Pairing: Dry Creek Vineyard Fumé Blanc
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon white pepper
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 4 eight-ounce striped bass fillets
- 6 tablespoons butter, divided
- 1/4 cup caper berries
- Juice of 1 lemon, plus additional lemon slices for garnish
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley for garnish
- 1 pound medium asparagus, stalks trimmed and peeled
- 1 to 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Method
Combine the flour, peppers, and salt. Dredge the fish fillets in the flour mixture and shake off any excess.
Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a heavy saucepan and heat until the butter is nut brown and foaming. Be careful not to burn. Place the fish fillets in the pan, skin side down, and sauté until cooked on that side, about 3–4 minutes. Carefully flip the fillets over and sauté on the other side for another three minutes or so.
Drain off the excess butter and reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the capers, caper berries, lemon juice, and wine. Cook for about 5 minutes, then enrich the sauce with the remaining 4 tablespoons butter.
Remove the fish to a serving platter, pour the sauce over the fish, and garnish with the chopped parsley and lemon slices. Accompany with rice and asparagus if desired.
Serves 4.