Never a good idea to go grocery shopping while hungry. Don’t believe me? Here’s the proof…
I swear, I have no idea how those chips made it into the bag. Or how the bag got opened so quickly once I got home. Very curious indeed.
So why did I break my rule never to shop while hungry? Well, there it was, Thursday night, and I had not yet made this week’s French Fridays with Dorie recipe, Almond Flounder Meuniere. In fact, I had basically given up on this week and just thought that I would have to catch up with everyone else this weekend. But then a little office miracle happened, my inbox started to clear up and my telephone quieted to a dull roar, and I actually managed to get out of work in time to make it to the grocery store. No easy feat in a country where the stores seem designed to avoid customers at all costs.
Luckily Dorie’s recipe was easy and quick, otherwise I might have done some serious damage to that bag of chips. Her idea is a cross between trout amandine and sole meuniere. I picked sole simply because that is what looked best at the store. As instructed, my sole got a coating of crushed almonds, then into the pan for a couple of minutes and voila, dinner is served. Actually, my side dish took longer to prepare. I made what in my house is called croatian Potatoes, but is in reality a modified version of what we had in Croatia. My version was made with boiled potatoes, spinach, garlic, and olive oil.
Pretty darn tasty if I do say so myself. Dorie’s fish was simple and delicious. A perfect weeknight meal if one can actually get to the store on time. And my potatoes, while not authentically croatian, were close enough make me happy. I could definitely see making this meal again.
I’m back to add a note about my side dish which seems to have stolen all the attention from my fish. My husband and I have been to Croatia a few times now and we have fallen in love with the food, particularly the food of the Istrian region. But this side dish of potatoes & chard is one that we found all along the coast and it seemed to be THE standard side dish for fish. An internet search for the recipe led me to a fellow expat food blogger’s site and to this lovely but simple recipe. As you can see, the traditional way to go is chard, but since chard is out of season at the moment, I had my potatoes this week with spinach.The key seems to be the olive oil, use good oil (doesn’t have to be the crazy expensive stuff but it needs to have a good flavor to it) and use way more of it than you would normally consider.
one expat's life 
I do the same thing when I shop while hungry…everything looks like you have to have it! Your dinner plate looks incredable! The fish looks wonderful, but give me some of those potatoes! Have a great weekend, Rose!
Those potatoes look soooo good. I’m such a weirdo that I look at a plate of beautiful, buttery fish, and all I see are the potatoes. haha.
Your meal looks delicious. I liked this too and was surprised at how easy and fast it was. True about the side dishes…
Rose, glad you made it to the store in time or you would have missed a great dinner – your Sole Meunière and the “Croatian” potatoes ( never actually heard of them) certainly look delicious/lecker! The bag of chips, well, with me it is a bit of a different story, I usually get so stressed out by all the friendly personnel In the store, that I completely loose my appetite and would rather run out as fast as my feet will carry me than continue shopping. Lovely photos and a very nice post!
Enjoy the werkend!
Your fish looks perfect…but I’m really eying those Croatian potatoes….mmmmmm.
What beautiful meal…love your Croatian potatoes…such a great idea. Your fish turned out really well. Your photos are so inviting…including that bag of chips. Well, you needed energy to cook and shop after a busy work day!
Croatian potatoes – how interesting, it looks like a must try! Great photos, and sometimes it is so hard to get in these FFWD during the work week .
I’m glad you were able to make it to the store in time. I have that same problem when chips appear in my grocery bag. :0 I loved this with the sole and want to try it with some other types of fish as well. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Love those Croatian potatoes, they look delicious with the spinach. Tricia and I both loved this one, easy, fast and delicious. As for shopping, do not go hungry, and leave the spouse home
or there will be more in the basket than planned.
Those Croatian potatoes look like a great side. Can you share the recipe with us, so we don’t have to try to wing it without having actually gone to Croatia to taste them? Your top photo made me laugh, the contrast of all that European-looking food with all-American Terra chips. I do love Terra chips!
You’re not the Lone Ranger. I love those Terra Chips – yeah, I figured it out. Everyone needs a little extra “protein” at the end of the day. The real star of your Post were those Croatian potatoes. I think I can duplicate that recipe unless there’s a special little technique or ingredient you didn’t mention. I do not have one Croatian recipe in my recipe box. Now, I do. Thank you.
Your Croatian potatoes look great with the sole! 🙂 I agree it is a quick, weeknight meal that is sure to please! 🙂
Funny! I was going to ask about those potatoes and then I saw the added note at the end of your post. They look fabulous, and so does your fish. A perfect meal!
Your fish looks perfect! And I love your potatoes with spinach. You know what, we went out to dinner tonight and my fish was served with Smashed Roasted Potatoes! How funny! They were good, but mine were better. I’m sure your husband will enjoy them.
Yea, I agree with you. Dorie’s fish is simple and delicious! Yours look delicious and your croatian pototo side looks delish ! A keeper no doubt and I shall make more the net time for some sandwiches the next day 🙂 I love the crunchy nutty crust and tender juicy of the inside. Lovely ! Have a nice day
I can see how the potatoes steal the show 🙂 Lovely dinner
Very lovely – and how frustrating it is when stores don’t seem to have hours to accommodate people who actually have things to do all day… That sounds very much like my experience with the post office (because I live in a village, mail doesn’t deliver and the office seems to only be open while I am at work)
I’ve done the same, but I came home with an opened bag of almonds.
A beautiful meal and I’m happy for the additional information on the potato side dish.
We miss you on the fougasse, and yes, when you get a mixer you will want to try this recipe…we love it. If I were mixerless I would be in depression and not baking too.
Your fish looks very tasty. I know what you mean about treats when you are hungry – you just want to eat pronto. Love the look of the Croatian potatoes.
I agree with everybody – the potatoes do look excellent. Your fish looks perfect, too. The garnishes make it very pretty.
The potatoes really do look amazing! I’ll have to keep these in mind when I make the fish!