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Pan-Fried Sole with Lemony Herb Butter

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on February 9, 2012

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Pan-Fried Sole with Lemony Herb Butter

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened3 tablespoons minced fresh chives 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest Salt and pepper ½ cup all-purpose flour 4 (6-ounce) skinless sole fillets 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions

  1. Combine butter, chives, lemon zest, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in bowl; set aside. Place flour in shallow dish. Pat fish dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Dredge fish lightly on both sides in flour, shaking off excess.
  2. Heat 1½ tablespoons oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Cook 2 fillets until golden, about 2½ minutes per side. Transfer to plate and tent loosely with foil. Wipe out skillet with paper towels and repeat with remaining 1½ tablespoons oil and fish. Top each fillet with 1 tablespoon of herb butter. Serve.
Pan-Fried Sole with Lemony Herb Butter

Pan-Fried Sole with Lemony Herb Butter

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3 tablespoons minced fresh chives
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
Salt and pepper
½ cup all-purpose flour
4 (6-ounce) skinless sole fillets
3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3 tablespoons minced fresh chives
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
Salt and pepper
½ cup all-purpose flour
4 (6-ounce) skinless sole fillets
3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3 tablespoons minced fresh chives
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
Salt and pepper
½ cup all-purpose flour
4 (6-ounce) skinless sole fillets
3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Why This Recipe Works

A quick compound butter of chives and lemon zest added tons of flavor to our Pan-Fried Sole but required very little extra time to put together. Although tasters preferred sole in this recipe, we found that flounder worked just as well.

Instructions

  1. Combine butter, chives, lemon zest, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in bowl; set aside. Place flour in shallow dish. Pat fish dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Dredge fish lightly on both sides in flour, shaking off excess.
  2. Heat 1½ tablespoons oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Cook 2 fillets until golden, about 2½ minutes per side. Transfer to plate and tent loosely with foil. Wipe out skillet with paper towels and repeat with remaining 1½ tablespoons oil and fish. Top each fillet with 1 tablespoon of herb butter. Serve.

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