WHOLE ROASTED BABY FLOUNDER WITH SWEET ONION MARMALADE

Whole Roasted Baby Flounder with Sweet Onion Marmalade image

Here I use the sweet onion for a fairly rustic dish. The flounder is both crunchy and tender, and the onions just seem to melt into a sauce. If the onions are too sweet, stir a few drops of lemon juice into the sauce just before serving. Sometimes we serve the flounder with the sauce on top, directly on a bed of mashed potatoes. It's a little messy, but it's a delicious combination.

Provided by Food Network

Yield Serves 4

Number Of Ingredients 12

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Ingredients

12 cups finely sliced Wadmalaw Sweets or other sweet onions, such as Vidalia or Maui (about 3 pounds)
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
2 cups heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
4 12- to 18-ounce dressed baby flounders
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup peanut oil
8 tablespoons unsalted butter

Steps:

To prepare the marmalade, bring the onions and stock to a simmer in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let gently simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, put the cream in a small heavy-bottomed saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes or until the cream reduces by half.
Uncover the onions, add the salt and pepper, and increase the heat to medium. Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes or until the liquid begins to get syrupy. The onions should be very slightly browned. Stir in the reduced cream and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the mixture is a little thicker than heavy cream.
Add the vinegar, stir to combine well, and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes to meld the flavors. Keep warm while cooking the fish. (Cooled and then tightly covered, the marmalade will keep in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.)
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Rinse the flounder and pat dry. In a shallow plate, combine the flour, salt, and pepper. Dredge both sides of the flounder in the seasoned flour, shaking to remove the excess.
Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the butter begins to sizzle. One at a time, carefully lay the flounder in the skillet, white-skin side down. After 2 minutes, sneak a peak at the bottom side to make sure it is browning without burning, but don't be timid--a nice nutty brown is good. Carefully turn the flounder with a spatula and cook about 2 minutes or until browned. Transfer the fish to a baking sheet large enough to hold them all in a single layer.
Roast the flounder in the top third of the preheated oven for 6 to 8 minutes, depending on their size. Look closely: the inside of the fish should be just flaky and opaque. It is important not to overcook them. While the fish are roasting, warm the marmalade to a simmer. Place the fish on warm serving plates, top with the warm sauce, and serve immediately.