until soft. Keep warm in pan.
• Peel potatoes. Cut off sides of potatoes. Add potatoes to a pot of boiling water with saffron, for color and taste. Boil until tender. Drain.
• Season the fish with white pepper and salt on both sides. Heat a non-stick skillet over high heat. Brush fish on both sides with olive oil. Add fish to skillet and sear on both sides, 3 minutes each side.
• Using only the white part of the leek, halve lengthwise. Take each half and julienne thinly. Wash and dry. Deep fry in hot oil for 1 to 2 minutes until crisp. Drain on paper towels.
• Put spinach in center of plate. Put mushrooms on spinach. Put whitefish on top of mushrooms. Cover fish with Mousseline Mustard Sauce. Put 2 potatoes on side of plate. Put a small heap of leeks on top of fish.
• Combine in a saucepan, shallots, white wine, vinegar, salt and pepper. Reduce to 10 percent of its original volume. When reduced, add heavy cream. Slowly whisk in soft butter, spoon by spoon. Fold in mustard. Adjust seasoning, to taste.

SIMPLE WHITEFISH WITH LEMON AND HERBS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 F and place a heavy baking sheet in oven to preheat as well.
• Cut 4 large rectangles of foil or parchment paper and place a fish fillet in the center of each piece.
• Combine remaining ingredients except lemon slices in a small bowl and stir well.
• Spread mixture evenly over fish, scatter lemon slices on top, and fold the edges of the foil or paper up over each fillet, crimping edges tightly.
• Place packaged fish on preheated baking sheet and bake 13-15 minutes, until fish is just cooked through.
• Serve fish in packages.

EASY BAKED WHITEFISH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cover baking sheet with foil and coat with light cooking spray.
• Using a knife, spread 1/2 tbsp mayonnaise onto each fish fillet.
• Sprinkle each fillet lightly with parmesan cheese.
• Sprinkle each fillet with lemon pepper.
• Sprinkle each fillet lightly with breadcrumbs.
• Bake for 15 minutes or until fish flakes easily.