Lemon Sole Veronique
Try out a French classic with our lemon sole Veronique recipe. Delicate coils of fish are gently steamed in vermouth and served up with a creamy sauce of mushrooms, white grapes, samphire and tarragon.
- Cooking:
- Serves: 2 persons
Ingredients
- 2lemon sole, approx 1kg each, each filleted into 4
- 10green grapes
- 30g ofbutter
- ½banana shallot, finely diced
- 50g ofbutton mushrooms, very finely sliced
- 50g of dry vermouth
- 50g of double cream
- 2handfuls ofsamphire
- 2handfuls offresh tarragon, chopped, with a few leaves left whole for garnish
- 1lemon, juice to taste
- salt
- freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Step 1
Fillet the lemon soles, then skin and pin-bone them (you can also ask your fishmonger to do this.) Divide each fillet in half so you are left with 4 fillets per fish. Lightly season with salt, then carefully roll each piece up and secure with a cocktail stickStep 2
To peel the grapes, pour boiling water over them and leave for 45 seconds, the skins should then easily peel away. Slice them in half and cover with cold water and a squeeze of lemon so prevent discolouration (they brown quite quickly)Step 3
Place a large frying pan over a medium heat and add the butter. Once melted, add the shallot and finely sliced mushrooms with a pinch of salt. Cook for a minute or two, stirring the mushrooms until coated in butter and just starting to softenStep 4
Carefully place the rolls of fish into the pan, then pour in the vermouth, cover with a lid and gently steam for 4–5 minutesStep 5
Once cooked through, carefully lift out the fish, remove the cocktail sticks, place on a plate and cover with foil to keep warmStep 6
Place the pan back over the heat and add the double cream, samphire, grapes and tarragon, and simmer for a few minutes until slightly thickened. Taste and season with salt, pepper and lemon juiceStep 7
Divide most of the sauce between two bowls, then carefully add four pieces of sole. Finish the dish with the rest of the sauce and some tarragon leaves