Fast Dinner Recipe: Sole in Tarragon Cream with Capers

Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant?? I’m halfway through my fish burger and I realize, Oh my God....I could be eating a slow learner. – Lyndon B. Johnson

Delicate fish in a creamy tarragon sauce.

You’ll never imagine what inspired this recipe. Recently someone brought fish chowder – good smelling fish chowder – to work for dinner. The smell wafted over to where I was and instantly I wanted some.

Only purchase fresh fish that is "translucent." As it ages the
flesh becomes more opaque and loses its lustre. This looks
pretty good. Photo: Eggybird, Flickr ccl

I recently had made fish chowder which was fantastic (see Chowder) and it was a little too soon to make again. But I knew fish was on the menu, and probably haddock.

A trip to the local grocery quickly changed my mind. There was no way I was going to pay the price they were asking for fresh haddock. Frozen just isn’t the same. When I was looking around for alternatives my eye wandered to the sole fillets.

Sole is kind of odd as far as pricing goes. Sometimes fresh sole is pricey, other times it is not. Today it was not. I quickly gathered up three small packages and started thinking about what to make.

If you’ve never had it, sole is a very delicate fish. The flavour is not strong and the flesh is not firm. It’s certainly not made for a chunky chowder. You also really have to be careful not to overpower the taste of sole. I decided a good solution would be to fry it and make a tarragon cream sauce. 

Tarragon has a gentle taste as far as fresh herbs are concerned, and it’s always a good partner with fish. A little garlic and some capers add punch to the finished dish and can be adjusted to suit your individual taste. 

This recipe was on the table within one half hour, which is pretty good speed for an after work dinner. It also was very tasty. Tasty enough for “seconds”…

Sole in Tarragon Cream with Capers

Prep: 5 min  |  Cook 20 min  |  Serves 4

Growing your own herbs is a great boon to your cooking.
Photo: zenryaku, Flickr ccl

1-1/2 lb sole fillets

1/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt 

1 tsp  pepper

1 tbsp each vegetable oil and butter

1 small clove garlic, minced

2 cups 32% whipping cream

2 tbsp fresh tarragon, chopped, or 1-1/2 tsp dried

1 tbsp capers, chopped

1 cup basmati rice

2 cups salted water

green beans for four

The rice

Bring the 2 cups water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the basmati, reduce heat and simmer until all the water is absorbed. This is usually between 12-15 minutes. let sit covered for 5 more minutes.

The beans

Steam the beans in a little salted water for about 5 minutes until done but still crisp.

Chopped capers add a salty tang. Photo: mrkvm, Flickr ccl

The fish and sauce

While the rice is cooking, combine the flour, salt and half the pepper in a bag. Add the sole and shake gently to coat.

Heat the oil and butter in a large sauté pan. When hot, add the fillets and fry on both sids until just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. 

Do not crowd the fillets. Do multiple batches if necessary. When done remove to a plate and keep warm in a very low oven.

Add the garlic to the oil and butter remaining in the pan. Sauté for about 1 minute. Add the cream, remaining pepper and the tarragon. Cook on medium high until the cream reduces to a sauce. 

Taste and add salt if desired. Chop the capers.

Plate the warm fish atop hot rice. Spoon the sauce over the top and sprinkle with some capers.

Serve with steamed green beans.

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