Fluke In Lemon Brodetto With Scallops And Squash Recipes

Steps:

• For the brodetto, cut the lemons in half and then into quarters, deseeding them as you go. Put them into the bowl of a food processor with the salt, pepper and sugar, and pulse to combine. You want them broken down but not completely puréed. Drizzle the olive oil into the mixture slowly, pulsing to emulsify the jam. Blend in the oregano and marjoram leaves.
• In a small pot set over medium heat, combine the chicken stock and wine. When it begins to simmer, add the lemon-oregano jam, and stir to combine. Lower heat, and keep warm.
• For the butternut squash, place a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, and swirl in the olive oil. When it begins to shimmer, add the squash, salt and pepper, and toss to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until they are browned, crisp and tender, approximately 7 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the marjoram leaves and set aside in a warm place.
• For the fluke, heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan set over high heat until it is nearly smoking. Meanwhile, season the fluke with salt and pepper, and dust one side of each fillet with flour. Cook the fillets flour-side down for approximately 4 minutes, until the skin is nicely crisp and brown and about 3/4 of the way cooked. Carefully turn the fillets with a wide spatula, and cook for an additional 2 or 3 minutes, until done. Remove from the oil, and drain quickly on paper towel.
• Meanwhile, turn the heat under the brodetto to high, and add the scallops to the liquid to heat through, approximately 2 minutes. Divide the scallops among four warmed bowls.
• Assemble the dishes. To the scallops add 1/4 of the squash and equal amounts of brodetto, and top with a fluke fillet. Sprinkle with the scallions, and serve immediately.

Steps:

• To make the purée, heat the butter in a small saucepan and add the squash. Sweat it over a very low heat for 5 mins, then pour over the stock. Cover and gently simmer for 10-12 mins until the squash is very soft.
• Take off the heat and add the parmesan. Use a hand blender or food processor to blitz the squash until smooth, then press through a sieve into another saucepan. Season to taste and set aside.
• To make the warm salad, trim the squash into a neat block, then neatly dice the flesh into cubes no larger than 1cm. Heat half the oil in a non-stick frying pan. Fry the squash for 10 mins, or until tender and coloured, then tip onto a plate.
• Place the pan back on the heat and gently fry the bacon for 10 mins, or until crisp and brown. Add the onion and cook for 2 mins to soften in the fat, then add the capers and squash, drizzle over the sherry vinegar and toss together for 1 min. Off the heat, stir in the chives and the rest of the oil, then tip everything into a bowl and keep warm.
• Have the scallops to hand as you will need to work fast when cooking them. Clean out the frying pan and place it back on the heat with a drizzle more oil. When the oil starts to shimmer, carefully lay the scallops in the pan one at a time, like points on a clock face, starting at 6 o'clock, so you remember which one went in first.
• Scallops take very little time to cook, so by the time the last one is in the pan, the first will be brown and ready to turn over. Flip all the scallops over and give them about 1 min more, then lift onto kitchen paper on a plate to drain the oil. With the salad and the purée still warm, you are now ready to plate up.
• Spoon half the warm salad down the middle of each plate. Overlap 6 pieces of scallop along the salad. Use a spoon to swipe the purée around the outside of the food. Drizzle everything with a touch more oil, and you are now ready to serve.