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Course: Mains
Keyword: Fish, Pan-Fried Fish, Seafood

Fish Meunière

ACTIVE TIME: 15 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes
Yield: 2 servings
Meunière means "in the style of the miller's wife," and in French cuisine refers to almost any fish that's dredged in flour and pan-fried.
This application is for one 8- to 10-ounce trout fillet, but these ingredients would also handle two 6-ounce pieces that get crispy on the outside, moist inside, in just one take.
This recipe first appeared in Season 1 of Good Eats.
Photo by Lynne Calamia
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  • 1 (8-ounce) skin-on fish fillets, such as rainbow trout, brown trout or small salmon
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, for dredging
  • 1 tablespoon neutral oil, such as canola
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon drained capers, not rinsed
  • 1/2 medium lemon, juiced
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley (optional)
ACTIVE TIME: 15 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes
Yield: 2 servings

Procedure

  • Heat a 12-inch heavy pan over medium-high heat.
  • Meanwhile, season the fish on the meat side with salt and pepper. Lightly dredge in flour and shake off excess.
  • When the pan is good and hot, add the oil followed immediately by 1 tablespoon of the butter. As soon as the foaming subsides, place the fish in pan, flesh side down. Jiggle the pan for the first 10 seconds of cooking to keep the fish from sticking, then continue to cook until a golden crust forms on the fish, about 2 minutes. If the fat in the pan starts smoking around the edges, drop the heat a bit.
  • Using a slotted spatula or fish turner, carefully turn the fish away from you and again jiggle the pan for the first few seconds. Continue to cook until the skin turns golden brown, about 2 more minutes. Remove to a warm plate.
  • Pour out the cooking fat, then add the remaining butter and the capers. Cook until the capers begin to crisp, then remove the pan from the heat, add lemon juice to pan and swirl until the sauce thickens slightly. Pour the sauce over the fish, garnish if parsley, if desired, and serve.
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