Sparkling Cider Poached Fish Recipes

FISH POACHED IN CIDER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Smear the bottom of an ovenproof skillet with the butter; sprinkle the shallots and mushrooms around the sides of the skillet. Season the fish with salt and pepper, and lay it in the center of the skillet. Pour the cider around the fish.
• Bring to a boil on top of the stove, then transfer to the oven. Bake for about 8 minutes; it's highly unlikely the fish will need more time than this unless it is very thick (or you like it very well done). Baste with the pan juices, and serve.

CIDER POACHED PEARS

Steps:

• Combine the cider, sugar, orange juice, orange zest, cloves, cinnamon stick and vanilla bean in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer and cook just until the sugar dissolves, 2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker. Add the pears, and then cover with a lid and cook on low2 hours, turning the pears halfway through.
• Remove the pears using a slotted spoon and transfer to serving plates or a shallow dish. Carefully strain the poaching liquid back into the saucepan and reduce the liquid by half until thickened and syrupy. Pour the reduced sauce over the pears and chill in the refrigerator an additional 2 hours or up to 2 days.

SPARKLING CIDER

Steps:

• Combine the apple cider and whiskey in a small pitcher. Fill the champagne glasses 2/3 up with the cider and whiskey mix. Top each glass with sparkling wine and garnish with a few frozen cranberries.

COD POACHED IN CIDER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Put the butter in a small skillet and turn the heat to medium. Add the onion and a sprinkling of salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft but not yet beginning to brown. Turn off the heat. Transfer the onion to a flameproof ceramic or nonstick baking dish just large enough to contain the fish. Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper and put it over the onion. Pour the cider around all and bring to a boil on top of the stove.
• Cover with foil and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the fish is done (a thin-bladed knife inserted into its center will meet little resistance). Garnish with parsley and serve the fish with the onion and juices spooned over it.
• Clean 2 pounds mussels (page 208) and combine them with the cider in a covered pot. Turn the heat to high and cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until the mussels open, about 10 minutes. When they are cool enough to handle, remove them from their shells; pass the cider through a cheesecloth-lined strainer. Proceed as directed, using the mussel-scented cider for the liquid and adding the shelled mussels to the fish about halfway through its cooking time.
• In step 1, when the onion begins to soften, add 1 cup trimmed and chopped white, cremini, or portobello mushrooms and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms have given up their liquid, about 10 minutes more. Proceed as directed.

CIDER-POACHED FISH

Steps:

• Peel and mince the shallots.
• Stem and wash the mushrooms, then coarsely chop, should yield 1/2 - 3/4 cup.
• Cut the fish into 2 or 4 equally sized pieces, if necessary, so that they fit comfortably in a large skillet.
• Melt 2 tbsps of the butter in a large skillet, preferably non-stick, over medium-low heat. When it is foamy, add the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes, until they are transluscent.
• Season the fish lightly on both sides with salt and pepper. Arrange the pieces in the skillet in a single layer.
• Cook for 1-2 minutes, then add the mushrooms, stirring to combine.
• Add the cider, increase the heat to medium or medium-high so that bubbles appear at the edges of the skillet.
• Cover and cook for 8-10 minutes; turn the fish pieces over halfway through, if desired.
• Transfer the fish to a deep serving dish to keep warm, leaving the liquid in the skillet.
• Increase the heat to medium-high, if needed; cook uncovered for 2-3 minutes to reduce sauce slightly. Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary.
• (At this point, if you want to make a richer sauce, remove the skillet from the heat. Add the creme fraiche or butter and stir to incorporate.).
• Spoon the sauce over fish.
• Serve immediately.

COD POACHED IN CIDER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°.
• Put the butter in a small skillet and turn the heat to medium.
• Add the onion and a sprinkling of salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft but not yet beginning to brown.
• Turn off the heat.
• Transfer the onion to a flameproof ceramic or nonstick baking dish just large enough to contain the fish.
• Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper and put it over the onion.
• Pour the cider around all and bring to a boil on top of the stove.
• Cover with foil and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the fish is done (a thin-bladed knife inserted into its center will meet little resistance).
• Garnish with parsley and serve the fish with onion and juices spoon over it.

SHALLOW-POACHED FISH FILLETS

Steps:

• Prepare poaching liquid: Gently squeeze kumquats over a measuring cup to release juice. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. When it is foamy, sweat the shallot until it is softened but not taking on any color, about 2 minutes. Add wine, tangerine juice, and kumquats (and juice) and bring to a simmer.
• Poach fish: Fold thin ends ("tails") of fish fillets under a little so the fillets have a more uniform thickness. Season with salt, then gently slide the fillets into the simmering liquid. The fish will not be completely covered with liquid but should be in a single layer. Cover with a parchment-paper round and reduce heat so the liquid is barely moving (just under a simmer). Poach until fish is opaque throughout and flaky to the touch. (Check after 1 minute, but it may take up to 5 minutes.) Use a slotted fish spatula (or other long spatula) to transfer fish to a platter. Cover with parchment paper and set in a warm spot until ready to serve.
• Make buerre blanc: Pour the cooking liquid through a fine sieve to strain out the solids, pressing on the fruit to extract as much liquid as possible. Return liquid to skillet and boil over moderate heat until reduced to about 3 tablespoons, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off heat and gradually add the butter, whisking in a few cubes at a time. If butter isn't melting, return pan to moderate heat and swirl to hasten melting. Whisk until each addition is incorporated before adding more. When all of the butter has been added, stir in the sliced kumquats. You should have about 1/2 cup sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve: Drizzle buerre blanc over fish, and garnish with mint.

CIDER-SPIKED FISH PIE

Steps:

• Prepare the topping: Place potatoes in a pot of water and boil until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain, then mash or push through a ricer. Mix in butter and milk, and season generously with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Make the filling: Heat milk until it's steaming, then add fish and poach on low heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Strain the parcooked fish, saving the milk, and set aside.
• Melt butter over low heat, then add flour and whisk until smooth. Sizzle for a couple of minutes, until golden brown, then slowly whisk in the cider until it's a smooth paste. Allow to bubble for a minute, then gradually whisk in the fish-poaching milk. Turn off heat and gently add fish, half the Cheddar and the peas.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Pour the filling into an ovenproof dish set on a foil-lined baking sheet (it may bubble over the edges a bit in the oven). Top evenly with mashed potato, spreading it out to the edges of the dish, and sprinkle over remaining cheese. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is golden. Allow to cool just slightly before serving.

SPARKLING-CIDER-POACHED FISH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Smear the bottom of an ovenproof skillet with the butter; sprinkle the shallot and mushrooms around the sides of the skillet. Season the fish with salt and pepper to taste and lay it in the center of the skillet. Pour the cider around the fish Bring to a boil on top of the stove, then transfer to the oven. Bake about 8 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Do not overcook! Baste with pan juices and serve.