Dairy-Free Fish Florentine - The Defined Dish - Recipes (2024)

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Feb 26, 2019, Updated Nov 28, 2020

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Dairy-Free Fish Florentine - The Defined Dish - Recipes (2) I don’t know that I’ve ever mentioned it, but it’s important to know that I have a very major obsession with spinach. Not only do I love the taste of it when it’s sauteed, but I find that my body has craved it for as long as I can remember. Even as a child, I remember my parents being so impressed when I’d eat an entire plate full of sauteed spinach.

Now that we’ve gotten that (not so) important fact out of the way, let’s talk about my love for anything “Florentine.” What does “florentine” even mean, you ask?

Dairy-Free Fish Florentine - The Defined Dish - Recipes (3) Dairy-Free Fish Florentine - The Defined Dish - Recipes (4)

The easiest way to remember what it means is that a Florentine-style recipe features spinach. Specifically, a dish prepared “a la florentine” will feature some main ingredients, such as eggs, poultry or fish, served on a bed of spinach. Traditionally,a la florentinespinach is simply simmered in butter. On top of the spinach and protein, you’ll also traditionally find a Mornay Sauce or creamy sauce.

Dairy-Free Fish Florentine - The Defined Dish - Recipes (5)

Recently, I came across a Skinnytaste Fish Florentine dish that looked oh-so incredible. I took inspiration from her recipe and adapted mine to be dairy-free and Whole30 compliant. If you are ok with adding dairy to your diet, her recipe looks so delicious. I mean, all of her recipes do, right? Well, I’ve changed that up and combined the creamy elements to the spinach (keeping it dairy-free, of course) and topped it all off with a white flakey fish. The creamed spinach in my Dairy-Free Fish Florentine will go fabulously with any protein on top– steak, chicken, or even eggs to name a few. It’s absolutely delightful and I want to eat it every day.

Dairy-Free Fish Florentine - The Defined Dish - Recipes (6)

If you enjoyed this Dairy-Free Fish Florentine, try my Easy Creamy Spinach Stuffed Salmon!

Dairy-Free Fish Florentine - The Defined Dish - Recipes (7)

5 from 10 votes

Fish Florentine

Delicious pan-fried white fish served over a wholesome, creamy, dairy-free spinach.

Total: 30 minutes mins

Servings: 2

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Ingredients

For the Creamed Spinach:

  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup finely diced shallot or 1 large shallot
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 roma tomatoes, seeds scooped out and diced
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
  • 2 tsp arrowroot flour
  • 16 ounces baby spinach leaves
  • 2 tsp nutritional yeast
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened, full fat coconut milk
  • 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

For Pan-Seared Halibut:

  • 1 tbsp. ghee
  • 2 [6-8 ounce] filets of halibut
  • kosher salt
  • freshly cracked black pepper

Instructions

For the Creamed Spinach:

  • Heat a large skillet with sides over medium heat. Add olive oil and when the oil is hot, add shallot, garlic, crushed red pepper and cook, stirring, until tender, about 4 minutes.

  • Add the diced tomatoes, kosher salt, and pepper and cook, stirring, until the tomatoes soften, about 2 more minutes.

  • Add the arrowroot and whisk into the sauteed veggies until well combined.

  • Add 1/2 of the baby spinach (or as much as you can fit into your skillet) and cook, tossing occasionally, until wilted down. Continue adding the spinach into the skillet, tossing gently, until just wilted. You will likely have to do this in a few batches.

  • Add the nutritional yeast, coconut milk, chicken broth, lemon juice and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until the sauce thickens a bit, 4 to 5 minutes. Reduce heat and keep warm, tossing occasionally, while you cook the fish.

Cook the Fish:

  • Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Generously season the fish fillets with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.

  • Melt ghee in the skillet and swirl the pan so that it evenly coats the bottom of the skillet. Place the fish fillets, flesh side down, into the skillet and cook until golden brown and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the fish and continue cooking until the fish is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork, 3 to 4 more minutes.

To serve:

  • Divide the spinach mixture amongst 2 plates (or pasta bowls) and top with the pan seared fish. Serve with a wedge of lemon and enjoy!

Notes

Recipe adapted fromSkinnytaste.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Alex Snodgrass

Servings: 2

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Dinner Dinner fish Fish Gluten-Free Paleo Recipes Whole30

Welcome! I’m Alex.

I’m a food lover sharing healthy, simple, delicious, recipes from my kitchen to yours. Here you’ll find lots of Whole30, lots of healthy, and a little indulgence here and there because…it’s all about balance y’all!

Get to know Alex

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18 Comments

  1. This is amazing! I used kale instead of spinach given that was what we had in the fridge. So good! Thank you!

    Reply

    1. Love that swap!

      Reply

  2. Dairy-Free Fish Florentine - The Defined Dish - Recipes (13)
    This recipe was amazing and healthy. I will definitely make this again. It is so nice to eat something healthy and flavorful on a busy weeknight. This recipe has it all–nutritious, delicious and simple to make!

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Cat!

      Reply

Dairy-Free Fish Florentine - The Defined Dish - Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Which vegetable is a prominent feature in dishes prepared Florentine style? ›

When a dish is cooked Florentine, it typically features spinach as the key vegetable ingredient. Originating from Italian cuisine and inspired by the culinary traditions of Florence, “Florentine” style often involves incorporating fresh or sautéed spinach into various dishes, such as omelets, pasta, or sauces.

What does Florentine mean in a recipe? ›

Florentine or à la Florentine is a term from classic French cuisine that refers to dishes that typically include a base of cooked spinach, a protein component and Mornay sauce. Chicken Florentine is the most popular version.

What is the most famous Florentine dish? ›

Caravaggesque in the alternation of white and deep red. Renaissance in its origins, when it was cooked over large bonfires on the night of San Lorenzo. But above all Florentine: steak has made a pact with the city. It is Florence's most famous dish in the world even though the name has English origins.

What is a Florentine sauce made of? ›

Ingredients
  • 7 OZ / 200 G baby leaf spinach.
  • 3 EA garlic.
  • 1.5 OZ / 40 G flour.
  • 1.5 OZ / 40 G butter.
  • 16 OZ / 450 ML milk.
  • 0.5 TSP salt.
  • 1 PINCH white pepper.
  • 2 OZ / 50 G grated gruyere.
Mar 22, 2022

Why are Florentines so expensive? ›

The ingredients of the Florentine are rare, more expensive and much more sought after than those of an almond biscuit. Thus, the nougatine costs up to 30% more expensive than a cookie dough made from flour. Honey, a precious ingredient, and fresh cream, delicate and fragile, complete the recipe.

How do you eat Florentine? ›

The Only Way to Eat a Florentine Steak: Rare

After cooking, the meat should rest for around 10 minutes, so the juices redistribute, before being cut into slices using a smooth blade knife and served. Florentines never, ever eat a bistecca well-cooked. And when in Florence you do as the Florentines do, right?

Are Florentines French or Italian? ›

the history of this classic little biscuit is fascinating. Its name is misleading, the biscuit, didn't originate in Florence, and they're not even Italian! It's France's pastry chefs at the palace of Versailles that we probably should be thanking for dreaming up these decadent little Christmas treats.

What does a Florentine contain? ›

INGREDIENTS: almonds (38%), sugar, glucose syrup, palm kernel oil, palm oil, orange peel, glucose-fructose syrup, dextrose, fat reduced cocoa powder, cherries, partially inverted refiners syrup, lemon peel, whole milk powder, emulsifier (soya lecithin), flavouring, acidity regulator (citric acid), colour (anthocyanins) ...

What are the ingredients in Al Florentine? ›

Specifically, a dish prepared à la Florentine will feature some main ingredient, such as eggs, poultry or fish, served on a bed of spinach which has been cooked in butter, then topped with Mornay sauce and grated cheese, and finally browned under the broiler.

What is special about Florentine steak? ›

these steaks are made with a specific breed of Tuscan. cacto called canina. it's very tender meat, marbled ever so slightly, meaning that it stays tender when it's rare. and it will be a shame to overcook it.

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