Author Notes
One night during a vacation in Japan, following the recommendation of a friend, we wound through Tokyo’s dark alleys in pursuit of a farm to table, seafood-driven restaurant. Its omakase, or chef’s choice, menu was an adventure given our complete incomprehension of the Japanese language and the restaurant staff’s non-existent English. Tipsy on plum wine, we dove in to each delicate dish with a restraint matching the chef’s deft work behind the bar with sharp knives and tiny tweezers.
The heartiest dish, and one I’ve since recreated in many guises, featured a firm, mild white fish fillet baked in parchment paper with a heady compote of miso, mirin, leeks, and halved figs. The combination of miso, leeks, and fruit, steamed into a compote of sorts, was a revelation. Figs may be a seasonal specialty, but this compote is equally delightful – and hits the same notes of sweet, salty, and tangy – with other fruits like persimmons, pears, and stone fruit. For spring and summer meals, I prefer to grill the fish and top it with the compote, a splash of rice vinegar further lightening the dish for the warm months ahead. —Shannon
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Ingredients
- compote
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2
ripe, but firm, nectarines
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1 tablespoon
grapeseed or canola oil
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2
medium leeks
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2 tablespoons
mellow white miso
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1.5 tablespoons
mirin (ideally hon mirin)
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1 tablespoon
thinly sliced chives
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1 splash
unseasoned rice vinegar
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1 dash
sea salt
- fish
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2 5-6 ounces
rockfish fillets, pin bones removed (*Rockfish may also be labeled as black bass, black rock cod, black snapper, or sea bass)
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1 splash
grapeseed oil
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1 dash
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
- compote
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Stir miso and mirin together in a small bowl until smooth. Set aside.
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First, blanch and prep nectarines. Prepare an ice bath and set aside. Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. With a small paring knife, make a shallow ‘x’ through the skin on the bottom (non-stem end) of each nectarine. Drop into boiling water for about one minute. With a large slotted spoon, transfer nectarines to ice bath. When cool, slip skin off, remove pits, and slice into wedges.
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Trim leeks to remove tough outer layers and the dark-green parts, and slice lengthwise. Rinse thoroughly to remove dirt from between the layers. Slice leeks crosswise into thin half-moons.
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Heat a medium saucepan over low-medium heat. Add oil, and when oil is hot but not smoking, add leeks and stir to coat evenly. Cook, stirring occasionally, until leeks are translucent and have significantly softened (8-10 minutes).
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Add nectarines and cook an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring to mix the nectarines and leeks but avoiding smashing the fruit. Remove from heat, add miso-mirin mixture, and stir to coat evenly. Add a splash of rice vinegar. Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning with sea salt and additional rice vinegar, if needed.
- fish
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Heat grill to medium-high. Coat fillets in oil, then season lightly with sea salt and ground black pepper. Oil grill grates. Add fish and cook, undisturbed, until fillets have attractive grill marks and release easily (3-4 minutes). Flip and cook an additional 3-4 minutes, until fish flakes easily.
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To serve, plate a piece of grilled rockfish and top with a generous spoonful of compote. Sprinkle with chives.
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I like to put the remaining compote in a small bowl to serve alongside the dish. It’s a great way to liven up cooked grains and sturdy salads.
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