Bass

Fish with Carrots and Parsnips in Carrot-Cilantro Broth over Baby Spinach

by:
February 27, 2011
5
1 Ratings
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

This recipe is based on Jerry Traunfeld's Halibut in Carrot Cilantro Broth from his The HerbFarm Cookbook. Although the original recipe uses Halibut, I have made it with cod, stribed bass - even fluke, adjusting the poaching period accordingly.

Yesterday, the weather on Long Island thawed enough for me to pull a bunch of colorful carrots and parsnips that were still in the ground when the frost caught me by surprise, as it always does. They added a nice touch to this light but warming dish.

If there is leftover broth, it makes a killer soup base with the addition of greens, vegetable broth, chick peas and whatever else is floating around. —Canned

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 pounds skinless white fish filet, such as halibut, cod, striped bass or fluke
  • 1 quart carrot juice, while fresh is best, not everyone has a juicer - don't let this stop you from making the recipe. It is acceptable (although not preferable) to use fresh bottled carrot juice from the produce section
  • Juice from one lime
  • 4 carrots, sliced about 3/4" thick
  • 2 parsnips, sliced about 3/4" thick
  • 2 garlic cloves, quartered lengthwise
  • olive oil
  • 1 cup dry white vermouth
  • 4 tablespoons shallots, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and grated
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 8 ounces baby spinach
  • 1 cup cilantro, chopped
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place carrot and parsnip slices with garlic in a roasting pan, cover with a couple of glugs of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste and roast for 30 minutes.
  2. Slice fish into 4 pieces of equal size and thickness.
  3. Combine the carrot juice with the vermouth, lime juice, shallots, ginger and 1 tsp. salt in a saucepan or skillet wide enough to hold the fish in a single layer (but not so large that the fish will not be mostly submerged in the liquid). Bring the ingredients to a boil over high heat and then simmer on low heat for 10 minutes.
  4. When the roasted carrots and parsnips are about done, place the fish in the carrot broth and cook gently on low so that the broth never simmers, about 7 to 10 minutes for cod, halibut or striped bass - less for fluke. You want the fish to just about break if you bend it.
  5. While the fish is cooking, melt 1 tbsp. of butter in a large skillet and add the spinach. Toss with tongs until wilted.
  6. Divide the spinach into four shallow bowls. Top each with a piece of fish and surround the fish with the parsnip and carrot slices.
  7. Over medium heat, whisk the remaining 3 tbsps. of butter into the broth. Stir in the cilantro and ladle broth over the fish, spinach, parsnips and carrots. Serve immediately.
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1 Review

cgleason December 17, 2011
Came upon this recipe when searching for parsnips + fish recipes, and found food52 along with it! Signed up to say how wonderful this meal was. Made it last night with cod from a local fishmonger. It came together very easily, plated beautifully, and I'm so excited to use the leftover broth in soup (it's surprisingly addictive!). I really wish I had taken a photo before we devoured it, as it really is a gorgeous meal, but I really do recommend it if you're looking to impress with something different.