On the islands of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, fish and seafood are enjoyed just as much as vegetables. In addition to the many delicious vegetable dishes popular across the islands, there are also a number of fish recipes commonly found in the kitchens of the residents. Recipes using olive flounder, which can be caught in the waters surrounding the islands, are especially beloved.
One recipe in particular that makes use of this fish is Olive Flounder Meunière. To make this dish, islanders fillet the olive flounder, lightly dredge it in flour, and pan fry it. The fish is then served with a simple sauce made from lemon, butter, and herbs. Typically paired with green beans, it creates a delightfully enjoyable and relatively light meal, perfect for ending a busy day on the island.
To bring this dish to life, we first have to consider our choice of fish. Even though the dish is called Olive Flounder Meunière, it is unlikely that you will find fillets of this fish that resemble the recipe icon shown in the game. Flounder are flatfish and generally are not cut into thick, skin-on fillets as depicted in the recipe artwork. As a result, we will need to choose an alternate fish that better matches the appearance of the in-game dish. For this recipe, I chose skin-on snapper fillets.
From there, the recipe is very simple. We season the fillets, lightly dredge them in flour, and fry them in butter until golden. Once the fish has finished cooking, the sauce is built in the same pan by gently melting butter and stirring in lemon juice and parsley off the heat. The fish is then sauced and served with blanched green beans and lemon slices. Simple, delicious, and a fantastic meal to enjoy on a warm summer evening on the island while watching the sun set over the sea.
Ingredients
Fish
4 skin-on snapper, grouper, or salmon fillets
¼ cup flour
1–2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp butter
Salt and black pepper
4 skin-on snapper, grouper, or salmon fillets
¼ cup flour
1–2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp butter
Salt and black pepper
Meunière Sauce
¼ cup butter
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 generous handful parsley, finely chopped
Salt
¼ cup butter
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 generous handful parsley, finely chopped
Salt
Green Beans
½ lb green beans, trimmed
2 tbsp butter
Salt and black pepper
Lemon slices
½ lb green beans, trimmed
2 tbsp butter
Salt and black pepper
Lemon slices
Bring a pot of generously salted water to a boil and blanch the green beans for 3 to 4 minutes, until bright green and tender-crisp. Drain well and toss with 2 tablespoons of butter, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside and keep warm while you prepare the fish.
Pat the fish fillets dry and season both sides with salt and pepper. Place the flour in a shallow dish and lightly dredge each fillet, shaking off any excess.
Heat the vegetable oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. When the butter has melted, add the fish skin-side down and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the skin is crisp and golden. Flip and continue cooking for 2 to 4 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets, until the fish is cooked through. Transfer to a warm plate.
You may need to cook the fish in batches, pan frying two filets at a time.
Reduce the heat to low-medium and examine the pan. If there are any dark or burnt bits of flour in the pan, carefully wipe them away with a paper towel, leaving behind the lighter browned bits and any remaining butter. Add the remaining ¼ cup butter and cook, swirling the pan occasionally, until it has melted and begun gently foaming. The butter should not be browned for this recipe. Remove the pan from the heat and immediately stir in the lemon juice and chopped parsley. Season with a pinch of salt to taste.
To serve, arrange the green beans on each plate and place a fish fillet in front of them. Spoon the meunière sauce around and lightly over the fish, then garnish with lemon slices and additional parsley before serving.
Learn more about Olive Flounder Meuniere from Animal Crossing New Horizons at the Nookipedia.