Roasted Sablefish with Warm Israeli Couscous, Lentils and Watercress Verjus
Courtesy of Chef Robert Clark, C Restaurant
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1 Tbsp (15 mL) butter
- 2 Tbsp (3o mL) finely chopped shallots
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) white wine
- 1/4 cup (60 mL) vermouth
- 1 cup (250 mL) fish stock
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) watercress leaves
- 1/4 cup (60 mL) butter
- 1 tsp (5 mL) verjus
- salt and pepper to taste
Sablefish
- 1 lb (500 g) Sablefish fillets skin on cut into four equal pieces
- 3 Tbsp (50 mL) butter, divided
- 1 cup (250 mL) cooked lentils
- 1 oz (25 g) sea cucumber muscle cut in 1 in. (2.5 cm) strips
- 1 cup (250 mL) cooked Israeli couscous in saffron broth
- 1 cup (250 mL) blanched assorted baby vegetables and asparagus tips
- 4 tsp (20 mL) oatmeal oil
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400°F/200°C.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, add butter and shallots and cook for about 1 minute.
- Add white wine and vermouth and cook until volume is reduced by half.
- Add fish stock, cook and reduce volume to about 3 Tbsp/50 mL.
- Pour reduction into a blender; add watercress and butter and blend until smooth.
- Add verjus and blend briefly. Season to taste.
- Transfer to small saucepan and keep warm.
- Season Sablefish fillets with salt and pepper. In a lightly oiled, non-stick skillet, over medium high heat, sear fillets, flesh side down, for 1 minute or until golden. Turn fillets over and place skillet in preheated oven and bake for about 6 minutes, or until the edges of fish fillets flake easily when tested with a fork.
- In a small skillet over medium heat, melt 1 Tbsp/15 mL of butter.
- Add lentils and reheat until warm through. Add sea cucumber, toss, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Reheat vegetables and couscous in 1 Tbsp/15 mL of butter each, as above, and season to taste.
- To assemble plates: Place a portion each of couscous and lentil mixture in the centre of each warmed plate. Arrange a portion of vegetables around and top each with a Sablefish fillet. Spoon some sauce onto each plate, garnish with a sprinkle of oatmeal oil and serve immediately.












