Striped Bass with Oyster Stew Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 (6-ounce) wild striped bass or rockfish fillets, skin on and scaled
• Salt
• pepper
• Peanut oil, for sauteing
• 1 pint shucked oysters
• 2 ounces country ham, sliced thin and cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 2 tablespoons peanut oil
• 1/2 cup onion, cut into small dice
• 1/4 cup red bell pepper, seeded and cut into small dice
• 1/4 cup celery, cut into small dice
• 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 cup bourbon
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon chopped sage
• Salt, pepper and lemon juice, to taste
• 1/2 cup scallions, sliced crosswise, using white and green parts