On the islands of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, fishing is not only a hobby for many of the islanders, but also important for sustaining island life. It’s as much a part of island life as tending to the gardens or chatting with neighbors. Among the many fish caught from the seas surrounding the islands, the Olive Flounder stands out as a beloved favorite. This delicate flatfish can be used to make a number of island favorites. One such favorite is the Sautéed Olive Flounder.
This recipe draws inspiration from the Japanese karei no nitsuke while taking a slightly different path. Instead of gently simmering the fish, the flounder is sautéed until just tender, then finished with a glossy mushroom pan sauce that pools around the plate and clings to each bite.
To be more specific, the recipe begins with
a quick dashi sets the foundation, The flounder is lightly floured and gently pan-seared until just tender and golden. Mushrooms are sautéed and then folded into a glossy Japanese-style brown sauce built from sake, mirin, soy, and the prepared dashi. Finished with a swirl of butter for richness, the sauce is spooned over the fish and topped with the mushrooms. The result is a delicate, flavorful, and fairly simple dish that is perfect for a cozy evening on the island, or a quick weeknight dinner at home.
Ingredients
4 flounder fillets
¼ cup all purpose flour
2 tbsp vegetable oil
4 tbsp butter, divided
8 oz bunapi or shimeji mushrooms, trimmed and separated
½ shallot, very finely minced
⅓ cup sake
¼ cup mirin
2 tbsp soy sauce
½ cup dashi stock*
Salt and black pepper
Fresh parsley
*made from 1 cup of water and 1 tsp hondashi granules
We begin by making the dashi. Set a pot filled with 1 cup of water over medium-high heat. Once the water comes to a boil, add 1 teaspoon of Hondashi granules. Lower the heat to a simmer and stir the granules into the water until they dissolve. Remove the pot from the heat and set it aside.
Lightly dredge the flounder fillets in flour, coating them fully, then shake off any excess.
Place a pan over medium heat and add a little oil as well as 2 tbsp of butter. Add the mushrooms and sauté until tender and lightly colored, about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a bowl.
In the same pan, add a touch more oil or butter, if needed, and add the flounder fillets. To avoid overcrowding the plan, fry the flounder in batches, frying two at a time. Fry the flounder for about 2 minutes per side, just until opaque and lightly golden, basting lightly with butter as they cook. Transfer the fish to a warm plate.
Lower the heat and deglaze the pan with sake, scraping up any flavorful bits. Stir in the mirin and soy sauce, then add about ½ cup of the prepared dashi. Return the mushrooms to the pan and simmer gently for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce is lightly reduced and glossy. Remove the pan from the heat and swirl in cold butter to emulsify. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Return the pan to very low heat, add the fish filets back into the pan, and spoon the sauce over the fillets. After 20-30 seconds, the fish should be warm and glossy from the sauce. Turn off the heat and you are ready to serve.
To serve, place a flounder filet on a small plate, and spoon the sauce and mushrooms over the flounder. Garnish with parsley. Enjoy!
Learn more about Sautéed Olive Flounder from Animal Crossing New Horizons at the Nookipedia.