This elegant seafood dish, from chef Nathan Outlaw, brings together the delicate flavor of grilled lemon sole with a rich, aromatic parsley and clam butter. The fish is cooked on the bone to retain maximum flavor and moisture, while the clam butter—infused with lemon, nutmeg, garlic, and cayenne—adds a luxurious, savory depth. It’s a refined yet approachable dish ideal for a special dinner or celebratory meal.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

For the Fish & Clams:

• Light rapeseed oil (for cooking)

• 4 lemon soles (about 400g each), prepared to cook whole

• 2kg live clams, cleaned

• 100ml white wine

For the Flavoured Butter:

• 250g unsalted butter, softened

• 4 tsp chopped curly parsley

• 20 rasps of nutmeg

• 1 tsp cayenne pepper

• Zest and juice of 1 lemon

• 2 shallots, finely chopped

• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped

• Sea salt (to taste)

To Serve:

• 1–2 tbsp chopped parsley

• Lemon wedges

• Deep-fried courgettes (optional)

Directions

1. Make the butter:
   Blend butter, parsley, nutmeg, cayenne, lemon zest and juice in a food processor until smooth. Stir in shallots, garlic, and salt. Roll into a log using cling film and chill for 2 hours.

2. Grill the fish:
   Preheat grill to medium-high. Oil the tray and the white side of the fish. Season, then place white side down. Drizzle and season the top side. Grill for 5–6 minutes.

3. Steam the clams:
   Heat a large pan, add clams and white wine. Cover and steam for 2 minutes until shells open. Drain and reserve the juices. Discard any unopened clams.

4. Finish grilling:
   Baste the fish with clam juice and a bit more oil. Grill another 5–6 minutes until fully cooked.

5. Warm and assemble:
   Slice chilled butter into discs. Top each cooked sole with 3 slices of butter and briefly return to the grill to soften. Warm clams in leftover butter.

6. Serve:
   Place fish on plates, spoon over clams and butter, garnish with parsley, and serve with lemon wedges and courgettes if desired.

Nutrients

Estimated per serving (serves 4):

• Calories: ~500–600 kcal

• Protein: ~45g

• Fat: ~35g

• Saturated Fat: ~20g

• Carbohydrates: ~3g

• Sugar: ~1g

• Sodium: Moderate to High (due to clams and butter)

Why Lemon Sole Shines

Lemon sole is a flatfish highly regarded for its subtle flavor and fine, delicate flesh. Despite its name, it doesn’t taste of lemon; rather, it earns its title from the bright, fresh quality of its flavor. Cooking the fish on the bone is key to this recipe, as it helps retain moisture and enhances depth. When grilled, the skin develops a gentle crispness while the flesh remains tender, yielding a fish that flakes beautifully with a fork. Lemon sole is versatile, but here it’s treated with restraint—allowed to shine on its own while complemented by carefully chosen accompaniments.

The Luxury of Flavored Butter

Flavored butter, or compound butter, elevates dishes by marrying richness with aromatics. In this recipe, the butter is infused with parsley, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, garlic, shallots, and lemon zest. Each element plays a role in shaping its complexity. Parsley provides freshness, nutmeg adds a warm depth, cayenne delivers a subtle heat, and lemon zest brightens the overall profile. The butter melts over the hot fish, seeping into the flesh and creating a silky sauce that coats every bite. This infusion of flavor turns a simple grilled sole into something remarkable, layering richness over delicacy without overwhelming it.

Clams as the Perfect Partner

The addition of clams lends both flavor and elegance. When steamed with white wine, they release briny juices that intensify the dish’s seafood character. These juices, reserved and used to baste the fish, deepen the flavor while keeping it moist. Tossed in butter, the clams themselves become a garnish as well as an extension of the sauce, adding texture and bursts of oceanic salinity to each plate. Their presence underscores the coastal inspiration behind the dish, anchoring it firmly in the traditions of seaside dining.

The Harmony of Flavors

What makes this recipe exceptional is the balance of flavors. The mildness of lemon sole allows the richness of the butter and the brininess of the clams to stand out without overpowering. The subtle sweetness of the fish meets the aromatic punch of garlic, nutmeg, and cayenne, while the acidity of lemon juice and zest cuts through the richness. The parsley ties everything together with freshness, ensuring the dish never feels heavy. It’s a composition where each component enhances the other, much like instruments in a symphony working in harmony.

A Showcase of Technique

Though elegant in presentation, the techniques behind this dish are grounded in simplicity. Grilling is one of the oldest cooking methods, yet here it highlights the natural flavors of the fish with precision. Making compound butter requires little more than mixing and chilling, but the payoff is significant. Steaming clams in wine is quick, yet it produces a broth that amplifies the entire dish. These techniques remind us that mastery in the kitchen often lies in restraint, in knowing when to let ingredients speak for themselves rather than complicating them.

The Role of Presentation

Presentation plays a central role in turning this dish into a dining experience. A whole grilled sole placed on the plate makes for a dramatic, restaurant-worthy visual. Topped with slices of melting butter and scattered with clams, it immediately signals indulgence. Garnishing with fresh parsley and a wedge of lemon provides color and brightness, while optional accompaniments like deep-fried courgettes add crisp contrast. The visual appeal of the dish elevates it beyond sustenance, transforming it into a moment of celebration.

An Ideal Meal for Special Occasions

This recipe is particularly well-suited to dinners where the aim is to impress without being overwhelmed by complexity. Whether it’s an anniversary, a holiday meal, or simply a dinner party with close friends, it strikes the perfect balance of being luxurious yet approachable. Its roots in classic European seafood cookery make it feel timeless, while its straightforward techniques make it achievable even for confident home cooks. Serving grilled lemon sole with clam butter sets the tone for an evening where food becomes both the centerpiece and the shared joy of the table.

Nutritional Benefits

Beyond its elegance, this dish offers nutritional value that makes it more than just an indulgence. Lemon sole is lean yet protein-rich, supplying essential amino acids with minimal fat. The clams contribute additional protein along with iron, vitamin B12, and minerals such as zinc and selenium. Olive oil and butter provide healthy fats, though the richness is balanced with freshness from parsley and acidity from lemon. This combination makes the dish both satisfying and nourishing, aligning indulgence with well-being.

The Spirit of Coastal Cooking

At its heart, this recipe celebrates the traditions of coastal cuisine, where freshly caught seafood meets simple yet thoughtful preparation. Dishes like this are rooted in a deep respect for the sea and its bounty, using ingredients that highlight natural flavors rather than conceal them. By pairing lemon sole with clams and aromatic butter, it evokes the feeling of dining near the water’s edge, where food is at once rustic and refined. It’s a dish that connects eaters not just to the chef’s skill but to the environment and culture that inspired it.

Conclusion

Grilled lemon sole with parsley and clam butter exemplifies the beauty of refined simplicity. It highlights the delicate flavor of fish cooked on the bone, enriches it with a luxurious butter infused with aromatics, and enhances it further with briny clams and fresh herbs. Each element works in harmony to create a dish that feels celebratory, sophisticated, and deeply satisfying. While elegant enough for a fine-dining restaurant, it remains approachable for home cooks, proving that culinary excellence often lies in letting quality ingredients shine. Whether prepared for a special occasion or simply to celebrate the joy of good food, this dish offers a taste of the sea at its finest.