Seared Fish With Asian Mushroom Ragout Recipes

SEARED FISH WITH SHIITAKE MUSHROOM RAGOUT

Steps:

• Cut fish in 4 equal portions, season with salt and pepper and brush with 2 tablespoons sesame oil. Set aside. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
• Place a wok or large skillet on medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Add garlic, ginger, onion and celery and stir-fry until the vegetables soften. Add mushrooms, lower heat to medium and continue to cook about 5 minutes, until mushrooms soften. Stir in the edamame and 5-spice powder. Add soy sauce, vinegar and beer and bring to a simmer. Stir in miso and let it dissolve. Remove from heat. Add salt and pepper if needed.
• Place a heavy ovenproof skillet, preferably cast iron, over high heat. While pan heats, dust the skin of the fish with flour. Add remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil to the pan. Place fish, skin side down, in pan and sear about 5 minutes, until skin browns.
• Turn fish over, place in oven and roast 8 to 10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets, until just cooked through. An instant-read thermometer should register about 140 degrees. Remove from oven.
• Reheat mushroom ragout. Add scallions, cilantro and remaining tablespoon of sesame oil. Spoon mixture onto a platter or four dinner plates. Top with the fish, skin side up, and serve.

ASIAN STEAMED FISH

Steps:

• Rinse the fish under cold water and pat dry. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Arrange 4 fillets in a single layer in a glass or enamel pie plate. Top with half each of the scallions and ginger, then lay the remaining 4 fillets on top to make 4 sandwiches. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon soy sauce and refrigerate until ready to cook, or up to 30 minutes.
• Remove the fish from the refrigerator. Fill a wok or large Dutch oven with 2 to 3 inches of water; bring to a boil. Put a large steamer in the wok (the water should not touch the bottom of the steamer). Set the pie plate in the steamer, cover and steam until the fish is cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the fish to a plate and drizzle with any collected juices.
• Heat the peanut oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining ginger, the garlic, jalapeno, sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt and stir-fry 30 seconds. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon soy sauce and remove from the heat. Slice the remaining scallions into matchsticks and scatter over the fish along with the bell pepper. Pour the ginger mixture on top. Serve with rice.

PAN SEARED SEABASS WITH WHITE BEAN RAGOUT, BRAISED ESCAROLE AND TOMATO VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Discard the water from the soaked beans.
• In a large saucepot, render the pancetta. Add the beans and 5 cups of water. Simmer for 45 minutes. Strain the beans, reserve the liquid and discard the pancetta. Set aside.
• In the same pot, heat the olive oil. Saute all the vegetables until the onions are transparent.
• In a small bowl, dilute the tomato paste in the remaining 1/2 cup of water. Add to the vegetables. Add the spinach, the reserved bean liquid and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer. Add the beans, season with salt and pepper. Reduce by 1/4. Reserve.
• Prepare the Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette. In a bowl, combine all the ingredients and toss gently. Reserve.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Brush the fish fillets with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Place a medium saute pan over high heat. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and saute the fish, skin side down for 2 minutes. Transfer to the oven and bake until done, about 5 to 6 minutes. Do not turn the fish to ensure a crispy skin.
• Prepare the escarole. In a large saute pan, over medium heat, add the olive oil. Saute the escarole until wilted. Season with salt.
• Meanwhile, lay out 4 large soup plates and ladle 6 ounces of the white bean ragout on each plate. Lay 2 spears of escarole cross-wise. With a metal spatula, carefully place a fillet, skin side up, on top of the escarole. Spoon tomato vinaigrette across the fillet. Serve immediately.

MUSHROOM RAGOUT

Steps:

• Clean the mushrooms by brushing with a kitchen towel or a brush to remove any loose dirt.
• Remove the shitake stems and discard.
• Quarter the mushrooms and set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add the mushrooms to the skillet in a single layer in the pan.
• Do not pile the mushrooms on top of one another.
• Increase the heat to high and cook mushrooms until brown then turn them over with a spoon or by shaking the pan.
• If skillet seems dry add the additional 2 tablespoons butter.
• Cook until nicely browned, about 5 minutes.
• Add the shallot or onion and garlic and cooked until softened about 3 minutes.
• Add the salt, pepper, and thyme.
• Add the Madeira wine and scrape up all of the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Add the heavy cream and bring to a boil.
• Cook for about 45 seconds to 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and serve.

PAN SEARED FISH WITH MUSHROOMS AND SCALLIONS

Steps:

• Season fish fillet with salt and pepper. Coat with cornstarch. Heat a small amount of oil in a pan. Place the fish in the hot oil Lightly brown the fish, adjusting heat as needed. Turn and finish cooking.
• Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a separate pan. Add mushrooms and garlic. When the mushrooms release iquid, allow a little of the liquid to dry up. Add the scallions and toss quickly. Add sherry and then cashews.
• Serve over rice or noodles.

MUSHROOM RAGOUT

Steps:

• Remove the stems from the mushrooms and set aside for the broth. Slice the mushrooms in 1/4-inch slices. Heat a heavy-gauge nonstick skillet or a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet over medium heat; when the pan is hot, add 1 teaspoon of porcini oil. Place the sliced mushrooms flat in one layer in the skillet, season lightly with 2 teaspoons of the salt and and 1 teaspoon pepper and saute on both sides until golden, 1 to 2 minutes depending on the mushroom. Remove the sauteed mushrooms to a heavy pot and set aside. Repeat this process until all of the mushrooms have been seared. When the final batch is seared, add the dry sherry, scrape the pan well to deglaze and add to the pot of sauteed mushrooms.
• Place the pot over low heat. Add the thyme and the broths and simmer, seasoning with the remaining salt and pepper to taste. The mushrooms should simmer for about 30 minutes, until half the broth has evaporated. Add the parsley, stir well and refrigerate in a covered container for up to one week to use in other recipes.