Monkfish With Caper Butter Recipe (2024)

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Alexandra

Very nice. My only (tiny) issue is the suggestion to flour one side only. That is nice in theory but in practice monkfish medallions are somewhat irregular in shape and the unique floured side doesn't necessarily turn golden. Next time I will make slightly bigger pieces, flour all over and toss over high heat, as I usually do. I served them with braised endives.

Brkln.df

Great recipe. I agree with earlier posting to increase amount of dry mustard--you'll have to experiment on that measurement.

I've made this recipe twice. The first time I floured one side of the fish and that worked great; the second time, with thicker fillets, I floured both sides because I had to turn the fish to ensure thorough cooking. I'd say whatever fish you use, use thickness as your gauge: thinner, flour one side. Thicker, you'll need both!

JudiM

Very good! I will make a couple of adjustments next time. I'll increase the amount of ground mustard, as we found it unnoticeable. And if I decide to serve it over sautéed spinach again, as I did this time, I will not add garlic to the spinach, as it overwhelmed the delicate sauce.

J&J

Very nice. I flowered the entire madalion as previously suggested. Make sure the membrane is removed for the optimum result. This sauce will work for any fish.

John

The recipe doesn't mention turning the medallions and cooking the other side, so my understanding is that after they have cooked until golden on the floured side, they are just about cooked (they're only 1/2-inch thick) and after you transfer them to hot plates floured side up, you know they finish cooking from "residual heat". I've used this floured-on-one-side-only technique before--it makes for a nice crust on the presentation side and 50% less starchy finished dish..

Elisabeth Moise

This is a good recipe for monkfish. I sort-of floured only one side, my pieces were odd sized. Loved the sauce! I served the fish with chopped tomatoes marinated in basil and balsamic, and crusty Italian bread to soak up the extra sauce.

leah

The monkfish you had was most likely frozen and thawed. I've noticed that most fish with white flesh (cod, halibut, etc) come out spongy after freezing and thawing. Oily fish such as salmon and mackerel are just fine.

Kathleen

We love monkfish and have made many recipes with it. This however is the absolute best ever!

Susan Heiken

Made this recipe last evening and we both enjoyed it thoroughly (I started to type "and everyone thoroughly enjoyed.....", but there's no "everyone" for dinner currently! Based on the notes of others, I floured both sides of the fillets, and I did an initial light coat of two different types of mustard (a sweet hot and a stone ground) on the fish prior to the flour mixture. I would do the same again! Will make this again...

Theresa Nelson

Definitely must use a different plan for cooking the fish than fr the sauce. Despite wiping out the butter pan after removing the sauce, on high heat the butter burned. I was able to keep the monkfish away from the burned area, but in the future, will do this again with two pans.

Joe Allen

Monkfish is delicious! At the seafood restaurant in SF I cooked at, we would prepare it similar to this. Flour the medallions (not sure why just one side?), saute and serve...but with Bearnaise sauce draped over the top!! YUM.

celia mllton

My personal monkfish wasn't neatly cut in tenderloins...so I tossed the whole bunch of them in flour, sauteed them briefly and proceeded. Worked just fine.

Jussi

Monkfish is simply cheap. one would never buy and cook Monkfish unless it was cheaper than another steakier fish. I'd met so few people who like it.

celia mllton

Really? First, it's not that cheap. Its texture is like lobster, not flakey like other flat white fish. Makes a great "lobster" roll.We all love it! (And loved this recipe too.)

K.Bunny

Frying the individual pieces of fish was kind of annoying, and definitely took longer than a minute. But the sauce is delicious and super easy - would use it on any kind of fish.

Equitraveler

Love monkfish and this is an easy quick recipe, once you peel or cut back all the external layers. Very tasty.

carol

Much less flour needed, but add more mustard to it. Cut medallions 3/4” and turn very briefly just before taking them out of the pan. Use a bit less butter in the sauce .. 2 tblsp for 1/2 recipe. Very tasty and fast to cook.

Raoul

I too went with the thicker (1"ish) pieces of fish. Tossed them in the flour/mustard mixture then sautéed over med-high heat turning once (about 3 min. total) I made ½ the recipe but still used 1 tsp of dry (Coleman's English) mustard and it added just a tad of zig w/o overpowering. My only other comment is that the "fresh" supermarket tarragon I used wasn't very fragrant and got "lost in the sauce" (it's out of season here). Next time i'll sub 2 tsp dried if i don't have my homegrown.

Cathy Pink

Cooking in Suffolk England

Cambro

Prior to preparing the fish, I sautéed asparagus in the cast iron. Let the spears rest on a platter in a 200 degree oven. Served fish over asparagus and added the sauce. Feeling fancy but cooking solo, I halved this recipe to good effect.

angela

Any tips on removing the gray membrane? This step took me the longest.

Susan Alexander

Love this classic! Used sole. As others have commented, any white skinned fish would work. I would also think chicken breasts and pork filets. Will become a staple.

Theresa Nelson

Definitely must use a different plan for cooking the fish than fr the sauce. Despite wiping out the butter pan after removing the sauce, on high heat the butter burned. I was able to keep the monkfish away from the burned area, but in the future, will do this again with two pans.

bfish

Not a big fan. Maybe it was the frozen monkfish, but the fish was a bit chewy and bland, even with the sauce.

Kd-nyt

My monkfish was too thick for this recipe; found it didn't cook in the allotted time too "rubbery" to eat. I snuck it into the microwave to cook through without burning it. Next time will either cut it down or do the microwave trick at the end again. I was making a much smaller portion so adjusted the recipe...but I think it needed a bit more of the dry mustard...or I might put a little mustard in with the capers.

Les O

This was quite nice. I had thicker monkfish pieces so I floured them on both sides and cooked accordingly. Definitely messier in the pan etc if you flip them (which of course it would be) but overall it worked great. Caper butter sauce was phenomenal, duh. Upped the mustard powder slightly based on comments and was glad I did. This was not as good as the Pierre Franey monkfish/dijon recipe on this site but still, definitely worth making again.

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Monkfish With Caper Butter Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How are monkfish usually cooked? ›

How do I cook monkfish? This versatile fish can be prepared using almost any cooking method, including pan-frying, grilling, baking and poaching in soups and stews. Its lean flesh tends to dry out if overcooked, so make sure you're mindful of this.

Why is monkfish difficult to cook? ›

This is not only because its veiny appearance is unappetizing to the eyes, but because these membranes will shrink around your fish. It will curl up and turn rubbery, making it hard to cook. And as lean meat, monkfish would dry out if overcooked in heat.

Why is my monkfish rubbery? ›

Your monkfish may be chewy or rubbery due to overcooking. The coveted meaty texture of this fish is specifically a bit more fickle to deal with than other fish. Much like an overcooked steak, this fish can become texturally unfavorable as it cooks for longer than required.

What is the flavor of monkfish? ›

Monkfish are known to have a similar texture, look, and flavor to lobster. The fish has a meaty texture, a mild, sweet flavor, and is often used in fine dining and French cooking. Fresh monkfish generally lacks the “fishy” taste many associate with eating ocean fish.

Why is monkfish so expensive? ›

Monkfish can be expensive because it's a deep-sea fish that's difficult to catch. It's also a popular ingredient in gourmet restaurants, which can drive up the price.

How to tell if monkfish is done? ›

Monkfish is cooked through when it's opaque throughout, flakes easily and becomes slightly firm. Safe internal temperature for fish is 145 degrees F (at the thickest part of the flesh), but you'll want to take it off before then, as the fish will continue rising in temperature even after you remove it from the heat.

How do you prepare monkfish for cooking? ›

Start by preparing the monkfish. Pat dry with paper towels and then trim off the membrane if necessary. Then cut the fillets lengthwise down the middle if the pieces are large. Season with salt and pepper.

Is monkfish good or bad for you? ›

Monkfish meat is a healthy option, especially if you are trying to manage your weight. That's because monkfish has low levels of sodium and calories. A serving of 6 ounces of cooked monkfish only has 110 calories. However, despite being low in calories, this meat contains high cholesterol levels.

Can monkfish be undercooked? ›

To establish whether monkfish is cooked, insert a sharp knife into the thickest part of the flesh – if it's cooked through the knife will come out hot to the touch; the flesh should also feel springy. Whether cooking monkfish tail or fillet make sure that you rest the cooked fish for about 5 minutes before serving.

What are the little worms in monkfish? ›

Larvae of the Anisakis worm can be carried by raw or undercooked marine fish and squid. Some examples include cod, flounder, fluke, haddock, herring, monkfish, and Pacific salmon.

What is monkfish sickness? ›

Symptoms begin within 2 minutes to several hours after eating the fish. The most common symptoms are tingling and burning sensations around the mouth, facial flushing, sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, palpitations, dizziness, and rash. Sometimes people report that the fish has a peppery or metallic taste.

Why is monkfish so cheap? ›

Regardless of their looks, they are tasty and not subject to any overfishing, which makes them a great sustainable protein option and more affordable lobster substitute. Not to mention, while it's their tails that are eaten, their heads can be used as bait by lobster fishermen, so the entire fish is put to use.

Is monkfish very fishy? ›

Monkfish has a very mild flavor that many liken to lobster. I wonder, though, how much of that is due to its texture -- which is firm, like lobster. In any event, fresh monkfish has a light flavor, acceptable to most people, including those who avoid "fishy-tasting" fish.

Is monkfish a good fish to eat? ›

Monkfish meat is a healthy option, especially if you are trying to manage your weight. That's because monkfish has low levels of sodium and calories. A serving of 6 ounces of cooked monkfish only has 110 calories. However, despite being low in calories, this meat contains high cholesterol levels.

Is monkfish flaky when cooked? ›

The fish roasts for about 15 minutes; when it's done, the flesh will have a springy feel and will flake easily when a knife is inserted into the thickest portion. Additionally, the knife tip will be hot to the touch once it's removed.

What is the texture of monkfish when cooked? ›

The cooked meat of a monkfish has a similarly meaty and succulent texture, with a sweet and clean flavour that's not fishy at all. Monkfish fillets are also thick and hefty like lobster tails.

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