PAN-ROASTED STRIPED BASS WITH TUNISIAN CHICKPEA SALAD AND YOGURT SAUCE

Pan-Roasted Striped Bass with Tunisian Chickpea Salad and Yogurt Sauce image

Yield serves 4

Number Of Ingredients 20

Two 15-ounce cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
1/2 English (hothouse) cucumber, cut lengthwise, seeded, and diced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
2 celery stalks and leafy tops, chopped
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 cup Tomato Harissa (page 243) or drained canned fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons champagne vinegar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons canola oil
Four 8-ounce striped bass fillets, skin on, about 1 1/2 inches thick
Yogurt Sauce (recipe follows)
Yogurt Sauce
1/2 cup Greek-style yogurt
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
(makes 1/2 cup)

Steps:

Put 1/2 cup of the chickpeas in a mixing bowl. Mash the beans with a fork or potato masher until they are smashed but still have some texture. Add the remaining chickpeas, the onion, cucumber, cilantro, celery, cumin, harissa, olive oil, and vinegar; season generously with salt and pepper. Set aside at room temperature, or cover and refrigerate overnight. Return to room temperature before serving.
Preheat the oven to 450°F.
Put a large cast-iron skillet or nonstick ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat and coat with the canola oil. Pat both sides of the fish dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper. When the oil is shimmering, lay the fish skin side down in the pan. Sear for 4 to 5 minutes without moving the fillets. Transfer the pan to the oven and roast until the fish is opaque, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and carefully flip the fish over with a flat spatula, so the skin side is now up; it should be brown, crisp, and make a sound when you tap it. Let the fish sit in the hot pan for a minute to sear the bottom side.
To serve, pool 2 tablespoons of the yogurt sauce on each of 4 plates, place the fish skin side up on top of the sauce, and pile the chickpea salad next to it.
Yogurt Sauce
In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and oil; season with salt and pepper. Transfer the yogurt sauce to a container, cover, and refrigerate until ready to use, for up to 7 days.