Best Lemon Sole Recipes

EASY PAN FRIED SOLE FISH WITH LEMON-BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix the flour with seasoned salt and pepper in a shallow dish.
• Dredge the fish fillets in the flour mixture.
• Heat a large skillet over high heat.
• Add in about 3 tablespoons butter to the hot skillet.
• Saute the fillets in 2 batches, cooking on each side (on high heat about 2 minutes per side) or until just cooked through; transfer the fish to a plate to keep warm.
• Add in the remaining 4 tablespoons butter and cook until golden in colour; add in lemon juice, bring to a boil and add in the parsley.
• Season the sauce with salt and pepper.
• Pour the warm sauce over the fish.
• Serve immediately.

LEMON SOLE

Steps:

• Preheat 2 medium non-stick skillets over medium-low heat for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, lay the fillets on a piece of wax paper, parchment, or a baking sheet and blot dry with paper towels. Season the fillets with salt and pepper. (If the fillets tapers down to a very thin tail, fold the tail back to make a more uniformly thick fillet.) Put the flour on a plate. Dredge the rounded-sides of the fillets in the flour and shake off any excess.
• Raise the heat to medium-high and add 1 tablespoon of butter to each skillet. When the butter stops foaming, add 2 fillets to each pan, rounded-side down, and cook, lightly shaking the skillets occasionally, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Turn off the heat, flip the fillets with a spatula, and let the fillets finish cooking in the residual heat in the pans, about 2 minutes more. Transfer the fillets to 4 warm plates and cover loosely with foil.
• Add the lemon juice and water to one of the skillets. While moving the skillet in a circular motion, add the remaining 3 tablespoons butter, little by little, until melted and a smooth, creamy sauce is formed. Stir in the parsley and thyme and season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon some of the sauce over each fillet and serve immediately.

SOLE WITH LEMON-CAPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Using a paper towel, dry the sole fillets very well. Season the fish evenly with 1 teaspoon salt. Heat a medium skillet over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter to the pan. When the butter is fully melted and the bubbles have subsided, dredge both sides of 2 fillets in the flour. Shake off the excess flour and add the fish to the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium high. Cook the fillets until beginning to brown around the edges on the first side, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a fish spatula, flip the fish gently and cook for another 30 seconds. Remove the fillets to a plate and continue with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon butter and fish.
• When all 4 fillets are cooked and out of the skillet, add the capers and garlic and cook over medium heat, stirring, until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add the chicken stock and lemon juice and stir, scraping up the bits from the bottom. Season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Simmer for about 2 minutes to reduce the liquid slightly. Finish the sauce by stirring in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, chili paste and oregano. Spoon the sauce over the fish, sprinkle with the parsley and serve.

OVEN-POACHED PACIFIC SOLE WITH LEMON CAPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Oil or butter one or two baking dishes large enough to accommodate the fish fillets in one layer. Lay the fish in the dish(es) and season with salt and pepper.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a small or medium skillet and add the shallot. Cook, stirring, until tender and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the wine to the pan, bring to a boil, and pour the wine and shallots over the fish. Return the skillet to the stove (make sure the heat is off) for later use. Cover the baking dish with foil and place in the oven. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or 5 minutes for each 1/2 inch of thickness, until the fish is opaque and pulls apart easily with a fork.
• While the fish is in the oven, whisk together the garlic, capers, lemon juice and olive oil. You can also mash the garlic in a mortar and pestle and work in the capers, lemon juice and olive oil, though I prefer the capers chopped, even some intact, and not puréed.
• When the fish is done remove it from the oven and carefully transfer to a platter or plates. Cover and keep warm. Pour the liquid in the baking dish into the skillet and turn the heat on high. Reduce, stirring often, to about 1/4 cup - it should be thick - and stir in the garlic and caper mixture and the parsley. Whisk together, taste and adjust seasoning, pour over the fish and serve.

SOLE FILLETS IN LEMON BUTTER

Steps:

• Place the sole in an ungreased microwave-safe 11x7-in. dish; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover and microwave on high for 3-4 minutes. , In a small bowl, combine the butter, parsley and lemon juice; pour over fillets. Sprinkle with cracker crumbs. Microwave, uncovered, for 3-4 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Sprinkle with paprika.

SOLE MEUNIERE (SOLE IN LEMON-BUTTER SAUCE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Place 2 serving plates in the oven to pre-warm.
• Divide oil between 2 large skillets and heat over medium heat until oil shimmers.
• While oil is heating, sprinkle salt and pepper over both sides of fillets. Pour flour into a pie plate and dredge fillets on both sides until evenly coated.
• Add butter evenly to both skillets and swirl to mix with oil. When foam subsides, add fish and cook until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• Carefully turn fish over and cook until opaque white in the middle and starting to brown on the bottom, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer fish to the warmed plate and loosely cover with aluminum foil. Return plates to the oven.
• Return skillets to medium-high heat. Add butter and cook until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in parsley and lemon juice. Spoon butter sauce over fish.

PAN-BAKED LEMON SOLE WITH SPINACH, OLIVES, AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Make sauce:
• Cook garlic in 2 tablespoons oil in a 2-quart flameproof gratin dish over moderate heat (on stovetop), stirring until softened (but with no change in color), 1 to 2 minutes. Add wine and boil until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes with juice, breaking them up with a spoon, and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 20 minutes. Add sea salt and pepper to taste and remove from heat.
• Prepare fish while sauce simmers:
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Pulse olives, basil, and anchovy to a coarse paste in a food processor (or finely chop with a knife). Add 2 tablespoons oil and pulse to combine.
• Lay fish fillets, skinned sides down, on a work surface and season with pepper. Divide olive paste among fillets and spread evenly. Beginning at narrow end, roll up each fillet.
• Bake fish:
• Arrange fish rolls, seam sides down, on tomato sauce in gratin dish. Drizzle with remaining tablespoon oil and bake, uncovered, in middle of oven, until fish is just cooked through, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer fish to 4 heated plates. Heat tomato sauce in gratin dish over moderate heat (on stovetop), then add spinach and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 1 minute. Spoon sauce with spinach alongside fish.

SAUTEED SOLE WITH LEMON

Steps:

• Combine flour, salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl. Dredge fish fillets in flour mixture, coating both sides, and shake off excess.
• Melt butter with oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat. When butter begins to foam, add fillets. Cook until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer each fillet to a serving plate.
• Add almonds, parsley, zest, and 2 tablespoons juice to pan. Spoon over fillets, and serve with lemon wedges.

SOLE WITH LEMON-BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Place wine in a large, lidded skillet. Fold each sole fillet into thirds. Arrange in skillet; season with coarse salt and ground pepper. Lay two overlapping lemon slices on each piece of fish.
• Bring wine to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; simmer gently until fish is opaque throughout, 3 to 5 minutes. With a spatula, transfer fish to serving plates.
• Return liquid in skillet to a boil; cook until reduced to 1/3 cup, 1 to 2 minutes. Add lemon juice; remove from heat. Whisk in butter until smooth. Season with salt; strain, if desired. Serve with fish; garnish with fresh herbs and pepper, if desired.

SOLE ROLLS WITH SPINACH AND LEMON SLICES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees with rack in center. In a large saute pan, heat oil over low heat. Add shallot; cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 2 minutes. Raise heat to medium; add spinach and salt, and season with pepper. Cook, tossing frequently, until wilted and bright green, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a colander, pressing down to remove liquid. Chop finely; squeeze out remaining liquid. Divide spinach into four equal parts.
• Slice lemon in half crosswise; grate zest of half, and combine with almonds and herbs in a small bowl; set aside. Slice other lemon half very thinly into rounds.
• Lay fillets flat on a work surface, prettiest side down; place one part spinach at the narrow end of each. Roll fish into a cylinder, enclosing spinach. Place in a gratin dish, with lemon rounds in between. Pour wine into dish. Sprinkle a quarter of the almond mixture on top of each roll; cover with parchment and then aluminum foil. Bake until fish is opaque and cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven; serve immediately.

BAKED STUFFED LEMON SOLE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat the butter and oil. Add the onion, zucchini, and mushrooms. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring often, until the vegetables are softened and lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Add the scallops, shrimp and seafood seasoning and cook, stirring, until the seafood is just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Add the cracker crumbs and season to taste with salt and pepper. (The stuffing can be made up to 1 day ahead and refrigerated. Leftover stuffing can be frozen. Bring to room temperature or take the chill off in the microwave before stuffing the fish.)
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Brush a large glass baking dish generously with melted butter.
• Season the fish fillets on both sides with salt and pepper. Arrange 4 of the fillets in the baking dish. Cover with stuffing, pressing it in to make an even layer, and top with the remaining fillets. If some of the seafood stuffing spills out into the dish, that's fine. Brush the fish with melted butter.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the fish is opaque in its thickest part and the stuffing is heated through, 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish. Garnish with lemon wedges for squeezing over the fish.

PETRALE SOLE WITH LEMON-SHALLOT BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Steps:

• Combine flour, lemon peel, coarse salt, and 1/2 teaspoon white pepper in shallow bowl.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in each of 2 large skillets over medium heat. Coat fish in flour mixture and shake off excess. Add fish to skillets and cook until opaque and golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove from heat and season to taste with salt. Cover loosely with foil and set aside.
• Wipe out 1 skillet. Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and heat over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté until almost translucent, about 2 minutes. Add brussels sprouts and broth. Increase heat to mediumhigh and cook, stirring occasionally, until brussels sprouts are tender and liquid is almost completely absorbed, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in butter. Season to taste with salt and white pepper.
• Spoon brussels sprouts onto plates. Top with fish, sprinkle with chopped parsley, and serve.

BAKED LEMON SOLE WITH LEMON & CAPER PASTE

Steps:

• First, make the caper paste. Blend the ingredients in a blender or small food processor for 2 mins until you have a smooth-ish purée (if using a food processor, you might need to scrape down the sides once or twice with a spatula). Transfer to a small bowl, cover with cling film and place in the fridge until needed. Can be made 2 days ahead and chilled.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Scatter the lemon zest, lemon thyme and shallots onto a baking tray or ovenproof dish. Sprinkle the fish lightly with salt and put it on top of the shallots, skin-side up. Place pieces of butter on each fish and pour in 200ml water - this will steam the fish and keep it juicy.
• Put the fish and the prepared tray of potatoes (see recipe in Goes well with) in the oven at the same time and bake both for 10 mins, basting the fish halfway through. While the fish cooks, wilt the greens (see recipe in Goes well with) and take the caper paste out of the fridge to come to room temperature.
• Take the fish out of the oven and baste it one last time, then use a cook's blowtorch to char the skin, if you like. Transfer the fish to a serving plate with some of the shallots and lemon zest. Spoon a little of the caper paste over the fish and serve immediately with the new potatoes and wilted spring greens.

PETRALE SOLE WITH MEYER LEMON BEURRE BLANC

Steps:

• On a surface covered with plastic wrap, scatter about 1/2 c flour; dip the fillet pieces lightly in the flour, sprinkle with a little salt & pepper & set aside.
• In a frying pan, heat 2 T of butter over medium-high heat; when foaming, add the fish, a few at a time, uncrowded. Saute until golden, about 1 minute, turn & fry the other side another minute; remove to a plate & keep warm until all are completed.
• In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the Meyer lemon juice & zest; add the cream & bring to a boil. Remove from the heat & add the remaining 6 T of butter, one at a time, whisking to melt.
• Arrange the fish on a platter or 4 individual plates & drizzle with sauce; serve immediately.

SUNNY'S EASY BAKED LEMON SOLE AND SPRING ONIONS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with nonstick aluminum foil and place it in the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the butter: Meanwhile, whisk together the butter, lemon zest and juice, capers, garlic and salt in a medium bowl.
• For the sheet: Slice the spring onions in half lengthwise. If using scallions, they can be left whole.
• Make sure you have all of your ingredients ready to go so you can assemble the sheet and return it to the oven quickly. Remove the sheet from the oven once the oven is preheated. Quickly add the fish in a row, leaving about an inch between each piece. Drizzle the butter mixture over the top, add the lemon slices over the fish, then the spring onions. Sprinkle with paprika. Return the sheet to the oven and bake until cooked through, 12 to 18 minutes. Serve warm, preferably with garlicky mashed potatoes!

FILLETS OF SOLE FRANCESE AND LEMON-BASIL PASTA

Steps:

• Place a large pot of water on to boil for the pasta. Salt the boiling water, add the pasta, and cook it to al dente; it should still have a bite to it. Heads up: you will need to use a ladleful of the starchy cooking liquid for the sauce before you drain the pasta.
• While the pasta cooks, rinse and pat the fish dry, then season with salt and pepper. Beat the eggs with the half-and-half or milk. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the butter. When the butter has melted and is hot, dip the fillets in the egg mixture, then transfer them to the skillet. Cook the fillets for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until deeply golden brown.
• While the fish cooks, zest the lemons. Heat the EVOO in a deep skillet over medium-low heat. Add the lemon zest and garlic to the EVOO. Sweat the garlic for 2 minutes, then add the wine and reduce for 30 seconds. Add a ladle of the starchy pasta water and the juice of 1 of the lemons and reduce for 30 seconds more. Turn off the heat.
• When the fish is done, transfer it to serving plates and add the juice of the remaining lemon to the pan. Turn the heat off. Let the lemon juice combine with the pan juices, then spoon the juices over the fish.
• Drain the pasta well and add to the garlic-lemon-wine sauce. Add the basil and toss the pasta for 1 minute to absorb the flavors. Season the pasta with salt and pepper. Serve the pasta alongside the fish garnished with cubes of plum tomato.

LEMON SOLE WITH CRAB & TARRAGON BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. In a small bowl, mash the butter with the tarragon, crabmeat and zest, and season. Make a few deep slashes across the fillets on both sides of the sole, then place the fish, dark-skin up, in a large roasting tin. Season, then stuff the crab butter into the cuts, spreading any remaining butter on top. Lay a few lemon slices over the fish, then pour over the wine.
• Bake for 15-20 mins, depending on the size of the fish - the flesh should flake away easily from the bone when gently pushed with a knife.
• Carefully remove the fish from the tin, place on a warm plate or platter and cover with foil while you make the sauce. Set the tin over a low heat, add 2 tbsp water and bring to the boil. Let the sauce bubble for a few mins, then stir in the capers and cream. Pour the sauce over the fish and serve with steamed potatoes and a green salad.

STEAMED GINGER SOLE WITH LEMON SOY SAUCE

Steps:

• Whisk the soy sauce, lemon zest and juice, and the sesame oil together in a small bowl. Add the scallion whites to the sauce.
• Mix the scallion greens with the ginger in another small bowl.
• Lay the sole fillets on the work surface, skin-side up (look for the side with the herring bone pattern). Cut the fillets lengthwise along the natural seam that runs down the center of each piece. Lightly season the skin-side of the fish with salt and pepper. Then scatter the scallions and ginger on top. Starting from the narrow tail end, roll up each piece of fish into a tight spiral with the scallion on the inside. Secure with a toothpick if desired.
• Pour an inch or more of water in a wok or skillet and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lay the Napa leaves in a bamboo or collapsible steamer. Stand the fish rolls on the Napa, and scatter the shiitake mushrooms and sliced carrot around. Set the steamer over the water, cover, and cook the fish until it is barely cooked through, about 6 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave the fish covered to finish cooking in the residual heat of the steamer, about 5 minutes more.
• Divide the Napa, sole, shiitakes, and carrots among 4 plates and drizzle with the sauce. Serve.

LEMON SOLE WITH SORREL SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Lay fish, skin-side-down, in an ovenproof dish. Season, dot with butter and pour over the wine. Place fish in the oven for 10 mins until just cooked, then lift onto a warm plate.
• Working very quickly, pour the juices from the dish into a small saucepan with the crème fraîche, boil until slightly thickened, then stir through the sorrel until just wilted. Spoon over the fish before serving. Buttered new potatoes on the side are a must.

LEMON-HORSERADISH SOLE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together butter, parsley, lemon zest and juice, horseradish, and mustard.
• Season both sides of fillets with salt; lay, flat side up, on a clean work surface. Reserve 2 teaspoons butter mixture; dividing evenly, spread remaining butter mixture on top of fillets. Fold fillets in half crosswise, enclosing butter mixture.
• Place folded fillets in a 9-inch microwave-safe dish with a tight-fitting lid. Top with reserved butter mixture, dividing evenly. Cover; microwave on high until fish is just cooked through, about 5 minutes.
• To serve, place fillets on plates, and spoon juices from dish over fillets; garnish with lemon wedges, if desired.