Roasted Trout With Lentils And Verjus Recipes

Steps:

• For lentils:
• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add carrot, celery, onion, and garlic and cook, stirring often, until softened, 5-8 minutes. Mix in lentils and add broth to cover by 1". Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover, and simmer, adding more broth as needed to keep lentils covered, until lentils are tender, 20-30 minutes. Mix in vinegar; season with salt and pepper. Cover and set aside; keep warm.
• DO AHEAD: Lentils can be cooked 1 day ahead. Let cool; cover and chill.
• For verjus beurre blanc:
• Bring shallot, garlic, star anise, bay leaf, peppercorns, verjus, and wine to a boil in a medium saucepan and cook until reduced to 1/4 cup, 15-20 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a small saucepan; discard solids.
• Place saucepan over low heat and gradually whisk in butter, until butter is melted and sauce is emulsified. Whisk in tarragon and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Cover and set aside; keep warm.
• For trout and assembly:
• Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Season fish with salt and pepper. Place fish, skin side down, in pan and cook, undisturbed, until skin is crisp and releases from pan, about 4 minutes. Turn fish, add butter to pan, and cook, tilting pan and spooning butter over fish, until opaque throughout, about 2 minutes longer.
• Stir parsley into verjus beurre blanc just before serving. Serve fish with lentils and sauce.

Steps:

• Put the lentils in a deep saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil, skim off any scum that rises and then add the chilli and bay leaf. Simmer until the lentils are nearly soft (about 15 minutes), then add the carrot and cook for a further 5 minutes. Drain, discard the chilli and bay leaf, then tip the lentils into a bowl.
• Fry the lardons on their own in a frying pan until the fat runs and they begin to colour. Add the garlic and onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until the onion begins to soften.
• Tip this mixture into the lentils and toss well, then mix the dressing ingredients together and gently fold through the lentils. Taste and add salt and pepper. Rest the trout fillets on the lentils, scatter with the parsley and serve.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Lay the trout over a lightly oiled baking tray and stuff the fish cavity with slices of lemon and herbs. Season generously all over and drizzle with the remaining oil.
• Bake in the oven for 20 mins until the fish is cooked through - the eyes will have turned white and the flesh will be soft to touch. The trout can be served as they are with your favourite seasonal vegetables, but for an added extra touch, peel away the top layer of skin and grate over fresh horseradish before serving.