Dover sole fillets with salsify, oysters and caviar
What's more romantic than oysters and caviar? This sophisticated fish supper is perfect for when you want to push the boat out.
Ingredients
For the sauce
- 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú unsalted butter
- 2 shallots, peeled and finely chopped
- 200ml/7fl oz Sauternes or other French sweet wine
- 100ml/3½fl oz light chicken stock
- 100ml/3½fl oz fish stock
- 100ml/3½fl oz double cream
- 1 tsp caviar
- 6 freshly shucked oysters, juice reserved
- 2 lemons, juice only
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the salsify and sole
- 4 salsify sticks, peeled and cut into batons
- 2 knobs of butter
- 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú plain flour
- 2 whole Dover sole on the bone, skin removed
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 200g/7oz baby spinach, to serve
Method
To make the sauce, heat a tablespoon of the butter in a saucepan and sweat the shallots for 3–4 minutes, or until softened. Pour in the Sauternes and cook until reduced by half. Pour in the chicken stock and cook until reduced by half again. Pour in the fish stock and reduce by half again. Pour in the cream and bring the mixture to the boil. Whisk in the rest of the butter and finally stir in the caviar. Season with salt and pepper and keep warm.
Warm the oyster juice in saucepan with a squeeze of lemon juice. Add the oysters and remove from the heat. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6. Bring a saucepan of water to the boil and add a squeeze of lemon juice. Cook the salsify for 6–8 minutes, or until tender. Drain and pat dry with kitchen paper. Transfer to a roasting tin and dot over half the butter. Roast for 2–3 minutes, or until golden. Set aside and keep the oven on.
Season the flour with salt and pepper. Dust the fish in the flour and cook in a pan for 6 minutes, until just cooked through. Add the remaining butter and baste the fish well. Squeeze over the remaining lemon juice.
To serve, place some spinach on a serving plate, top with the fish and the salsify. Stir the oyster mixture into the caviar sauce and spoon over the fish.