Pan Fried Monkfish with Mussels and a Grain Mustard and Tarragon Sauce

Pan Fried Monkfish with Mussels and a Grain Mustard and Tarragon Sauce from top chef Michael Caines. Michael cuts the monkfish tail into medallions, and marinates them in curry powder for extra flavour. It is added to the mussels with a white wine and cream sauce.

Ingredients

For the monkfish
  • 1 tablespoon curry powder
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 600g monkfish tail, cut into 12 medallions
  • Olive oil
  • 60g unsalted butter
  • Juice of 1 lemon
For the mussels
  • 40g shallots, chopped
  • 1 bay leaf
  • A sprig of fresh thyme
  • 50ml white wine
  • 300g mussels, washed and cleaned
  • A pinch of saffron
  • 25ml double or whipping cream
  • 500ml fish stock
  • 1 teaspoon grain mustard
  • Chopped fresh tarragon

Method

Mix the curry powder and 1 teaspoon of salt together. Season the fish with the curry salt and a good twist of black pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a non-stick ovenproof frying pan, then add the fish and 20g of butter.

Cook over a medium heat until the fish is golden brown, then turn it over and put the pan into the oven for approximately 3 minutes. Remove, squeeze over the lemon juice, and set aside to rest.

Wash and clean the mussels. Melt 20g of butter in a large saucepan, then add the shallots and cook out until they are soft and transparent. Add the bay leaf, thyme and tarragon.

Add the white wine and bring to the boil, then add the cleaned mussels and cover with a lid. Once the mussels have opened, pour them into a colander over a bowl and leave to drain (discard any mussels that have not opened).

Pour the cooking liquid back into the saucepan, add a pinch of saffron strands, the cream and the fish stock. Bring to the boil, then whisk in the remaining butter and simmer until reduced to a creamy consistency.

Add a teaspoon of grain mustard, season with salt and pepper, and finish with chopped tarragon.

Briefly reheat the monkfish in the oven for a few minutes, then remove and transfer to your serving plates (3 per serving).

Pour the cooked mussels over the top (in or out of the shell, as you wish) and spoon over the sauce.

Ingredients

For the monkfish
  • 1 tablespoon curry powder
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 600g monkfish tail, cut into 12 medallions
  • Olive oil
  • 60g unsalted butter
  • Juice of 1 lemon
For the mussels
  • 40g shallots, chopped
  • 1 bay leaf
  • A sprig of fresh thyme
  • 50ml white wine
  • 300g mussels, washed and cleaned
  • A pinch of saffron
  • 25ml double or whipping cream
  • 500ml fish stock
  • 1 teaspoon grain mustard
  • Chopped fresh tarragon

Method

Mix the curry powder and 1 teaspoon of salt together. Season the fish with the curry salt and a good twist of black pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a non-stick ovenproof frying pan, then add the fish and 20g of butter.

Cook over a medium heat until the fish is golden brown, then turn it over and put the pan into the oven for approximately 3 minutes. Remove, squeeze over the lemon juice, and set aside to rest.

Wash and clean the mussels. Melt 20g of butter in a large saucepan, then add the shallots and cook out until they are soft and transparent. Add the bay leaf, thyme and tarragon.

Add the white wine and bring to the boil, then add the cleaned mussels and cover with a lid. Once the mussels have opened, pour them into a colander over a bowl and leave to drain (discard any mussels that have not opened).

Pour the cooking liquid back into the saucepan, add a pinch of saffron strands, the cream and the fish stock. Bring to the boil, then whisk in the remaining butter and simmer until reduced to a creamy consistency.

Add a teaspoon of grain mustard, season with salt and pepper, and finish with chopped tarragon.

Briefly reheat the monkfish in the oven for a few minutes, then remove and transfer to your serving plates (3 per serving).

Pour the cooked mussels over the top (in or out of the shell, as you wish) and spoon over the sauce.