Oil-poached Fish (Italian Christmas Dish)
Courtesy of SousVide Supreme Culinary Specialist, Sophie
Serves 2
Traditional fare for the Italian celebration of the Night of the Seven Fishes.
INGREDIENTS
For the tomato salsa
- 3 plum tomatoes, about 1-¼ cups (200g), sliced
- 1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) olive oil
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon (1.2ml) smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the olive and peppers
- 1 small onion, peeled and diced
- 1/3 cup (50g) sliced black olives
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) finely chopped fresh rosemary
- 1/3 cup (40g) chopped roasted red peppers (jarred is fine)
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the fish
- 2 (5 to 6 ounce/140 to 170g) skinless halibut or cod fillets (or any white firm fish)
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) olive oil
- Parsley sprigs (garnish)
- 1/2 lemon, for zest only (garnish)
DIRECTIONS
- Fill and preheat the SousVide Supreme to 181F/83C.
- Put the tomatoes, garlic and olive oil into a small cooking pouch and vacuum seal.
- Submerge the pouch in the water bath to cook for 45 minutes
- Remove from the water bath, and pour the contents into a blender, along with the vinegar and smoked paprika.
- Blend until smooth; season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Reduce the temperature of the SousVide Supreme to 132F/56C. You can hasten the drop in temperature by adding ice-cubes.
- Meanwhile, on the traditional stovetop, heat the olive oil in a skillet over a medium to high heat.
- Add the diced onions and sauté for about three minutes until golden and translucent.
- Add the olives, rosemary, and red peppers and continue to cook over a medium heat for another 4 t0 6 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Take off the heat.
- Put the fish, olive oil, salt and pepper into a large zip-closure cooking pouch. Use the displacement method (Archimedes’ principle) to remove the air and zip the seal closed.
- Submerge the pouch in the water bath and allow to cook for 20 minutes.
- To serve, spoon some of the tomato salsa onto a serving dish, place the cooked fish on top of the salsa, and spoon the onion and olive mixture over the fish.
- Garnish with lemon zest and fresh parsley.