Baked Whitefish with Mustard Sauce

It might be 90 degrees out there, but a new Netflix BBC mystery series came through the mail slot today, the AC is cranking, and we've got our throws standing by on the couch.  I actually look forward to this time of the summer when it gets so hot outside that we have no choice but to make it really cold inside.  I'm talking no ice cubes in the wine cold.  It's a nice excuse to make this cozy baked fish.

I'm a great believer in the virtues of fish.  It's healthy, quick cooking, and so delicate tasting I can't see how anyone wouldn't love it.  Since we eat a lot of it, I like to dramatically change up the way I cook it so we don't get bored.  Fish in mustard sauce pops up in lots of cultures: India, Britain, France and Germany, just off the top of my head, and probably many more.  It's a recurring staple in our lives, and brings us back to student days in London.  One of the great things about it is that you can get it all ready and put the covered pan in the refrigerator until you're ready to cook. 

Whitefish with Mustard Sauce
oven to 400
1 lb whitefish fillet ( I had the fishmonger remove the skin)
olive oil

• Drizzle a little oil in the bottom of a baking dish and lay the fish on top.  

1/2 cup heavy cream
juice of 1 lime (or lemon)
1 Tbsp stone ground Dijon mustard
2 heaping Tbsp capers, drained
2 heaping Tbsp snipped fresh chives (use parsley, or tarragon, if you don't have chives)
salt and fresh cracked pepper

• Whisk together the sauce in a small bowl.  When you add the mustard and the lime to the cream it will thicken.  Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed.  
• Spread the sauce thickly over the fish.  
• Bake for about 20 minutes, and then put the dish under the broiler until it's slightly browned and bubbling.
• Sprinkle a few more chives across the top.

Notes:  When I cooked this I actually thinned the sauce with a splash of dry white wine, but because the fish releases juices during the baking, the sauce didn't need it.  So I've left that step out of the recipe above. If you want it to have the extra sauce like you see in the photos, add it back in.  I served this with green beans, which are showing up at the farmer's market right now.

Here's some other summer fish ideas:

Roberta's Fish (baked in parchment with herbs and lemon)

Atlantic Cod Cakes with Ruby Red Salsa

Pistachio Crusted Flounder

Grilled Halibut with Citrus Salsa

Grilled Salmon with Chunky Cherry Tomato Salsa

Shrimp and Mint Summer Rolls