Sauteed Flounder with Orange-Shallot Sauce

Preparation

1. Mix flour, salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Thoroughly dredge fish fillets in the mixture.
2. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking (see Tip). Add the fish and cook until lightly browned and just opaque in the center, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and cover loosely with foil.
3. Add shallot to the pan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring often, until softened and beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add wine and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits. Cook until most of the liquid has evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Add orange juice and mustard; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until the sauce thickens a bit, about 5 minutes. Add butter and parsley; stir until the butter has melted. Transfer fish to individual plates, top with sauce and serve.

Tips & Notes

• A large nonstick skillet is highly recommended. Otherwise, cook the fillets in two batches, using 1 1/2 teaspoons oil per batch.
• At the Fish Counter: When buying fish, trust your instincts. Look for red gills, bright reflective skin, firm flesh, an undamaged layer of scales and no browning anywhere. The smell should be sweet, like a morning on the beach. The best whole fish look alive, as if they just came out of the water.

Nutrition