Growing Chefs! Ontario Pan-Seared Pickerel with Sautéed Wild Spring Greens

Pan-Seared Pickerel with Sautéed Wild Spring Greens

This dish highlights seasonal ingredients that have long been part of foodways in this region; freshwater fish, maple, wild greens, juniper and sumac. It’s a great dish to talk about how spring brings bright, fresh, and nutrient-rich foods after winter.”
Difficulty
Intermediate
Yield
Serves 4

For the pickerel:

Ingredients
4 pickerel fillets (skin on if possible)2 tablespoons grapeseed oil2 tablespoons butter1 tablespoon maple syrup1 teaspoon ground sumac2 tablespoons fresh mint, finely chopped Juice from 1 lemon Salt to taste

Juniper salt:

Ingredients
1 tablespoon coarse salt3 - 4 dried juniper berries, crushed

Wild greens:

Ingredients
4 cups mixed wild greens (dandelion greens, wild onion, milkweed tips*), chopped1 tablespoon butter1 small clove garlic, minced Pinch of salt

*Ensure all wild ingredients are…

Equipment
Measuring cupsMeasuring spoonsBowls, various sizesLarge frying panFlipper spatulaSalad spinnerCutting boardChef's knifeWooden spoonMortar and pestle

Directions

Get Organized!

Gather your mise en place; get together all of the equipment needed for the recipe 

and gather your ingredients.

Get Prepped!

Begin by making the juniper salt. Crush the juniper berries using a mortar and pestle, then mix them with the coarse salt and set aside.

Wash all of the wild greens thoroughly, then chop them into bite-sized pieces and spin dry in a salad spinner.

Measure out the butter, oil, sumac, and maple syrup so they are ready to use.

Remove the mint leaves from their stems and finely chiffonade them into thin ribbons, discarding the stems.

Juice the lemon and set it aside.

Finely mince the garlic clove.

Pat the pickerel fillets dry and season them lightly with a pinch of the juniper salt.

In a small bowl, combine the maple syrup, sumac, one teaspoon of the lemon juice, and the chopped mint. Stir well and set aside.

Get Cooking!

Heat the grapeseed oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Place the pickerel fillets skin-side down in the pan and press gently to ensure even contact with the surface. Cook for three to four minutes, until the skin is crisp and the fish is mostly cooked through. Carefully flip the fillets and cook for another one to two minutes.

Add half of the butter along with the remaining lemon juice to the pan. Tilt the pan slightly and use a spoon to baste the fish with the melted butter and juices. Remove the fish from the pan and keep warm.

Using the same pan, reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining butter. If using wild onions, add them first and cook for about thirty seconds. Add the remaining greens and the minced garlic, then sauté for two to three minutes, just until the greens are wilted. Season with a small pinch of salt.

To serve, spoon the maple, sumac, and mint mixture over the warm pickerel just before serving. Serve alongside the sautéed wild greens.