Pan-Cooked Fish with Summer Blackberry Orange Relish
When I think of summer berries, my mind typically turns to all the pies, tarts, and baked goods I’m going to make. But, did you know that berries are one of the most complementary ingredients to pair with fish?Most berries have a slightly sweet, sometimes tart, tangy flavor that is mingled with an unmistakable berry fragrance. This combination of flavor and fragrance is a delicious balance to the buttery flakiness of fish. Especially when the fish is mild flavored, such as rockfish, haddock, cod, sole, flounder, halibut, and more.
Equipment
- Medium Saucepan
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 pound mild-flavored thin white fish fillets cut into 3 to 4 pieces, removed from the refrigerator at least 15 minutes prior to cooking
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme plus more for garnish
- Zest of 1 medium to large orange
- 8 ounces lightly chopped fresh blackberries
- 2 tablespoons high-heat oil or ghee
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Instructions
- 1 Pat the fish dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- 2 Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat.
- 3 Stir in the shallot and cook just until tender and translucent.
- 4 Mix in the honey, thyme, and orange zest. Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the shallot mixture to a medium bowl.
- 5 Fold in the blackberries and season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside while you cook the fish.
- 6 Heat the high-heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- 7 Stir the butter with the oil, and when mixture is hot, add the fish, flesh side down.
- 8 Let cook, undisturbed, for 3 to 5 minutes. You should notice the bottom edges becoming golden brown. The fish will be ready to flip when it easily comes off the surface of the pan. If it feels like it’s stuck, just let it sit for 30 seconds longer.
- 9 Flip the fish and let it finish cooking for another 3 to 5 minutes, depending on thickness. The fish is done when it easily flakes with a fork or is opaque. (Alternatively, the pan-searing method can be used here;
- 10 Once the fish is done, transfer to plates or a platter. Top with the berry relish and garnish with chopped thyme. Serve immediately.