Flounder Meunière Lemon Butter (Printable version)

Crispy golden fillets with tangy lemon brown butter sauce—an elegant French classic ready in minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 flounder fillets (about 5 ounces each), skin removed
02 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Dredging

04 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

→ Cooking

05 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Sauce

07 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
08 - Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
09 - 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
10 - Lemon wedges, for serving

# Directions:

01 - Pat the flounder fillets completely dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
02 - Spread flour on a shallow plate. Lightly coat each fillet in flour, shaking off any excess to ensure a thin, even layer.
03 - In a large nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons butter with olive oil over medium-high heat until the butter begins to foam.
04 - Add fillets to the skillet, cooking in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden brown and just cooked through. Transfer to a warm platter.
05 - Wipe out the skillet and add remaining 4 tablespoons butter. Cook over medium heat, swirling occasionally, until butter turns golden brown and releases a nutty aroma, 2 to 3 minutes.
06 - Remove skillet from heat immediately. Stir in fresh lemon juice and chopped parsley. Spoon the aromatic browned butter sauce directly over the cooked fish.
07 - Arrange fillets on plates and serve immediately with fresh lemon wedges on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The browned butter sauce transforms simple fish into something extraordinary in minutes
  • It's the perfect balance of rustic comfort and refined French technique
02 -
  • Dry your fish thoroughly or the flour will clump instead of creating that delicate crust
  • Watch your butter like a hawk once it starts foaming, the leap from brown to burned happens fast
03 -
  • Warm your serving platter in a low oven so the fish stays hot while you make the sauce
  • Have all your ingredients prepped before you start cooking, the sauce comes together fast
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