A great way to enjoy wine and salad is with an addiction of a delicious red mullet fillets.

1. Oriental Fish SaladFor a real feast with fish, try this red mullet recipe developed by chefStephaneRaimbault of the
L'Oasis restaurant. The fish is cut into filets then fried. To make it substantial for a special modern
Meditteranean -style banquet, it is served on a bed of boiled pearl barley alongside vegetables like
the zucchini, tomato, and yellow peppers. A garnish of carrots, turnips, chives, purple basil, edible
flowers, sesame and poppy seeds completes the dish. Since it is a fish-barley salad, a luscious
vinaigrette of lemon, ginger, pistachio, soy sauce and Japanese rice vinegar is drizzled on to the dish.
The red mullet is abundant in the deep waters of the Mediterranean and highly valued in its cuisine.
Its rich and delicate taste is preserved by frying. To complement the fish, pearl barley is cooked and
mixed with the vegetables. This ingredient is barley with its bran removed and the shiny, round grains
intact. Its pearlescent surface has earned it its name.Traditionally, the pearl barley is used as a
thickener in stews and soups. Likewise, it adds texture to a dish and a mild nutty and starchy flavor.
Aside from Mediterranean cuisine, the pearl barley is also widely used in Japan. Prepare the pearl
barley as in cooking rice. In general, one part barley should be added to two parts water. Boil the
barley for 30 to 45 minutes.
While the recipe calls for fried red mullet, you can also opt to steam or bake the fish to make it
healthier. Season the fish with salt and pepper then moisten with olive oil. Steam the red mullets in
water seasoned with herbs for more fragrance and flavor. If you’re baking it, do so for ten minutes in
a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven.Avoid overcooking the fish so it remains flavorful and firm, not soggy
and dry. Slice the vegetables uniformly for better presentation. Serve with a cold bottle of
ChassagneMontrachetblanc and enjoy while hot.
Ingredients
Principle elements:
Red mullets
Ocean water
Vinaigrette:
1 teaspoon green
lemon juice
1 teaspoon Japanese rice
vinegar
1 teaspoon Kikomansoja
sauce
2 cups peanut oil
1 cup pistachio oil
1 teaspoon ginger juice
green lemon peel
Salad:
pearl barley
zucchini (brunoise)
tomato (diced)
yellow pepper (brunoise)
fresh coriander (chopped)
peanut oil
salt, pepper
Ending:
carrot
black radish or turnip
(Daikon)
chives
purple basil or other fresh
edible flower (decoration)
crustacean powder
grilled sesame
grilled poppy seed
chive (minced)
black pepper
sea salt

2. 1. Cook the pearl barley. Wash it
then boil in salted water for about
30 to 45 minutes until tender.
Drain and cool. Combine the
vegetables, coriander, and some
oil and mix together with the cool
pearl barley to make a salad.
Season with salt.
2. Clean and gut the red mullet. Slice it into fillets or if preferred, leave it
whole. Cut into thin slices of about 1/5 inch thick. Heat a pan with olive
oil then fry the filets.
3. Make the vinaigrette dressing. Combine lemon juice, rice vinegar, soy
sauce, peanut oil, pistachio oil, ginger juice, and grated lemon peel.
Whisk the ingredients well.
4. To assemble, place the pearl barley salad in the center of the serving
dish. Arrange the red mullet all around the plate to make it look like a
sun. Sprinkle with vinaigrette. Top the salad with carrot and radish.
Garnish the salad with fresh flowers and some chives. Sprinkle sesame
seeds, poppy seeds, crustacean powder, chives, sea-salt, and pepper.