Minimal Monday: Pistachio Crusted Flounder

Pin It
Keep it simple.  That's the lesson I learned today.  I originally had more elaborate plans for this flounder.  It involved  pistachios, pink grapefruit, fresh ginger, wine, shallots, herbs, the whole nine yards.  But somewhere along the way it occurred to me.  All I really needed was the pistachios.  Maybe a little butter and lemon.

After all,the wild caught flounder that I found at the fish market is a delicacy in itself.  I love the pistachio crust because it's so fresh and green, you don't even need a garnish.  If you just wilt the baby spinach with a touch of olive oil and a little salt you'll bring out the flavor without reducing it to a sodden mass.  From start to finish this dinner comes together in 20 minutes.

Pistachio Crusted Flounder
dinner for two
oven to 400
2 fillets of flounder
1/2 cup of finely chopped/crushed pistachios
1 Meyer lemon
2 Tbsp cold unsalted butter cut in small pieces
olive oil
salt and fresh pepper
1 bag of baby spinach

• Drizzle a little olive oil in a pot and heat it up on a medium heat.  When the pan is hot, put in the spinach and, pulling the pan off the heat, just toss it and let it wilt.  Add some salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Drizzle the bottom of a baking dish with olive oil and lay the two pieces of flounder on top. Sprinkle them liberally with salt and pepper and then drizzle them with olive oil.
• Press in a good coating of the crushed pistachios over each  fish.  Don't skimp.
• Dot with the butter, squeeze half the lemon over the fish, and bake for 10 minutes.
• Put under the broiler briefly, just until the nuts get a little golden and everything is sizzling.  Watch carefully because the nuts will burn very quickly.
• Serve the fish over the spinach with wedges of Meyer lemon.

Note:  You can substitute just about any fish, but I think a mild white fish like sole, tilapia, haddock or snapper would work best.  The best way to chop the nuts is in a mini food processor, it will only take 15 seconds or so.
Enjoy!