Petrale Sole Stuffed with Dungeness Crab

   

For crab stuffing and fish

• 8 oz Dungeness Crab meat (1 cup)
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• ¼ cup finely diced yellow bell pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 4 medium sized fillets of Petrale Sole

For garlic bread crumbs

• 1 small garlic clove, minced
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup fine fresh bread crumbs (preferably from a baguette)
• 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon zest

Prepare stuffing and fish:

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Mix crab, mayonnaise, bell pepper, and parsley and season with salt and pepper. Lay sole fillets flat with darker side up and season with salt and pepper. Divide stuffing among fillets, mounding on thicker half of each. Fold thinner half of fillet over stuffing, tucking end under to form a packet.

Arrange stuffed fillets in a lightly oiled 9-inch pie plate. Cover with a round of parchment paper, then cover pie plate tightly with foil. Bake in upper third of oven until just cooked through, about 20 minutes.

Make breadcrumbs while sole is baking: Cook garlic in oil in a small skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in breadcrumbs and cook, stirring, until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat, then stir in zest and season with salt and pepper.

Transfer sole to plates and pour pan juices through a fine sieve into a small bowl. Spoon some of juices over fish and sprinkle with breadcrumbs.