Sauteed Sea Bass Fillets with Brown Butter Brussel Sprouts and Triple Mustard Vinaigrette

By suzygav

Ingredients

• Brown Butter Brussels Sprouts:
• 4 sea bass fillets or other firm white fish
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Extra-virgin olive oil, to saute
• Brown Butter Brussels Sprouts, recipe follows
• Triple Mustard Vinaigrette, recipe follows
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 6 large cipollini onions, peeled and cut into 1/6's or 1/8's
• 1 pound Brussels sprouts, bases trimmed, outer leaves removed and halved
• 2 1/2 cups chicken stock, or as needed
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper
• 1 teaspoon chopped thyme leaves
• Triple Mustard Vinaigrette:
• 1 tablespoon mustard seed
• 1 large shallot, minced
• 3 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
• 2 tablespoons whole grain mustard
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 teaspoons dry mustard
• Salt and pepper
• 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small bunch parsley, leaves only, chopped

Details

Servings 4

Preparation

Step 1

Sea Bass:

Set fish on a large plate and sprinkle generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Drizzle olive oil over fish sufficient to cover all surfaces and allow fish to marinade for 5 to 10 minutes. Heat a large skillet (nonstick works well) on high heat. Just as skillet starts to smoke add fish and immediately reduce heat to medium. Cook fillets on 1 side until fish releases easily from pan and is golden brown and slightly crispy. Turn fillets and continue to cook until fish is just cooked through, time will depend on thickness of fillets. If you have particularly thick fillets, you may need to reduce heat to very low and cover pan to finish cooking. Serve fish immediately with Triple Mustard Vinaigrette, and Brown Butter Brussels Sprouts.

Brussel Sprouts:

In a large skillet heat butter until it is foamy and just starts to brown on the edges. Add cipollini and cook on high heat, tossing frequently, until cipollini are nicely browned and just starting to get tender. Add Brussels sprouts, and cook, tossing frequently, until they are well browned on the cut sides and just starting to turn bright green. Add enough chicken stock to just cover Brussels sprouts and add bay leaf. Bring stock to a simmer and cook until vegetables are just tender and liquid has reduced nearly all the way. Add more stock to pan if liquid reduces before vegetables are tender. Add salt and pepper, to taste, and stir in thyme. Serve Brussels sprouts in their sauce.

Vinaigrette:

Place mustard seed in a small skillet and cook over medium-high heat, shaking pan frequently, until seeds start to pop. Immediately transfer seeds to a small bowl. Add shallot, vinegar, grain mustard, honey and dry mustard and whisk to combine. Add some salt and pepper and allow mixture to sit for 5 to 10 minutes to meld flavors and dissolve salt. Whisk in olive oil, then add parsley and adjust seasoning, to taste. Serve at room temperature.