Striped Bass with Mushrooms

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 5 large shallots, thinly sliced
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 10 ounces white mushrooms, trimmed and quartered
• 4 6-ounce skin-on striped bass fillets (about 1 inch thick)
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3/4 cup dry white wine
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• Chopped fresh parsley or chives, for garnish (optional)

Directions

Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and thyme and cook until the shallots are translucent, about 7 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until brown and tender, about 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, season the fish with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in another large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fish, skin-side down, and cook until the skin is crisp, 3 to 4 minutes; transfer to a plate. Add the wine to the skillet and scrape up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Boil over high heat until syrupy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cream and simmer to thicken slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Pour the cream sauce over the mushrooms in the skillet, then add the fish, skin-side up. Simmer until the fish is just firm and translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Garnish with parsley, if desired.

Photograph by Antonis Achilleos