FLOUNDER WITH LEMON CAPER SAUCE

Here’s a simple weeknight recipe for flounder, or any mild white fish (sole, tilapia, etc.).  The flounder I used was frozen and thawed.  (Backstory:  A friend gave us a gift of about 35 small flounders, freshly caught.  We gave some away and froze the rest.  Trying to make room in the freezer, Guy cut the heads and tails off our fish.  While it made room in the freezer, it also ruined my plans for grilling them on cedar planks.  Oh, yes, we tried:




We found that the heads and tails are critical to the moistness of the fish when planking.   In other words, the fish was sort of dry.   I needed a plan B for the 20 or so flounders sitting in my freezer.  So, at my request, Guy filleted two of them.)
 
We both enjoyed our flounder simply pan fried in a cast-iron skillet and drizzled with a lemon-caper sauce.  The fish was moist and the sauce was a perfect complement to the mildness of flounder.  We’ll definitely be having an encore soon.

Flounder with Lemon Caper Sauce Rating:  10 out of 10 Click for PRINTABLE PAGE

1 tsp. unsalted butter 1 garlic clove, grated or minced 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth 1 lb. flounder (or other mild white fish) fillets Fine sea salt or kosher salt to taste Black pepper to taste 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice 1-1/2 Tbsp. capers, rinsed, drained 2 tsp. chopped fresh parsley In small saucepan, heat butter over medium heat.  Add garlic and cook about 30 seconds.  Add broth and cook till reduced to half.  Off heat, cover and keep warm. Pat fish dry with clean paper towels.  Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.  Heat a medium heavy skillet, preferably a cast-iron skillet, over medium-high heat.  Add oil.  Right before it reaches its smoking point, add the flounder.  Cook about 1 minute, then flip to the other side and cook another 30-45 seconds.  Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.  Increase skillet heat to high and pour in reduced broth mixture.  Add lemon juice and cook about 1 minute, or till mixture starts to thicken slightly.  Add capers and parsley and cook till heated through.  Serve sauce over flounder.  Yield:  4 servings