Fish recipe for a dinner party

[truck71]

Hi Folks, hosting a small dinner party for seven and am looking for a fish recipe as a main course (can't be salmon or include cheese..) due to various dietary requirements.

I'd like to try and use red mullet fillets having enjoyed some great meals in France last autumn (superb texture), asking the chef in the restaurant it was a simple dish shallow fried with basil and garlic but that's as much as I could gather. So, what do you reckon- anybody got suggestions for red mullet? I was thinking of serving this with dauphinoise potatoes (sans fromage for the non cheese eater) and fresh green beans.

Courses either side I can sort, any input greatly appreciated.

[Mobile Chicane]

I'd say that's more of a summer dish.

It will be very difficult to re-create with elderly garlic (at this time of year garlic is bitter and full of hate) plus supermarket basil.

I'd go for something more seasonal like cod, which has a wonderful affinity with potatoes and mushrooms. Jamie Oliver has a recipe for it somewhere.

Or a posh fish pie with just a smidgen of truffle oil. This complements the flavour of fish perfectly, but only the merest hint is needed or else it will overpower.

[Mobile Chicane]

An afterthought: trout 'Père Louis' (pan fried in butter with flaked almonds) is a good winter dish.

Just serve some green beans alongside as it's very rich.

[slowx]

Grouper
Sea bass
Fillet, use cloth/paper towel dab dry, cover with starch powder
Green onions, sliced ginger
Grill using ample amount of oil, skin side down first, turn over when crisp, green onion and ginger thrown in, place fish on plate, green onion and ginger on top
with the oil still in grill/pan, pour a bit of stock and soy sauce in, high flame, once it boils pour it over fish

Add whatever sides you like, done

[truck71]

Thanks both, like the ideas there- I suspect the trout maybe out on account the non salmon eater may have the same affliction with this fish (odd I know). The great thing is I'll be trying the options first over the next week so I get to sample them all. Got a good fishmonger here if rather expensive- you pays your money etc.

[madbadger]

My recommendation is to check all the seven are all fish eaters.

Sounds like my worst nightmare.

I know it is like quoting Wikipedia but on Come Dine With Me fish / seafood dishes rarely appeal to all four contestants.

[truck71]

madbadger said:

My recommendation is to check all the seven are all fish eaters.

Sounds like my worst nightmare.

I know it is like quoting Wikipedia but on Come Dine With Me fish / seafood dishes rarely appeal to all four contestants.

Yep, done that- luckily they all do. I don't normally pander to this sort of nonsense however it's an occasion to bring different social groups together so I hope it gets everyone comfortable and encourages future events.

[matrignano]

I tried a new dish recently, inspired by Nobu.
- Black cod marinated for 3 days in miso paste/brown sugar/mirin/sake/soy sauce (all heated up to dissolve sugar and burn alcohol), then grilled skin side up
- Timbal of jasmin rice with a drop of soy sauce on top, the sauce filters into the timbale and gives a lovely black veiny appearance. Spoonful of salmon roe on top
- Cucumber salad with toasted sesame seeds, sunflower oil and white vinegar

Very tasty, very simple, just needs some planning due to lenghty marinade process.
And black cod is expensive...

[anonymous-user]

This is fking delicious. http://www.raymondblanc.com/recipes/pollock-grenob...

[condor]

I'd suggest Monkfish, though it is expensive.
Or fresh tuna steaks would go down well.

[jep]

Would a fish curry be a suitable dish? You can have a big sharing bowl in the table and add a number of side dishes that fit all tastes. The added bonus is that a lot of the work can be done well in advance minimising the time you spend in the kitchen when your guests have arrived.

Alternatively, take your fillets cook them en papillote individually with some stuffed peppers to go on the side. Fresh cherry tomatoes, sliced garlic, french beans (or petit pois/tender stem broccoli), slices of courgette and carrot, a generous helping of butter, salt and pepper, and a sprig or two of thyme/rosemary/oregano/basil go together quite nicely and can again be prepped well in advance with minimal fuss when it's time to eat.

[brissleboy]

I like cod with chorizo a la Jamie Oliver:

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/member-recipes/...

We've added to the recipe a little (it obviously needs salt, pepper and some chilli) but not much and you could always exclude the mozzarella for those that do not like cheese.

Serve with sautéed potatoes and purple sprouting broccoli, certainly not a posh dinner but tasty nonetheless.

[truck71]

Cheers folks, plenty to go at there.

[Chris_]

How about a whole sea bass baked in sea salt? It is simple to do, produces wonderfully moist fish, and has a bit of a dinner party "wow factor" when you crack open the salt crust in front of everyone.

Requires very little attention once it's in the oven so more socialising time once the guests are there.

[truck71]

thelittleegg said:

OK, ok, I know it's not summer, but this really is lovely and sounds along the lines of what you were originally looking for:

Seabass with sauce vierge and olive crushed potatoes

Well, did this for eight last night and it went down a storm. Decided to invest in a creuset frying pan which helped cook the fish superbly. Line caught fish from the local supplier was well worth the money over farmed supermarket stuff. Great suggestion.

[sidekickdmr]

I know its probably too late now but i had family around for dinner the other day and made this:

Smoked haddock, poached in milk and butter

On a bed of fresh parsley mash, made with the fish milk/butter mix

Topped with a runny poached egg

With roasted, on vine cherry toms and grilled asparagus

and a dash of warm hollandaise sauce

[NorthDave]

Carrying on the too late theme

I am a big fan of fish wellington. White fish topped with pate (I use chicken liver, a mate used smoked salmon) and wrapped in puff pastry. You can do the whole thing before hand and then just needs 25 mins in the oven. It's great! I do individuals.

[Du1point8]

salt crust fish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmJzFZ13vE8