Skate with Mushrooms and Hazelnuts

Recipe courtesy of  Chef Daniel Boulud. Serves 4.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup hazelnuts

3 medium shallots, minced

2 garlic cloves, halved

6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

1/2 pound shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded and caps cut into 1-inch pieces

2 thyme sprigs

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Four 6-ounce skate wings

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1/2 lemon—peeled, sectioned and diced

2 tsp fresh lemon juice

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Spread the hazelnuts in a pie plate and toast for 10 minutes. Let cool, then transfer to a kitchen towel and rub them together to remove the skins. Transfer the hazelnuts to a work surface; coarsely chop.
2. In a medium skillet, cook the shallots and garlic in 2 tablespoons of the butter over moderately low heat until softened, 4 minutes. Add the mushrooms and thyme; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are tender, 5 minutes. Discard the garlic and thyme. Reserve 1/3 of the mixture. In a food processor, puree the remaining mushroom mixture. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Cut each skate wing in half crosswise and season with salt and pepper. Spread 4 of the skate pieces with 1/2 tablespoon of the butter and top with one-quarter of the mushroom puree. Cover with the remaining skate wing, pressing the packets together.
4. In a large skillet, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the skate packets and cook over high heat until browned and crisp on the bottom, 4 minutes. Flip the packets, lower the heat to moderate and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, the reserved mushroom mixture, the hazelnuts, diced lemon and lemon juice. Cook until the skate is just white throughout, 4 minutes. Transfer the skate to plates, and top with the mushrooms, nuts and lemon and serve (side dish suggestion: creamy spinach).