Arepas With Creme Fraiche And Caviar Food

HOW TO MAKE AREPAS (3 INGREDIENTS!)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C). Set out a baking sheet and line with parchment paper. And to a large mixing bowl, add water and salt. Stir to combine and dissolve salt.
• A little at a time, add the areparina and stir with a whisk or your hands (our preferred method). You may work your way all the way up to two cups, although we typically have 1-2 Tbsp leftover. You're looking for a dough that doesn't easily stick to your hands, is moldable and moist, and can be rolled into a ball. Once you have that consistency, cover with a towel for 5 minutes. We did mix both white and yellow areparina as inspired by Teote (optional).
• Uncover, grab a large handful of dough, and roll into a ball (as the recipe is written, our batch made 6 large arepas, but it could also make 8-10 smaller arepas).
• Carefully press the ball between the palms of your hands to form into a roughly 1/2-inch thick disc (for thinner, crispier arepas, press closer to 1/4 inch). If it cracks a lot on the sides, your dough may need 1-2 (15-30 ml) more water. A little cracking is OK - just use your hands to close the cracks by gently patting along the edges (see photo).
• Once the arepas are formed, heat a large cast-iron or non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add a little oil and swirl to coat. Then add arepas, giving them a little room in between so they don't touch. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until deep golden brown (a few blackened spots are OK). You're looking to form a crust. Then flip and cook for 2-3 minutes more or until the underside is also browned.
• Transfer to your parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes or until slightly puffed up and a little more golden brown in color. Some people like to slice into them immediately, but I find they can be a little doughy in the middle at that stage, so I prefer to let them cool for 5-10 minutes and serve while they're warm but not piping hot.
• To enjoy, slice in half and enjoy as is, spread both sides with vegan butter and a little maple syrup (YUM), or cut the arepa 3/4 of the way around, leaving a seam on the edge so you can "stuff" it like a pita. Fillings could include everything from black beans to rice to guacamole or even our Vegan Barbacoa!
• Best when fresh. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 3-4 days or in the freezer up to 1 month (cooked or uncooked). Reheat in a 350-degree F (176 C) oven until warmed through. If reheating frozen uncooked arepas, I'd recommend letting them thaw first and cooking them as instructed.

CAVIAR AND CRèME FRAîCHE TARTLETS

Steps:

• Arrange tart shells on a serving platter. Spoon crème fraîche into a small resealable plastic bag and snip a 1/4" opening in the corner. Pipe about 1/2 tablespoon crème fraîche onto one side of tart shells and spoon 1/2 teaspoon caviar onto the other side. Garnish with chives and serve immediately.

ECUADOREAN AREPAS

Steps:

• In a food processor or blender, process the corn, melted butter, egg and milk until pureed.
• Add masa harina and sugar and pulse to combine (If you are not using a food processor, remove corn mixture from the blender to a large bowl and then add and combine the ingredients).
• Let the mixture stand at room temperature for twenty minutes.
• Add the cheese and incorporate them into the batter.
• Set a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and add the butter and oil and heat till the foam subsides.
• Drop heaping tablespoons of batter into the pan and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, flattening after each turn.
• Serve immediately, with creme fraiche for dipping.

SEARED BLACK COD WITH CREME FRAICHE, CAVIAR, TOBIKO AND BLACK TRUFFLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Season a pot of boiling water generously with salt. It should be as salty as the sea. Prepare an ice bath and season generously with salt. Add the haricot verts to the boiling water and cook until bright green and tender, but still slightly crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the haricot verts and immediately plunge into the ice bath and set aside.
• To the same pot of water, add half of the cauliflower florets and cook until very soft and tender, about 10 minutes. Drain, transfer to a blender and set aside. Heat a medium sauté pan with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the shallots and a pinch of salt and sweat until soft and translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add half of the shallots to the blender with the blanched cauliflower. Add the heavy cream and creme fraiche, then puree until smooth. If the mixture seems too thick, add a bit more heavy cream. Season to taste with salt and set the cauliflower puree aside.
• Toss the remaining cauliflower florets in a bowl with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and salt to taste, then transfer to a half sheet pan. Place in the oven to roast, tossing halfway through, until brown and caramelized, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, to the pan with the remaining shallots, add the blanched haricot verts and a pinch of salt and toss over medium heat just until the haricot verts are heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside.
• Pat the skin on the cod fillets dry, then season both sides with salt. Heat a large nonstick pan with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat. Coat the bottom of another pan with some olive oil. Place the fillets skin-side down in the first pan, top them with the second pan and firmly press down on it for a few seconds. Cook until the skin is crispy, about 5 minutes. Remove the second pan, flip the fillets and cook until just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes more. Transfer to a platter skin-side up and allow to rest for a few minutes.
• To serve: Put a spoonful of cauliflower puree on each plate and top with the haricot verts, roasted cauliflower florets and then the seared cod, skin-side up. Garnish with caviar, red tobiko, chives and black truffle.

ROASTED BABY POTATOES WITH EGGPLANT CAVIAR AND CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Set a cooling rack into a baking sheet.
• Halve the eggplant lengthwise and score the flesh by making three long cuts down the middle and sides, making sure not to pierce the skin. Salt the eggplant and then place it
• cut-side down on the prepared cooling rack for 30 minutes to release moisture.
• Turn the eggplant over and remove the cooling rack. Using paper towels, dry the eggplant and the baking sheet of any moisture. Cut the eggplant into 1-inch cubes and place back on the baking sheet. Scatter the garlic cloves among the eggplant. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Sprinkle with the smoked paprika and some salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Roast until the eggplant is completely soft and browned, about 30 minutes. Let cool.
• Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F.
• Lightly oil a baking sheet. Toss the potatoes in a medium bowl with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Place the potatoes cut-side down on the oiled baking sheet and roast until tender, 13 to 15 minutes. Let cool.
• Scrape the cooled eggplant into the bowl of a food processor and squeeze the roasted garlic out of its peels into the food processor. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, mint and the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and puree until smooth. Add the shallot and tomato and pulse to combine. Season with salt and pepper, if necessary.
• To serve, scoop out a cavity in each potato half with a paring knife or small spoon. Fill with the "eggplant caviar" and top with a dollop of creme fraiche and a sprinkle of black sesame seeds.

HONEY VANILLA CRèME FRAîCHE

Steps:

• This can either be thin like a sauce or thick like whipped cream. For the sauce, simply combine all the ingredients with a spoon. To make it thick, place all the ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and mix on high speed for about 60 seconds, or until it is as thick as whipped cream.

CAVIAR WITH BUCKWHEAT CREPES AND SMOKED CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• Add the milk, all-purpose and buckwheat flours, eggs and a pinch of salt to a high-powered blender and blend until thoroughly mixed.
• Place a medium nonstick pan over medium heat and spray with nonstick spray. Pour about 1/2 cup batter into the preheated pan and swirl to thoroughly coat the pan with the batter, making a crepe. Cook until it has golden brown spots and edges, about 2 minutes. Flip onto a cutting board to let cool. Continue to cook in batches, covering the finished crepes with a towel to keep them from drying out.
• Season the creme fraiche with salt and pepper in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and use a smoking gun to smoke the creme fraiche for 10 minutes.
• For serving: Fold the crepes into quarters and add to a serving dish. Top with the caviar and smoked creme fraiche.

CHEESE CRISPS WITH CREME FRAICHE AND CAVIAR

Steps:

• For creme fraiche: In a small saucepan heat whipping cream over low heat until warm (90 degrees F to 100 degrees F).
• Pour into a clean jar.
• Stir in buttermilk, screw on jar lid, and let the mixture stand at room temperature for 24 to 30 hours or until thickened.
• Do not stir.
• Store, covered, in the refrigerator up to 1 week.
• Or you can skip the previous step entirely and buy creme fraiche at your grocer.
• Place a mounded tablespoon of cheese on a nonstick cookie sheet; pat into a 2-inch circle.
• Repeat with remaining cheese, allowing 2 inches between circles.
• Bake one cookie sheet at a time in a 400 degree F oven for 3-1/2 to 4 minutes or until bubbly.
• Cool on cookie sheet about 1 minute.
• Remove with a spatula and gently drape over inverted 1-3/4-inch muffin tins to cool and stiffen into cup shapes.
• To serve, invert cheese crisps onto serving platter and top each with a rounded teaspoon of creme fraiche and a rounded 1/4 teaspoon caviar.
• Serve immediately.
• Makes about 24.

DILL MASHED POTATOES WITH CRèME FRAîCHE AND CAVIAR

Steps:

• Cook potatoes in large pot of boiling salted water until very tender, about 25 minutes. Drain well. Return potatoes to pot; mash over low heat until almost smooth. Add crème fraîche and butter; whisk until smooth and fluffy. Stir in dill. Season with salt and pepper. (Potatoes can be made 2 hours ahead. Cover and let stand at room temperature. Rewarm over low heat, stirring frequently.)
• Top potatoes with caviar and serve.

HOMEMADE AREPAS

Steps:

• Stir water and salt together in a bowl. Gradually stir corn meal into water with your fingers until mixture forms a soft, moist, malleable dough.
• Divide dough into 8 golf ball-size balls and pat each one into a patty about 3/8-inch thick.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Working in batches, cook corn patties in hot oil until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer cooked arepas to a paper towel-lined plate to drain until cool enough to handle.
• Slice halfway through each cake horizontally with a thin serrated knife to form a pita-like pocket.