Sea Bass with Artichokes Recipe
by Matthew Tomkinson
4
2 hours 30 minutes
Ingredients

Sea bass

  • 4 sea bass fillets, large
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • pepper

Red wine sauce

  • 200ml of red wine, fruity
  • 1/2 shallot, chopped
  • 1/4 leek, finely chopped
  • 1/2 bulb of garlic
  • 1/4 bunch of rosemary
  • 2 star anise
  • 50g of fish trimmings
  • 200ml of dark chicken stock
  • vegetable oil

Artichoke purée

  • 10 Jerusalem artichokes, large, peeled
  • 100ml of double cream
  • salt

To plate

  • 2 slices of bread
  • 1 handful of sun-dried tomatoes
  • 2 globe artichokes, cooked hearts only
  • 2 handfuls of watercress
  • 1/2 lemon
  • 4 slices of Parma ham
  • olive oil
Method
1
For the red wine sauce, place a saucepan over a medium heat. Add a small drizzle of vegetable oil and sweat the shallots, leek, garlic, rosemary and star anise until soft with no colour
  • 1/2 shallot, chopped
  • 1/4 leek, finely chopped
  • 1/2 bulb of garlic
  • 1/4 bunch of rosemary
  • 2 star anise
  • vegetable oil
2
Add the fish trimmings and cook for a further 10 minutes. Add the red wine, bring to the boil and cook until the pan is almost dry
  • 50g of fish trimmings
  • 200ml of red wine, fruity
3
Add the chicken stock, bring to a simmer and reduce for about 1 hour until it resembles a thin gravy and has a rich flavour. Pass through a fine strainer lined with muslin cloth and set aside
  • 200ml of dark chicken stock
4
For the jerusalem artichoke purée, medium dice the peeled artichokes and place in a saucepan. Cover with water, season with salt, bring to a gentle boil and cook until tender This will take 15-25 minutes, depending on the consistency of the artichokes
  • 10 Jerusalem artichokes, large, peeled
  • salt
5
Drain and transfer to a food processor. Blend and add enough of the cream to form a smooth, thin purée. Set aside and keep warm
  • 100ml of double cream
6
Cut the crust off the bread and discard. Cut the white into 1cm cubes and fry in olive oil until crisp and golden. Drain on kitchen paper, season with salt and set aside
  • 2 slices of bread
  • olive oil
7
Place a large non-stick frying pan over a high heat. Add a small drizzle of vegetable oil to the pan and once hot, gently place the sea bass fillets in 2 at a time, skin side down. Use a fish slice or spatula to apply a firm amount of pressure to the fish to keep the skin flat to the surface of the pan
  • 4 sea bass fillets, large
  • olive oil
8
Cook for 2-3 minutes until the skin is golden and crispy. Use the fish slice to slide under the skin and turn over to cook on the opposite side for 2-3 more minutes. Repeat with the other 2 fillets, remove from the pan, season with salt and pepper and place in a warm spot to rest and finish cooking
  • salt
  • pepper
9
Cut the globe artichoke hearts into 6 small wedges and add to pan which contained the fish, cook until golden. Remove and set aside with the fish to keep warm
  • 2 globe artichokes, cooked hearts only
10
Place 3 pieces of artichoke and 3 pieces of dried tomato in a circle around the outside of 4 hot plates. Sprinkle over a few croutons and some of the watercress
  • 1 handful of sun-dried tomatoes
  • 2 handfuls of watercress
11
Place some of the hot artichoke purée in the middle and top with the fish. Squeeze some of the lemon over the plate and drizzle with olive oil
  • 1/2 lemon
  • olive oil
12
Tear the Parma ham into pieces and dot around the plates to garnish. Finish with a spoon of the red wine sauce and serve immediately
  • 4 slices of Parma ham
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