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Pan-Seared Sea Bass with White Bean Ragout and Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette - Recipes

Beans and tomatoes, contribute their special character to my satisfying, colorful, and delicious recipe for a one-dish meal: Pan-Seared Sea Bass with White Bean Ragout and Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette.

The Indians were the first Americans, the native culture of our continent. And, from my perspective as a chef, there is so much about Native Americans for which I have to be thankful. Without them and the early gathering and cultivation they practiced, we wouldn't have such ingredients as corn, beans, tomatoes, squashes, chili peppers, and various kinds of berries, among other produce. Of course, they hunted and even domesticated turkeys -- which some early American legislators, including Ben Franklin, preferred to name the national bird over the eagle.

So please allow me to suggest you celebrate Native American Day with a home-cooked meal featuring your favorite indigenous ingredients. Two of mine, beans and tomatoes, contribute their special character to my satisfying, colorful, and delicious recipe for a one-dish meal: Pan-Seared Sea Bass with White Bean Ragout and Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette.

Though there are three separate elements to this Pan-Seared Sea Bass recipe, as the name suggests, each is very simple to prepare. You start out by cooking the beans, which you should first pick through the evening before to remove any stones or debris, and then soak overnight in cold water. Then, as they near the end of cooking, you can quickly stir up the tomato vinaigrette. Finally, you quickly pan-sear the fish fillets in a little olive oil, and assemble the dish just before serving.

The pan-seared sea bass with white bean ragout and cherry tomato vinaigrette recipe makes a spectacular main course for a casual dinner party or a family supper alike. And, as a bonus, with the garlic and basil it includes you can also feel perfectly confident serving it again a week or so later

[ Also Pan-Seared Sea Bass with Cherry Tomatoes ]

Pan-Seared Sea Bass with White Bean Ragout and Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette

    Prep Time: 35 minutes

    Cook time: 1 hour 25 minutes

    Yield: Serves 6

Pan-Seared Sea Bass with White Bean Ragout and Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette Ingredients

    White Bean Ragout:

      1 pound dried cannellini beans, soaked in water overnight

      1/4 pound bacon, cut into large chunks

      1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

      2 large organic carrots, cut into 1/4-inch dice

      2 organic celery stalks, cut into 1/4-inch dice

      1 large red onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice

      1/4 cup finely chopped garlic

      3 tablespoons tomato paste

      2 bunches organic spinach, thoroughly washed, stems removed

      2 cups vegetable broth or organic chicken broth

      1 tablespoon kosher salt

      1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

    Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette:

      1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

      2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

      2 tablespoons lemon juice

      1 teaspoon kosher salt

      1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

      1 pint ripe cherry tomatoes, quartered

      1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes

      6 large basil leaves, stacked rolled, and thinly sliced lengthwise into chiffonade strips

    Pan-Seared Fish:

      6 fresh fillets sea bass or other mild, firm-fleshed white fish, each 6 to 8 ounces

      3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

      Kosher salt

      Freshly ground white or black pepper

Pan-Seared Sea Bass with White Bean Ragout and Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette Recipe Instructions

    First, prepare the White Bean Ragout.

    Thoroughly drain the soaked beans. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, saute the bacon over medium heat until it renders some of its fat and begins to brown slightly along the edges. Add the drained beans and 5 cups of fresh cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat; then, reduce the heat to a brisk simmer and continue cooking for 45 minutes. Place a colander over a large heatproof bowl and drain the beans, reserving the cooking liquid. Pick out and discard the pieces of bacon.

    Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.

    Add the carrots, celery, onion, and garlic and saute, stirring frequently, until the onion is translucent, about 8 minutes.

    In a small bowl, blend the tomato paste with 1/2 cup cold water.

    Add the mixture to the vegetables in the saucepan along with drained beans, cooking liquid, and broth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer briskly, partially covered, until the beans are tender and the mixture has reduced by about one fourth, about 20 minutes.

    Once you have begun cooking the fish, stir in the spinach leaves and simmer until they wilt, about 3 minutes.

    While the beans are reducing, prepare the Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette:

    In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stir in the fresh and sun-dried tomatoes and the basil. Set aside.

    For the sea bass

    Brush the fillets on both sides with 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt and pepper.

    In a heavy skillet large enough to hold all the fillets, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. Add the fillets and cook until the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork but is still moist at the center, 3 to 5 minutes per side depending on thickness.

    To serve, ladle the white bean mixture into each of 6 large heated soup plates. With a large metal spatula, carefully transfer a fish fillet to each plate. Spoon the tomato vinaigrette on top of each fillet.

    Serve immediately.

[ Also Pan-Seared Sea Bass with Cherry Tomatoes ]

Pan-Seared Sea Bass with White Bean Ragout and Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette, Pan-Seared Sea Bass Recipe, Seafood - Fish

 

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Pan-Seared Sea Bass with White Bean Ragout & Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette - Wolfgang Puck

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