After we have all extracted the plentiful bounty the lakes of Minnesota offer, I’m sure we have more fish than we know what to do with. I’ve got a great and easy walleye recipe that has been perfected by my wife’s ancestors and passed down for generations! (Actually, it was probably something she found on the internet.) Nonetheless, it is a tasty and simple to make concoction. I will follow the recipe up with a favorite wine and a favorite beer to pair with this dish.
Mama Gina’s Walleye with Garlic Wine Sauce
| Ingredients | Directions |
| 1 6-8 oz. walleye Fillet (preferably fresh) | Season both sides of the walleye with a salt and pepper mix. Coat both sides of the walleye with flour. Heat the butter in a skillet and cook the walleye on one side for 2-3 minutes over medium-high heat. Flip the walleye and cook until the fish is opaque and cooked through. Remove the fish and add the mushrooms and diced tomatoes to the skillet and cook until mushrooms are golden and the liquid has evaporated. Add the garlic wine sauce and season to taste. Serve the fish over linguine and add the pan drippings. |
| Salt and Black Pepper | |
| Flour | |
| Tbsps. Butter | |
| 1oz sliced white mushrooms | |
| 1oz diced tomatoes | |
| Garlic Wine Sauce | |
| 6oz cooked linguine | |
| Lemon wedges | |
| Garlic Wine Sauce | |
| 1 Tbsp butter | Melt the butter in a medium sauce pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté until the first signs of browning. Add the water, clam base, wine, and lemon pepper and simmer until reduced and thickened. |
| 4oz chopped garlic | |
| 6 cups hot water | |
| 2oz clam base (bouillon) | |
| ¼ dry white wine | |
| 3 Tbsps. lemon pepper | |
Wine to pair:
This dish seems like a Mediterranean take using Minnesota’s favorite fish. This cries out for one of my favorite Italian white wines : Falanghina! This is obscure to most of us, but is an ancient and indigenous grape from southern Italy and I love it with medium and light bodied fish. A great, reasonably priced example is Terradora Falanghina. It is fresh and clean in the mouth with mouthwatering acidity and ample structure. The finish provides hints of apple, pineapple, quince and pear.
Beer to pair:
Odell’s 5 Barrel Pale Ale. This beer has great citurs flavor and floral aroma but is not overpowering hoppy. This won’t overpower the fish, but provides great flavors to pair with walleye.
