A La Duchesse, Fish Is Fit For a Queen

The fine ladies of the French court were quite the connoisseurs when it came to cuisine during the seventeenth century. And one of their favorite dishes? Fish, specifically, a la duchesse.

What made this dish so special? The presentation, for one. The fish was cooked and served in an elaborate way, making it fit for a queen. Another reason for its popularity was that it was considered a healthy dish – something that was much needed by the ladies who often indulged in rich foods.

There are many recipes for a la duchesse but all involve cooking the fish in some sort of sauce, usually made from wine, herbs, and butter. After being cooked, the fish is placed on a bed of rice or mashed potatoes and then topped with the sauce. It's a beautiful dish that is not only delicious but also very elegant.

If you want to give this classic French dish a try, here's one recipe to get you started:

A La Duchesse Recipe Ingredients: 1 cod fillet (or other firm white fish) 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 3 shallots, minced 1 garlic clove, minced 1/2 cup dry white wine 1/2 cup chicken stock 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves 1 tablespoon fresh parsley leaves, chopped Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Instructions:

1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). 2) Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add fish to pan; cook for 2 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove fish from pan. 3) Add butter and shallots to pan; sauté for 2 minutes or until tender. Stir in garlic; sauté for 30 seconds. Add wine and stock; bring to a boil. Stir in thyme and parsley; season with salt and pepper, if desired. Return fish to pan. Place pan in preheated oven. Bake for 8 minutes or until fish is cooked through.

How to Make delicious fish a la Duchesse

Ingredients:

• 1¼ lb. (600 g) white fish fillets, such as cod, haddock or pollock

• Salt and pepper

• 2 tbsp. (30 ml) olive oil, plus more for greasing

• 1 cup (250 ml) milk

• 2 cloves garlic, chopped

• ½ onion, chopped

• 3 tbsp. (45 ml) white wine or dry vermouth 2 bay leaves 1 thyme sprig 4 oz. (125 g) slice mushrooms

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Butter or spray a baking dish big enough to fit the fish in a single layer.
2. Season the fish with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat until hot but not smoking, then cook the fish for about 3 minutes on each side until golden brown.   03. Lift the cooked fish out of the pan and put it in the baking dish. Discard any remaining oil in the pan.   04. Add the milk, garlic, onion, white wine or vermouth, bay leaves, thyme sprig and mushrooms to the frying pan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for about 5 minutes until the onion is softened and the sauce has thickened slightly. Pour over the fish in the baking dish and bake for 12–15 minutes until cooked through. Serve immediately with boiled potatoes or steamed rice if liked.

Unusual but Delicious Fish a la Duchesse Recipe

There are some fish recipes that are so unusual, they're almost unheard of. This particular recipe for Fish a la Duchesse is one such dish.

Ingredients you will need:

1/2 cup flour 3/4 cup milk 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 pound fresh fish fillets (cod, haddock, or other firm-fleshed fish) 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3/4 cup milk 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 cup frozen peas, thawed Lemon wedges (optional)

Instructions:

 1. Combine flour, milk, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish. Place fish in mixture, turning to coat.     2. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in flour; cook 1 minute. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and boils. Reduce heat to low; simmer 10 minutes or until slightly thickened.     3. Add fish to pan; simmer 3 minutes or until cooked through. Stir in peas; simmer 1 minute or until heated through. Serve with lemon wedges if desired.  

Surprising But Tasty Fish a la Duchesse

The next time you are looking for a new and exciting dish to try, consider fish a la Duchesse. This meal is surprisingly tasty and sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. Best of all, it is easy to make and doesn't require a lot of fancy ingredients.

To get started, you will need some fresh fish. Any type of white-fleshed fish will work well, such as cod, turbot, or sole. You will also need some butter, olive oil, flour, salt, and black pepper.

First, heat a tablespoon of butter and a tablespoon of olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Cut the fish into serving-sized portions and season with salt and black pepper. Dust the fish with flour, then add it to the frying pan. Cook for about three minutes per side, or until the fish is cooked through.

Transfer the cooked fish to a serving platter and cover with foil to keep warm. Add another tablespoon of butter and a tablespoon of olive oil to the frying pan. Add some chopped mushrooms and cook until they are golden brown. Stir in a tablespoon of flour and cook for one minute more. Then pour in ¾ cup of hot milk and simmer for two minutes until thickened. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Pour the sauce over the cooked fish on the platter and serve immediately. Enjoy!