Sea Basssnapper With Sun Dried Tomatoes Recipes

Steps:

• In a flat plate, mix the basil, thyme, peppercorns, and garlic.
• Heat the oil in a large saute pan. Encrust the fish with the fresh spice mix. Saute the fish delicately, about 3 minutes per side.
• Without removing the fillets from the pan, drain off most of the oil. Deglaze the pan with the Cognac. Tilt pan to flambe, allowing the flame to crisp the crust on the fish. Add the stock to extinguish the flambe, and to deglaze further.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Divide asparagus between two serving plates, arranging the stalks decoratively. Carefully place sauteed fish on top of the asparagus. Drizzle the Sundried Tomato-Chardonnay sauce over and around the fish. Sprinkle the tomato concasse all over the plate. Place a basil bud on top of the fish.
• Heat olive oil in a saucepan, then add peppercorns and shallots. Saute until translucent. Add the wine, bay leaf, lemon juice, and sun-dried tomato, and reduce by 80 percent. With a whisk, 3 to 4 cubes at a time, incorporate butter, making a beurre blanc sauce. Strain through chinois. Keep warm.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Season sea bass fillets with salt and pepper. In a saute pan, over high heat, add the olive oil and sear fish fillets skin side down first, for 3 minutes or until golden brown. Turn fish over and cook another 4 minutes or until cooked through.
• Meanwhile, prepare the croutons. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Toss with bread cubes and transfer to a baking sheet. Bake in oven for 4 minutes or until crisp and golden in color. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
• In another saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons of butter. Over high heat, saute the baby vegetables until glazed. Divide into 2 and mound in center of plate. Keep warm.
• Add the remaining 2 ounces of butter to the fillets and baste them with the butter. Place a fillet and the red peppers on top of the vegetables. Sprinkle half of the croutons on top and around each fillet. To butter, add shallots and continue to cook until butter turns brown. Deglaze with lemon juice, and add the lemon pieces, parsley, chives, tarragon, capers, and caper berries. When heated, pour half over and around each fillet. Serve immediately.
• Note: if sea bass is not available, any firm white fish can be substituted.

Steps:

• Place sun-dried tomatoes in small bowl. Pour boiling water over to cover. Let stand until tomatoes are very soft, about 30 minutes. Drain, reserving 4 tablespoons soaking liquid.
• Transfer tomatoes to processor. Add olives, onion, chopped basil, parsley and garlic and chop finely. Add vinegar, oil and 2 tablespoons reserved tomato soaking liquid; blend until moist paste forms, adding more soaking liquid if mixture is too thick. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.)
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat) or preheat broiler. Sprinkle sea bass with salt and pepper. Grill or broil fish until opaque in center, about 4 minutes per side.
• Transfer fish to plates. Top with spoonful of tapenade and serve.