Quick recipe finder Pan-fried mackerel with Bretonne sauce
By Darina Allen From Saturday Kitchen
Ingredients
- 8 fillets of very fresh mackerel (allow 170g/6oz fish for main course, 85g/3oz for a starter)
- seasoned flour
- 40g/1½oz soft butter
For the Bretonne sauce
- 55g/2oz butter, melted
- 2 eggs yolks, preferably free range
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 2 tsp white wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp parsley, chopped or a mixture of chervil, chives, tarragon and fennel, chopped
Method
Heat the griddle pan.
Dip the fish fillets in flour which has been seasoned with salt and freshly ground pepper. Shake off the excess flour and then spread a little butter with a knife on the flesh side, as though you were buttering a slice of bread rather meanly.
When the grill is quite hot but not smoking, place the fish fillets butter side down on the grill; the fish should sizzle as soon as they touch the pan.
Turn down the heat slightly and let them cook for 4 or 5 minutes on that side before you turn them over. Continue to cook on the other side until crisp and golden.
Meanwhile, make the sauce. Melt the butter and allow to boil.
Put the egg yolks into a bowl, add the mustard, wine vinegar and the herbs, mix well.
Whisk the hot melted butter into the egg yolk mixture little by little so that the sauce emulsifies. Keep warm, by placing the heatproof bowl in a saucepan of hot but not boiling water.
Serve the mackerel with the sauce, a good green salad and new potatoes.