In conjunction with Yummr’s July foodie book giveaway, Yummr (courtesy of Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt Books) has generously offered my readers an additional chance to win a copy of Fish Without a Doubt: The Cook’s Essential Companion.
Though I have not read the book, I did try a recipe from the book: sole piccata. I’ve had this at restaurants before, but never realized just how easy this is to make!!!
– 4 pieces of 6 – 7 oz. gray sole fillets
– coarse salt and freshly ground white pepper
– all-purpose flour
– vegetable oil
– 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
– ½ cup minced shallots
– 4 thin lemon slices
– ¼ cup dry white wine or dry vermouth
– 2 teaspoons capers
Heat a large skillet over high heat. Meanwhile, season the fish on both sides with salt and white pepper and dredge in flour. Pat off excess.
When the pan is hot, pour in a slick of vegetable oil. Add 2 fillets and 1 tablespoon of butter, breaking it into bits so it will melt quickly. Cook the fish until golden, about 1 ½ minutes; turn and cook for another minute. Transfer the fish to dinner plates. Pour out the fat and repeat for the remaining 2 fillets.
Pour the fat out of the skillet and return it to the heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and the shallots and lemon slices. Sautee, stirring, until the shallots soften, about 1 minute. Pour in the wine and stir to dissolve any browned bits in the pan. Put one lemon slice on each piece of fish, then add the last tablespoon of butter to the skillet, along with the capers. Tilt and shake the pan to melt the butter and thicken the sauce. Spoon over the fish and serve right away.
—
Being me, I had to make a few modifications to the recipe… I assure you, though, it was delicious!!! Super ‘lish as I like to say 😉
Cooking for one – and a small budget – led me to pick up 4 ounces of grey sole at Whole Foods. At $15.99/lb. I told the guy I only wanted a few pieces, let’s say two, and he said “This is only 4 ounces, is that enough?” and I said yes. I kind of regretted it once I was eating, since it was really yummy, but it was definitely enough for me. I’m not sure where they get the sole in the above recipe – all of the pieces were about the same size as the two I received, which are each 2 oz. I guess you can just serve more!
I didn’t have white pepper, so I used regular freshly ground black pepper. I feel in a case such as this, it’s mostly an aesthetic choice, but as you can see, I didn’t bother much with aesthetics, either.
I opted to use extra virgin olive oil, which was probably a poor choice on my part as vegetable oil is better for frying things – I forget why, but that’s common knowledge – and then the last two changes I made were out of laziness and assumptions, respectively: I didn’t bother emptying the pan of fat, since I only put in the two fillets at the same time, but also because why waste all that good stuff? I think the browned bits made my sauce come out a little ugly, though. Also, I’d assumed I had some sort of white wine in my wine rack, but when I went to grab it, I only found off-dry whites and I decided to just skip that part, and instead used freshly squeezed lemon juice, adding a nice bright tang that approximates a dry white wine taste anyhow.
Overall, I was extremely please with the results of this recipe. Obviously very versatile, playing well with my changes, and coming out super ‘lish anyway, and really, very easy to make. I think from start to finish, this recipe took me 15 minutes. Add 5 minutes if you’re making double what I made… I think this would pair well with a rice pilaf, something light and fluffy like so, and a fresh salad. A cool glass of white wine and you’re done.
Happy eating!!!
***To enter to win a free copy of the cookbook I took this recipe from, please leave a comment with your email address (you can use the convention of [alias]at[ISP]dot[com] if you’d like to prevent spam), how often you cook fish, and why you think you deserve to win this cookbook! 🙂
Anonymous says
Why should I win the cookbook? Because the only fish recipe I know (and have perfected) is salmon teriyaki. A cookbook would definitely expand my horizons!!!!
vsin7@yahoo.com
Allison says
That looks so yummy!
Would you believe I have never actually cooked fish? I mean, I eat sashimi all the time, but I’m so intimidated by preparing and cooking fish… how to scale it, how to fillet it, how to cook it correctly… all scares the heck out of me. Silly I know, but… that’s why I need this cookbook! 😀
sushiday [at] gmail [cot] com
Megan says
I cook fish once every week or two, but think I deserve to win this book because I basically prepare it the same way every time and want to broaden my horizons a little ^^
megan.haligh[at]gmail[dot]com
teresawu says
wow, did you just remember my name? very impressive, you. 🙂
loving your blog! mmm food blogs. I tried to start one but it died after I came to NY and stopped cooking. ha.
Geoff says
I’m actually entering on behalf of my dad since he usually does the cooking. We’re Chinese, so fish pretty much swim in our veins. Steamed, grilled, even salt-crusted, he can do it all, but he needs more ideas. So because he’s my dad, and because he does so much for us, I’d like to win this cookbook for him.
geoffyen(at)gmail
eonyc says
I’m always angling (har har) to try new recipes, and fish is not only good for you, but delicious! I’d love a book full of recipes to try–and blog about! : )
Lori
Carol says
the sole picatta looks yummy !! I am looking for new ways to cook fish for more healthy meals. I think the cookbook is fabulous! I need this cookbook!!
cchin24@msn.com
Anonymous says
I’m a faithful reader from the Midwest – love reading about your fantastic restaurants (and crying inside because we’re limited here).
Would LOVE the fish cookbook – my family are big fish eaters. Actually have a great fish market here in town, and they know me by name and recommend new things for me to try.
csarnold@rockwellcollins.com
Lizz says
That looks SO delish!! Buttery acidic fish is one of my favorite ways to eat them. I would love to incorporate more fish into my diet and especially learn fish recipes that does not require butter, fat and oil muahahah!
ekoroh[at]gmail[dot]com
Jason says
hmmm… maybe winning this cookbook will make me like fish.
natis says
cause i rock.
jjoven AT gmail DOT com
Anonymous says
I’ve recently just got into cooking fish and am looking for some new recipes.
layatp[at]gmail[dot]com
Melanie says
I have five children. I would love to win this book because I would like to teach them all to eat more healthfully, including eating more fish. The more recipes we try, the more likely they are to carry an appreciation for well-prepared fish dishes into their adult years.
Olivia says
I love fish and have started to try at least one new fish dish a month. So winning a cookbook would help me out and save me from buying one.
scot1630@gmail.com
sassysprite says
that’s my basic go-to dish when i dont want to be bothered with cooking.
instead of spending $16/lb on sole, i spend $3/lb on frozen tilapia filets that are individually vacuum packed. saves a bundle!!
the boy and i are eating more fish cuz its better for our health. would be great to learn a few more fish recipes…ive got a bunch saved already. but more never hurts!
smurfett76 (@) yahoo (dot) com
margaret says
i’d like to win it b/c i’ve never (ever!) cooked fish. dunno how, dunno which kinds are good (rarely order fish in restaurants)… plus a cookbook of any kind would be great for ideas, as my ‘cooking’ usually consists of everything smothered in cambell’s cream of mushroom sauce :OP (seriously, though).
yelloefairie[at]hotmail[dot]com
Bento Pet says
Well I couldn’t wait for another recipe from the book and I tried to cook it tonight.
I’ve posted it on my blog and it had pretty good reviews from hubs and the two elder kids.
If I were to win the cookbook, you’d be sure that I will definitely put it to good use!
sarah says
i’ll enter your contest. i never cook fish. i might have cooked fish once when i was living at home, but never since moving out and living with my boyfriend/husband. he only recently started attempting to eat fish. so if i win, i’ll attempt cooking fish, if he’ll attempt tasting it.
toodles~
sarahkf[at]gmail[dot]com
miss beancurd says
Sign me up! I don’t usually cook fish, so why not win a cookbook and try?
missbeancurd[at]gmail
Food, she thought. says
I am a pescetarian who occasionally eats steak, like last night. i think i should win the book. email me via my blog!
Granddaughter :) says
My Asian grandma (who just turned 78 last week~ Happy Bday!) lives across the country and always frets that I don’t eat enough fish. The only edible fish I make is baked salmon, which is too expensive to eat very often.
The poor lady fusses over me *every time* I call. PLEASE let me win the cookbook and cook her some of my new, delicious fish recipes the next time I visit! Thanks!
sovietsecrets AT gmail DOT com
Cathy says
Yo feisty-feist! Even though I missed your white iced tea demo, I would love to win the cookbook because I love everything you cook. Especially this sole piccata. Keep it up!
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