Monkfish à l'Armoricaine

“À l’armoricaine” is a term used to describe a traditional Breton fish dish served with a sauce made from chopped onions, tomatoes, white wine, brandy, salt, pepper, butter and fish stock.  It is often served with crustacea but, in this case, monkfish is used.

The dish can be served as a starter or as a supper dish.

Preparation Time: 20 Mins

Cooking Time: 45 Mins

Total Time: 65 Mins

Ingredients

For 4 servings…

800 gms          Monkfish   

5 cl                 Olive oil    

250 gms          Butter       

10 cl               Calvados   

4                    Shallots  - chopped   

2 cloves           Garlic  - chopped     

6                    Tomatoes  - mashed 

1 bunch           Herbs  - thyme, bay leaf, fennel

20 cl               Wine  - dry white     

                      Pepper      

4 pinches         Salt          

1 pinch            Paprika     

2 sprigs           Parsley     

Method

Divide the monkfish into individual portions.  Heat the oil and 30 gms of the butter in a heavy saucepan and fry the pieces of monkfish until lightly browned.  Drain off any excess fat.

Deglaze and flame the saucepan with Calvados.  Add the shallots and garlic, tomato puree and a bunch of herbs.  Pour on the wine.  Season.  Cover and cook for 20 minutes over low heat.

Remove the pieces of monkfish and keep warm on deep serving dish.  Strain the sauce through a sieve into a saucepan and reduce by one-third.  Cut the remaining butter into small knobs.  When sauce has reduced, beat in the knobs of butter.  Check the seasoning (adjusting with salt, pepper and a pinch of paprika).  Pour the boiling sauce over the fish.  Sprinkle on some chopped parsley.

Serve the fish with boiled white rice cooked with a small vanilla pod.

Variations

If monkfish is not available, other firm white-fleshed fish such as haddock or hake is very good.

Wine recommendations

A white wine.

Conventional

     Côtes du Rhône blanc

     Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur lie

Interesting

     Côtes de Gascogne blanc

     Mâcon