Beef Free Sole Meunière
Sole Meunière is one of those classic French dishes that feels impossibly elegant yet comes together with just a handful of pantry staples. Delicate sole fillets get a whisper-thin flour coating before hitting a hot pan of clarified butter, developing a golden, crisp crust that gives way to tender, flaky fish underneath. The real magic happens in the sauce — unsalted butter cooked low and slow until it turns deep amber and nutty, then brightened with a squeeze of fresh lemon and a shower of flat-leaf parsley. That combination of rich, toasty butter and bright citrus is one of the great flavor pairings in all of French cooking. Since the entire dish is built around fish, butter, lemon, and flour, it's naturally free from any beef or red meat without a single substitution required. Serve it straight from the pan with extra lemon wedges on the side — this is a dish that waits for no one, and you won't want it to.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 4 sole fillets (about 5–6 oz each), skin removed
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 4 tbsp clarified butter or ghee, divided
For the sauce
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)
- 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
For serving
- lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- 1
Pat the sole fillets thoroughly dry with paper towels, then season both sides with the salt and pepper. Spread the flour in a shallow dish. Dredge each fillet in the flour, shaking off any excess so only a thin, even coating remains.
- 2
Heat 2 tbsp of the clarified butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until the butter shimmers and a pinch of flour dropped in sizzles immediately. Working in two batches to avoid crowding, add 2 fillets and cook undisturbed for 2–3 minutes, until the underside is golden and the edges are opaque. Flip carefully and cook for 1–2 minutes more, until the fish reaches 145°F (63°C) on an instant-read thermometer and flakes easily when pressed with a fork. Transfer to a warm plate and tent loosely with foil. Wipe the skillet clean and repeat with the remaining 2 tbsp clarified butter and 2 fillets.
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