Sole (Or Flounder) With Red Chile Garlic Salsa (Pescado Rojo)

Misspudding's Note:

Originally from the Rio Cafe, Astoria, Oregon, and modified from "The Northwest Best Places Cookbook". I was looking for a Sole recipe that was a little more spicy than your average butter and herb sauce. Goes well with beans and rice. Flounder will work just as well.

• Total Time: 35 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

For the Sole

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• salt
• pepper
• 2 eggs , beaten
• 1⁄3; cup milk
• 2 cups finely ground cracker crumbs , bread crumbs (esp. panko)
• 1 ½ lbs sole fillets (petrale, lemon or rex sole, or flounder)
• ¼ cup vegetable oil (more if needed)

For the Red Chile Garlic Salsa

• ½ cup whole dried red chili (chiles de arbol)
• ¾ cup boiling water
• ¼ cup chopped onion
• 5 garlic cloves , minced
• 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped cilantro
• 1 ½ teaspoons paprika
• ½-1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (adjust accordingly, as it's hot!)
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried red pepper flakes
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin

Directions:

1. For the salsa:.
2. Heat whole chiles in a heavy skillet over high heat (no oil) to about half-blackened. Immediately put chiles in a bowl, pour boiling water over and set aside.
3. Once lukewarm, put the chile-water mixture in a food-processor with the rest of the salsa ingredients (onion through cumin). Mix until well-mixed but slightly chunky. Set aside.
4. For the fish:.
5. Beat the eggs and milk in a shallow dish. Put the flour, salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Put the cracker/bread crumbs in another shallow dish.
6. Dip the fish in the flour, the egg and then the crumbs. Set aside on a plate lightly dusted with flour. Repeat with remaining fillets.
7. Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet to medium. Add the sole and cook until golden brown (about 2 minutes). Turn the fish, drizzle with salsa and continue cooking until fish is just cooked through, about 2 more minutes (or until opaque and flakes easily with fork).
8. Serve additional salsa on side.