Fish, Tomato, Avocado and Basil Beurre Blanc
If you don’t have any fresh basil handy, use any other fresh herb you like or leave out the herb part altogether. The type of fish you use is not critical. The recipe works with just about any fresh fish. Obviously, this recipe is better when the tomatoes are homegrown, not the ones in the stores. If your tomatoes are store-bought, slice them and then sprinkle a little bit of salt, a pinch of sugar and a splash of balsamic or white wine vinegar on them and let them sit for 15 minutes before assembling the dish. You’ll be amazed at how much better they taste. I’ve allowed half an avocado per person. I like avocado. If you don’t like avocado, you should pick a different recipe anyway.
Fish, Tomato, Avocado and Basil Beurre Blanc
Ingredients
- 3 – 4 ounce fish fillets skinless; about 1/2 inch thick
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 2 large just ripe avocados peeled, seeded and sliced about 1/4 inch thick
- 1 lemon juice only
- 2 large tomatoes sliced about 1/4 inch thick (see note about tomatoes above)
Basil Buerre Blanc
- 2 cups dry white wine
- 2 tablespoons shallot minced (or substitute the white part of a green onion)
- 1 lemon juice only
- 1/2 pound butter
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil minced
- salt and white pepper to taste
Instructions
- To make the sauce, bring the wine, shallot and lemon juice to a boil in a sauce pan over medium-high heat. Reduce liquid to 1/4 cup. Strain out shallots. Remove pan from heat and whisk in butter and basil until butter is melted and sauce is smooth. Season with salt and white pepper to taste. Do not bring to a boil again. If you need to rewarm to sauce, do so over very low heat while gently whisking until warm, not hot. If it gets too hot, it will separate and look bad.
- Season the fish on both sides with salt. Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Lightly brown fish on both sides and then add the white wine to pan. Cook for a few minutes more. When you slice the avocado, sprinkle the lemon juice over so that the slices will not brown. To serve, place a piece of fish on the plate, top with sliced avocado and then tomato. Repeat layer. Drizzle sauce over fish, avocado and tomato.