method
1. Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Peel and chop the shallots and the gherkins and set them aside separately
2. Use a little of the butter to grease a shallow baking dish, which must be large enough to hold the skate wings laid flat in one layer. Rinse the skate, then cut each wing into two pieces, place them in the baking dish and dot them with the remaining butter.
3. Sprinkle the fish with the chopped shallots and the balsamic or sherry vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Bake the skate, uncovered, for 20 minutes, or until the thickest part of the skate wing flakes easily when it is tested gently with a fork.
4. Sprinkle the pieces of fish with the capers and chopped gherkins and baste with the cooking juices just before serving. Serving suggestion Accompany with some tomato halves, roasted alongside the fish.
New potatoes would provide a mild contrast to the strong flavour of the skate, and can be boiled or steamed while the fish is baking.
