How To Make John Dory With Celeriac & Porcini

Step 1: You will need

Step 2: Make the sauce

Heat a saucepan over high heat and add the butter, the sliced porcini mushrooms. Let them brown slightly. Stir occasionally and then add shallots and the slice garlic. After a few more minutes add the sherry.

Let it cook for a few minutes and then add the chicken stock, thyme, season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Allow it cook until it is reduced by one-half.

The word "reduce" means to let a liquid boil and evaporate until its volume is a fraction of its original, for example, only one-half. It concentrates the flavour of any sauce or soup.

Step 3: Strain and reduce

When the sauce has reduced to one-half, take the pan from the heat and place the other one on the stove with the sieve and strain the juices, pressing on the vegetables to obtain the most liquid.

Now reduce again until the sauce reaches a syrupy consistency.

Instead of discarding the vegetables, why not use them in an omelette?

Step 4: Make the vegetables

Into a hot frying pan, add some oil and butter. Now introduce the celery into the pan. Fry until it gets some colour, stirring occasionally. This takes a few minutes to cook. Test it by using a small knife.

Move the celery to one side and add the mushrooms, face down. Season. Let them brown for a minute and turn them over. Sprinkle with thyme and chopped parsley. Turn off the heat, add a spoonful of sauce and toss it and remove from heat.

Step 5: Season the fish

On a tray, season both pieces of fish with salt and pepper on both sides.

Step 6: Pan fry the fish

Into a hot frying pan, place a little oil and butter. Now place the fish in the pan and cook. When it starts turning white around the edges, turn them and turn off the heat. Let them cook one more minute. Place them onto a tray.

Step 7: Present and serve

Place the fish on a platter and creatively arrange the vegetables over it in an appealing manner. Drizzle a little sauce over top and serve.