Black Cod

It's Basque chefs like Juan Mari Arzak and Martin Berasategui who grab the headlines for their culinary pyrotechnics (think of their food as the culinary equivalent of the Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao). But what you may not realize is that the Basque country is also a hotbed of grilling—done by and large with a simplicity that stands in striking contrast to the foams, jellies, and deconstructions of Spain's culinary avant-garde. A sprinkle of sea salt, a splash of vinegar or olive oil—these are the seasonings favored by the majority of Basque grill masters. Consider this simple grilled cod topped with olive oil and fried garlic—inspired by Beti-Jai ("always a holiday"), a popular restaurant tucked away in the warren of narrow streets in the old quarter of Donostia-San Sebastián.

Here, chanterelles provide a delicate but satisfying topping for baked fish.

Smoked sable is as moist as smoked salmon, but with a voluptuous silkiness all its own. To balance its sea-saltiness, top it with earthy roasted beets and fresh watercress. This festive salad makes a wonderfully light start to a lavish Thanksgiving feast.

Visually, this dish speaks softly, but it combines quite a number of sensations: a buttery fish, sautéed for a crisp skin, and a broth of such depth you'll never believe it was simmered for just five minutes. The mixture of enoki and shimeji mushrooms looks gorgeous and lends a meatiness, punctuated by an elusive woodsy smokiness, to the sansho-flecked broth.

These savory pies are filled with fish instead of the traditional squab.

Sheila Jacobs and Lynn Kramer of Abreu, Cabrera, Dominican Republic write: "We're both from the U.S., but we have lived in the Dominican Republic for about 25 years. We're friends, business partners, and neighbors, so we entertain together often. Cooking the local dishes has made us feel a part of the country." This recipe is inspired by pescado con coco (fish with tomato, garlic, and coconut).

Many of us first tasted this rich, buttery fish (also known as butterfish or sablefish) at Japanese restaurants. It's often lacquered in a sweet miso glaze — a combination credited to famed sushi master Nobu Matsuhisa. It was only a matter of time before chefs everywhere discovered its succulence and versatility, comparable to Chilean sea bass. Now they're pairing it with everything from truffles to the Spanish flavors in this dish.

Improv: Try other meaty fish fillets such as halibut, swordfish, or tuna. Replace mixed herbs with mesclun.

Miso, a salty, earthy Japanese bean paste, is rich in vitamin B and protein. White miso, also known as shiro miso, has a more delicate flavor than darker miso pastes. Mirin is a sweet golden wine made from glutinous rice; it is essential to Japanese cooking. Both ingredients can be found in the Asian foods section of some supermarkets, at some natural foods stores, and at Japanese markets.

Inspired by Mostly Martha The Martha in this 2001 German film is a perfectionistic chef in Hamburg whose sister's death leaves her in charge of her young niece. At work, she is further shaken by the arrival of an irrepressibly charming Italian male chef.

Modeled after Hunan-style steamed fish, this fiery, fast, flavor-blasted weeknight-friendly dinner is rounded out with a cooling cucumber salad and steamed rice.

You can use this foolproof steaming method to cook any sturdy fish—salmon, snapper, black cod, or arctic char would all be great.

If you can't find sablefish, swap in lox, NBD.