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Fillets of sea bass on provençal lentils

Name: Fillets of sea bass on provençal lentils
Prep time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: Serves 4
Cuisine: French recipes
Ingredients: 250g Puy lentils; 1 bouquet garni; Olive oil; 1 small shallot, chopped; 1 small clove of garlic, crushed; 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme; 1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary; 6 large ripe tomatoes, skinned, deseeded and diced; 2 tsp tomato purée; 150ml good-quality tomato juice (with a thick consistency); 4 x 180g sea bass fillets, scored; 1 lemon; For the sauce; 250ml fish stock; 125ml double cream; 1 tsp finely chopped chives; 1 small knob of butter

Published: 31 Jan 04
Updated: 18 Mar 24

Looking for an impressive but easy main course? Then serve guests these fillets of sea bass on provençal lentils with a creamy chive sauce. Such an impressive dish that isn’t too difficult to make.

Easy
February 2004

Test kitchen approved

Serves 4
Takes about 1 hour hands-on time

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Ingredients

250g Puy lentils
1 bouquet garni
Olive oil
1 small shallot, chopped
1 small clove of garlic, crushed
1 tsp chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
6 large ripe tomatoes, skinned, deseeded and diced
2 tsp tomato purée
150ml good-quality tomato juice (with a thick consistency)
4 x 180g sea bass fillets, scored
1 lemon

For the sauce

250ml fish stock
125ml double cream
1 tsp finely chopped chives
1 small knob of butter

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Method

Put the lentils and bouquet garni in a pan, cover with cold water, bring to the boil and simmer for about 20 minutes. Drain well.
In a clean pan, heat a little olive oil and sweat the shallot, garlic and herbs. Add the tomatoes and tomato purée to the shallots and simmer gently for 3-4 minutes. Add the tomato juice and continue to cook, stirring, until the mixture is reduced to a smooth, paste-like consistency. Add the lentils, mix thoroughly and season well. (If there is still excess liquid in the pan, continue to reduce, stirring, until the mixture is almost dry.)
To make the sauce, put the fish stock in a clean pan and simmer until reduced by half. Add the cream and simmer to reduce by half again. Season well and keep warm.

Meanwhile, heat a little oil in a non-stick frying pan. Season the fish well with salt, pepper and lemon juice. Pan-fry skinside down for 3-4 minutes until golden and crispy. Turn over and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Add the chives to the sauce and whisk in the butter until a foam appears. Divide the lentils between 4 warmed plates. Top with the fish and spoon the sauce around the edges. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve.