Monkfish Alla Pizzaiola Recipes

RED SNAPPER LIVORNESE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Heat the olive oil in a saute pan large enough to hold the snapper fillets, over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until it starts to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the olives and capers and continue cooking until onion is translucent 3-5 minutes.
• Lay the red snapper fillets skin side down in the pan, and add the marinara sauce and white wine. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and place the pan in the oven.
• Bake in the oven until fish is cooked through, about 15-20 minutes. Using a spatula, carefully transfer fish to serving plates, spoon sauce over fish and serve.

"POOR MAN'S LOBSTER" - MONKFISH WITH HERB BROWNED BUTTER

Steps:

• Cut fillets: Cut each monkfish into 3 or 4 even size pieces. (Note 1)
• Season: Sprinkle both sides of fish with salt and pepper.
• Rack for resting: Place a rack over a tray (optional, for resting fish, Note 5)

PORK CHOPS PIZZAIOLA

Steps:

• Cook the sausages: Heat a large cast-iron or stainless steel skillet over high heat. When the skillet is hot, use a pair of metal tongs to arrange the sausages in a single layer. (There is no need for oil as the sausages will soon start to render their grease.) Turn the heat to medium and brown the sausages on all sides, taking care that they are cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes total. Remove the sausages to a medium bowl. Pour off the grease and add the wine, simmering over medium heat to reduce to about 1/4 cup liquid, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour the reduced wine over the sausages and wipe the skillet clean.
• Cook the pork chops: Add the canola oil to the same skillet. Sprinkle the pork chops on all sides with salt. When the oil begins to smoke lightly, add the pork chops in a single layer and brown on all sides over medium heat, 5 to 8 minutes total. Remove the pork chops to the bowl with the sausages. Leave the grease in the skillet.
• Make the sauce: Stir the onions and garlic into the same skillet and cook over medium-low heat until translucent, 8 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with salt. Stir in the canned and cherry tomatoes with 1/2 cup water and simmer gently until the sauce is somewhat thick and tasty, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir the sausages and pork (and any meat juices) back into the sauce and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off the heat, then stir in the cheese, red wine vinegar and basil leaves. Taste for seasoning.
• Cook the pasta: Bring 6 quarts of water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add a generous handful of salt and bring the water back to a boil. Taste the water. It should be salty like seawater. Add the pasta and stir with a large slotted spoon to ensure the pasta does not stick as it cooks. Cook until still quite firm, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain.
• Finish the dish: Spoon the meat over the pasta in individual bowls or serve in a large bowl, family style. You can also just leave the pot of meat and sauce and the pasta separate and let people serve themselves.

CHEF JOHN'S STEAK PIZZAIOLA

Steps:

• Season steak medallions with salt and black pepper on both sides.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add steaks and cook until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Reserve oil in skillet.
• Place mushrooms and butter into the skillet and season with salt; cook and stir until mushrooms are softened and beginning to brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; add peppers and cook and stir until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute. Pour in wine and sprinkle in dried oregano. Increase heat to medium-high and cook until the wine is nearly evaporated, about 3 minutes.
• Stir tomato concasse into the mushroom mixture and simmer until tomato is softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add fresh oregano, balsamic vinegar, and red pepper flakes; stir to combine. Adjust salt and black pepper to taste.
• Place steaks back into the skillet with the mushroom mixture and cook until warmed through and cooked to desired doneness, 4 to 10 minutes.

STEAK PIZZAIOLA

Steps:

• Sprinkle the steak all over with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the steak and sear until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Add the garlic to the skillet. Once it sizzles, add the onion and bell peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until they soften slightly, about 4 minutes. Add the pepperoncini, tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes and 3/4 cup water and stir to combine. Bring to a rapid simmer, then nestle the steak in the sauce and simmer, turning once, until medium rare, about 7 minutes.
• Transfer the steak to a cutting board and let rest about 5 minutes. Continue simmering the sauce until thickened, about 3 more minutes. Thinly slice the steak against the grain and divide among plates. Top with the sauce and parsley. Serve with focaccia.

MONKFISH ALLA PIZZAIOLA

Steps:

• Combine olive oil in frying pan with 2 slices fresh green hot pepper, and one clove garlic. When oil is medium hot, add fish.
• Sprinkle each piece of fish with salt and white pepper and cook about two minutes (more if fish steaks are thick).
• Flip the steaks, sprinkle with oregano.
• Let the temperature in the pan return to medium hot. Add capers and cherry tomatoes (and caper berry if using). Add parsley.
• Add shellfish and white wine. Cover and cook until shellfish open. Remove cover and let the liquid in the pan evaporate. (Do not reduce the flame).

MONKFISH à LA PROVENçALE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with parchment and place eggplant on top. Season with salt to taste and toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Place in oven on middle rack and roast for 15 minutes, stirring halfway through. Remove from oven and reduce heat to 375 degrees.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy lidded skillet or casserole and add onions and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until just about tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add minced garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Add zucchini and roasted eggplant, and stir together. Season generously with salt and pepper and add 1/2 bay leaf, 1/2 teaspoon rosemary and 1/2 teaspoon thyme. When vegetables are sizzling, cover pan, reduce heat to low, and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the tomato. Taste and adjust seasonings.
• Meanwhile, oil a large baking dish or gratin (large enough to accommodate ratatouille and fish). Season monkfish on both sides with salt and pepper. Make a few slits in the top and insert garlic slices. Place fish in baking dish, rounded side up.
• Sprinkle shallots around fish. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over fish and sprinkle with remaining rosemary and thyme. Break up remaining bay leaf into a few pieces and scatter over fish. Pour wine into baking dish and place in oven for 25 minutes.
• Remove baking dish from oven and carefully transfer fish to the baking sheet you used for the eggplant. Pour off liquid in baking dish and discard.
• Transfer ratatouille to baking dish and place fish on top. Return to oven and bake 10 to 15 minutes, or until fish is completely opaque and can be pulled from the bone. Monkfish won't flake apart like other white-fleshed fish; the texture is similar to cooked lobster. Remove from oven. Remove pieces of bay leaf, then garnish with basil and serve.