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Brown Butter Perch

Brown Butter Perch

Name: Brown Butter Perch
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 cup flour; 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon finely ground black pepper; ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper; 8 ounces fresh perch fillets; 2 tablespoons butter; 1 lemon, cut in half

Rating: 4.65 stars

65 Ratings
50 Reviews
11 Photos

I love perch. I love everything about them--the sweet, delicate flavor, the striking coloration, and the stubborn fight they put up for their size. The key here is getting the butter to a perfect nutty brown. Technically it's still butter, but something happens when it's toasted like this, and it really does become another ingredient altogether.

By Chef John

Recipe Summary

prep:

10 mins

cook:

10 mins

total:

20 mins

Servings:

Yield:

4 servings

Nutrition Info

Ingredients

Original recipe yields 4 servings

The ingredient list now reflects the servings specified

1 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon finely ground black pepper
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
8 ounces fresh perch fillets
2 tablespoons butter
1 lemon, cut in half

Directions

Step 1

Whisk flour, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a bowl. Gently press perch fillets into flour mixture to coat, shaking off any excess flour.

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Step 2

Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat until butter is foaming and nut-brown in color. Working in batches, place filets in skillet and cook until light golden, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer cooked fillets to a plate, squeeze lemon juice over the top, and serve.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:

271.3 calories; protein 12.6g 25% DV; carbohydrates 30.9g 10% DV; fat 11.5g 18% DV; cholesterol 43.2mg 14% DV; sodium 702.8mg 28% DV. Full Nutrition

Reviews (50)

Most helpful positive review

JanetGB13

03/22/2013

Really easy and good! The only modification I made was a trick I've learned over the years about fish. I cook the fish about 1/3 to 1/4 less the usual time, then remove from heat, cover and let sit for at least 15 minutes (even a 1/2 hour). The fish stays warm enough and it gets juicier over time and doesn't dry out. Read More

Helpful

(49)

Most helpful critical review

amp119

10/28/2012

Just okay for me....followed directions precisely. Read More

Helpful

(1)

65 Ratings

5 star values: 47
4 star values: 14
3 star values: 3
2 star values: 1
1 star values: 0

Reviews: Most Helpful

Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest

JanetGB13

03/21/2013

Helpful

(49)

Baking Nana

06/25/2012

Easy fast & very tasty. I used sole as fresh perch are nearly impossible to get here. This is one of those meals that comes together in a snap. Read More

Helpful

(22)

BARNKITTY

06/17/2012

Very simple, but very good. While the breading seems very plain, the browned butter does give it a good flavor, though we did add a little dried parsley to the breading. We found the amount of breading called for in the recipe to be far more than what is needed. Doubling the fish and cutting the amount of flour in half (leaving the peppers full amount, but reducing the salt) still left us with enough for another day (frozen in a zip-top bag). Read More

Helpful

(19)

irayd8 no more!

01/30/2013

Very simple and tasty. My husband loves perch and I was tired of just breading and frying-will use this recipe again. Read More

Helpful

(14)

Cindy Ecklund

12/30/2014

This is the way I usually cook perch but I often substitute something else for flour like panko quinoa flour cornmeal etc. All good! Use real butter. Read More

Helpful

(7)

cherylbrn

05/28/2013

Loved it! Quick and easy. Our neighbors provide us with fish from Lake Erie. This was as close as it gets to the fabulous fresh perch we have had at Kelleys Island. I used red pepper flakes, as one contributor recommended. Yum! Read More

Helpful

(6)

joeyheath

05/06/2013

i added brown sugar and used chili flakes instead of cayanne and it was excellent! Read More

Helpful

(4)

spiffythehippie

09/29/2014

Easy to make! Great recipe when you are running out of time to make dinner! I was really short on time so I paired this brown butter perch up with brown rice and garlic toast with cheese. It was a warm satisfying meal. Read More

Helpful

(3)

kbird