From the Official Downton Abbey Cookbook, this is a wonderfully elegant French fish dish for those who don't think they like to eat fish because there is a lot of lovely creamly sauce.
Course Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine As Seen on Downton, French, Victorian
Prep Time 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time 5 minutesminutes
Total Time 25 minutesminutes
Servings 4servings
Ingredients
1cupdry white wine
4tbsp. butterplus more for the baking dish
46 ozfilletssole or other firm white fish
1/4 cupGruyère cheesegrated
1/4 cupParmesan cheesegrated
1pinchnutmegground
1pinchblack pepper,freshly ground
1lb.spinachfresh, stems removed
1/4cupParmesan cheesegrated
For the Sauce
4tbsp.butter
1/4 cupFlour
1cupmilkheated
1/4cuppoaching liquid
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Instructions
Poach the Fish
Heat the wine in a large frying pan over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of the butter. When the butter melts, stir to mix. Add the fish fillets in a single layer, adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer, and cook just until the fillets start to flake when prodded with a fork, 4-5 minutes, depending on their thickness. They will finish cooking in the oven. Carefully transfer the fillets to a plate. If you purchased fillets with the skin attached, let cool until they can be handled, then carefully remove the skin.
Reserve 1/4 cup of the poaching liquid for making the sauce and discard the remainder or save for another use.
Make the Sauce
To make the sauce, melt the butter in a saucepan, over medium-low heat. Stir in the flour and continue to stir, allowing the mixture to brown slightly without burning, for about 5 minutes. Whisk in the hot milk, little by little. When all the milk is added, whisk in the poaching liquid and continue to whisk until the sauce is smooth and creamy, 3-5 minutes. Add both cheeses and stir until melted. Season to taste with nutmeg and pepper and set aside off the heat.
Prepare the Spinach
Rinse the spinach and put in a large saucepan with just the rinsing water clinging to the leaves. Cover, set over medium heat, and cook until wilted and tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well, squeeze gently in a kitchen towel to remove the excess moisture, and chop roughly. Mix the spinach with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and season with lots of pepper.
Final Assembly
Preheat your broiler. Butter a broiler proof oven dish just large enough to accommodate the spinach and fish. Spoon the spinach into the dish, spreading evenly. Arrange the fillets in a single layer on top of the spinach. Pour the sauce over the top, then sprinkle evenly with the Parmesan. Broil until the cheese is browned and bubbling, 3- 5 minutes. Serve hot.
Notes
"The sauce here also masquerades as sauce Mornay and is very good with eggs, making it an easy alternative to hollandaise sauce for eggs Benedict. If you also add spinach you have eggs Florentine." Annie Gray, The Official Downton Abbey CookbookWhen I made this dish I added all the poaching liquid to the sauce to thin it out. The fish was drowning in it which is likely why people who don't typically like fish will love it.Get your own Copy