The Literate Chef

Posts Tagged ‘capers’

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Poached Cod with Tomatoes, Olives and Capers

In Fish, Recipes on September 2, 2014 at 5:23 PM

Poached Cod with Tomatoes, Olives and Capers

Poached Cod with Tomatoes, Olives and Capers

Despite the proliferation and availability of Cod on the eponymous Cape where we’ve made our home for the past several years, I usually refrain from cooking it, as it does not lend itself to many cooking techniques. You can’t grill it, it falls apart too easily. Similarly you can’t sauté it, it quickly turns to mush. I suppose you could bake or roast it, but who wants to heat up the oven to 400 degrees in the summer. My dear wife (a/k/a Grammy) has been after me to prepare it for some time. So yesterday, after recalling an earlier success with Pan-Seared Cod, I decided to try poaching and picked up a lovely one pound fillet at our local fishmonger. It was a perfect piece, center cut, about one inch thick throughout, which makes for even cooking.

Ever helpful, Grammy suggested a combination of tomatoes, olives and capers, similar to the preparation used in Red Snapper Livornese. I complied with her suggestion, I’d be a fool not to,  and last night’s dinner was a rousing success.

(Total preparation and cooking time 30 minutes; serves 2)

Ingredients:

1 lb. Cod fillet, preferably 1 inch thick throughout
4 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. chopped shallots
1 cup dry white wine
1 cup clam juice or fish stock
1 large tomato, coarsely chopped
1 cup stuffed green olives (with pimento) halved widthwise
5 tbsp. capers with juice
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Procedure:

1. Salt & pepper the Cod fillet on both sides.
2. In a braising pan or a sauté pan  or a skillet that has a cover, heat the olive oil on medium low, add the shallots and cook until soft.
3. Add the white wine, bring to a boil for 2 minutes.
4. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the seasoned Cod.
5. Add the clam juice, or fish stock.
6. Add the tomatoes, olives and capers, cover and poach for 8 to 10 minutes, until the fish begins to flake.
7. Gently remove the Cod fillet, divide in two, plate and keep warm.
8. Bring the sauce to a boil for 2 to 3 minutes then, spoon the sauce equally over each plate.

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Pan-Seared Halibut Elisabetta, En Papillote

In Fish, Recipes on July 5, 2014 at 9:51 AM

 

Pan-Seared Halibut Elisabetta

Pan-Seared Halibut Elisabetta

(Preparation time 20 minutes, serves 2)

Ingredients:

1 lb. Halibut, skin removed
Hot Hungarian Paprika
6 Campari Tomatoes, quartered
12 pimento-stuffed green olives, halved
4 tbsp. Capers, drained
1 tbsp. Olive oil
2 squares of Parchment Paper for serving en papillote

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Procedure:

1. Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Thoroughly pat-dry the fish with paper toweling and divide in half.
3. Sprinkle each side with paprika.
4. Pre-heat cast iron skillet on high for 4 to 5 minutes.
5. Add olive oil to the pan and when shimmering, carefully place each piece of fish in the pan.

Pan-searing the Halibut

Pan-searing the Halibut

6. Pan-sear for 1 minute, turn and repeat. Remove seared fish pieces to the middle of each square of parchment paper.

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7. Arrange tomatoes, olives and capers on each piece and wrap into packages.

 

Halibut en Papillote

Halibut en Papillote



8. Place packages on a cookie sheet and roast in the oven for 10 to 11 minutes.
9. Carefully remove the packages from the oven, place each on a plate and gently open and transfer the contents to the plates.
10. Serve immediately.

Please see: She proposed and I disposed

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Linguine with Swordfish (Pasta con Spada)

In Fish, Pasta, Recipes on September 4, 2013 at 11:19 PM

Linguine with Swordfish

Linguine with Swordfish

Preparation time 30 minutes plus 30 minutes marinating – serves 2, no leftovers!

A few weeks ago, the Travel Section of the Sunday’s New York Times, contained a wonderful article by Russell Shorto (Sciotto), on discovering his Sicilian roots. In it he mentioned having a dish of macaroni, swordfish and mint in a Sicilian restaurant. Intrigued by this combination of ingredients and remembering a dish of Pasta con Sarde that I once had in a now defunct New York City Sicilian restaurant, I decided to try and make Linguine with Swordfish. My interest was also piqued, as fresh Harpooned Swordfish is readily available from our local fishmonger.

I thought long and hard about how to go about this and ultimately decided to marinate the fish then pan grill it, de-glaze the pan with wine, toss in some tomatoes and capers, the latter for their saltiness, some fish stock or clam juice for liquid, and instead of mint, chopped parsley. It was easy to make and delicious. Next time I think I will try the mint.

Ingredients:

1/2 lb. Linguine
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Juice of 2 lemons. about 1/3 cup
1 lb. fresh Swordfish
Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
1 cup Dry White Wine
1 lb. Campari Tomatoes, quartered
6 Tbsps. Capers, drained

1/2 cup of Clam juice

1/4 cup, flat leaf parsley, chopped

Procedure:

  1. In a non-reactive dish, remove the skin and marinate the Swordfish in Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Salt and Pepper for 30 minutes, turn once.
  2. Set a pot of water to boil for the linguine.
  3. Pre-heat a cast iron skillet, add the Swordfish and grill it on high heat for 5 minutes on each side, slowly add the marinade to the skillet throughout the grilling.
  4. Remove the fish, set aside and keep warm.
  5. Deglaze the skillet with white wine.
  6. Add tomatoes and capers. Cook on high for 8 mins or so, stirring regularly until the tomatoes begin to break down and the sauce thickens.
  7. Cook the linguine according to directions on the box, usually 8 or 9 minutes for al dente.
  8. Add the Clam Juice and when it comes to a boil, reduce heat to medium low.
  9. In the meantime, cut swordfish fish into 1 inch cubes, return the fish to the sauce to and heat thoroughly.
  10. When the linguine is done, strain it in a colander, transfer it to a large bowl, add the sauce and mix well.
  11. Add the parsley and toss well again.

Serve with grated Locatelli-Romano cheese if that is your preference. Do not be cowed by those who dictate that it is anathema to add cheese to pasta with seafood.

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Red Snapper alla Livornese

In Fish, Recipes, Seafood on July 11, 2011 at 10:00 PM

Ingredients:

•    2 fillets of Red Snapper, Striped Bass or other firm white fish
•    4 Tbsps. extra virgin olive oil
•    2 Tbsps. minced garlic
•    ½ cup finely chopped onion
•    4 Tbsps. capers drained
•    1.5 cups of whole pitted olives, green and black mixed
•    1/3 cup dry white wine
•    2 cups coarsely chopped tomatoes, drained
•    ½ cup fish stock or clam juice
•    ¼ cup chopped parsley

Preparation:

1.    Heat the olive oil on medium, in a non-stick pan with a cover and large enough to hold the fillets side by side.
2.    Add the garlic and onion and sauté lightly for 2 minutes, do not let it brown.
3.    Add the capers and olives and cook for two more minutes.
4.    Add the white wine, turn the heat to high and bring to a boil.
5.    Add the tomatoes, stir for 30-45 seconds, then add the fish stock or clam juice.
6.    Add the fish fillets, cover and poach 8 to 10 minutes for Red Snapper; 10-12 minutes for Stripped Bass, depending on thickness.
7.    Remove the fish to plates, sprinkle with the parsley and pour the sauce over the fish.

Serve with steamed or boiled, buttered new potatoes and a simple salad.

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