Branzino En Papillote With Cauliflower Food

BRANZINO WITH CLAMS, LEEKS AND SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• For the salsa verde: In a food processor, combine the olives, cocktail onions, cornichons, capers and anchovies and blend until smooth. Set aside in a bowl.
• In a food processor or blender, puree the parsley with the olive oil until smooth. Do not puree too long or it may get too hot and cause the parsley to darken. Reserve in the food processor. Just before serving, pour the parsley oil into the olive-caper mixture and mix to combine.
• For the leeks: In a saute pan over medium heat, add some olive oil. Add the leek coins and thyme and season with salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the leeks start to wilt, 8 to 10 minutes. Deglaze with some vegetable stock and cover. Continue to cook, adding more stock as necessary, until the leeks are tender, another 10 to 15 minutes. Add additional salt if needed. Reserve.
• For the branzino: Heat a large cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Season the fish with salt.
• Put some canola oil in the pan and wait until it's just about to hit the smoking point. Place the fish in the pan skin-side down (at this point the fish will buckle). Wait 30 seconds, then press the fish down so the skin makes contact with the pan and begins to crisp up. Reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook until the skin is crispy, 3 to 4 minutes. Place the thyme sprig on the fish and spoon some of the hot oil over the flesh to finish cooking it, about 1 minute. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate.
• Add the mushrooms to the pan and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the leeks and clams and deglaze with some vegetable stock. Cover and cook until the clams steam open, about 2 minutes. Finish with the parsley and olive oil and adjust the seasoning.
• Put 1 tablespoon of the salsa verde on a plate, arrange the vegetables and clams on top and top with the fish fillet.

SEARED BRANZINO WITH GARLIC ROASTED CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• To create the lemon vinaigrette, combine Lemon (1), Dijon Mustard (1 package), Fresh Oregano (1/2 tablespoon), Salt (1/4 teaspoon), and Ground Black Pepper (to taste), slowly whisk in Olive Oil (1/4 cup). Set aside.
• Prepare the garnish, remove the stems from the Fresh Parsley (3 teaspoon), Fresh Mint (1 1/2 teaspoon), Fresh Dill (3 teaspoon) leaves and discard the stems. Rough chop the herbs and hold for plating.
• Pat dry the Branzino Fillet (2) with paper towels. Rub both sides of the fish with Salt (1/2 teaspoon) and season with Vegetable Oil (as needed) and Ground Black Pepper (to taste).
• Heat the Olive Oil (1 tablespoon) in a medium sauté pan over medium- high heat and when hot add the fish skin side down and sear for 3 minutes.
• Turn the fish over and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Remove from pan and keep warm for plating.
• Drizzle the lemon vinaigrette over the fish, season with a pinch of salt. Sprinkle some garnish.
• Heat Water (4 cup) and 1 teaspoon Salt (to taste) in a medium pot.
• In a small pot over low heat add Olive Oil (1 teaspoon), 7 cloves of Garlic (7 clove), and Fresh Thyme (1 1/2 teaspoon). Cook for 20 minutes until the garlic cloves are fork tender. Remove the garlic cloves from the pot and transfer to a small bowl.
• Use a spoon to smash the garlic until it has a smooth paste consistency. Set aside.
• When the water comes to a boil, add the Cauliflower Florets (12 ounce) and blanch for 5 minutes. Strain and gently rinse with cold water in a colander; hold.
• Juice the Lemon (1) into a second small bowl and discard seeds; set aside. Remove the stems from the Fresh Mint Leaves (1 1/2 teaspoon) and discard stems. Rough chop the mint leaves; set aside.
• Cut the remaining 3 cloves of Garlic (3 clove) into 1/4 inch slices and set aside.
• Heat Garlic Oil (2 tablespoon) in a medium sauté pan over medium heat. Add the cauliflower and sear the florets until they are just golden.
• Add the sliced garlic, Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (1/4 teaspoon), and season with a pinch of each of Salt and Ground Black Pepper (to taste).
• Stir to incorporate all ingredients and sauté for minutes until the garlic is fragrant.
• Add the Green Peas (1/4 cup) and the mint and toss to coat. Add the lemon juice and Water (1/4 cup) and cook for 4 minutes until the liquid is slightly reduced.
• Stir in the garlic puree and cook while gently stirring for 1 minute more until everything is well coated.
• Serve the Garlic Roasted Cauliflower with peas and mint divided equally among 2 plates or place on a platter to serve family style.

BRANZINO WITH BROWN BUTTER AND ALMONDS ON A BED OF CRISPY KALE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the broiler.
• Drizzle the kale with a little EVOO and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Arrange on a rack set over a rimmed baking sheet and broil until crisp, about 5 minutes.
• Warm a serving platter in a 250 degree F oven.
• Heat 1 tablespoon EVOO in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper, then saute until just cooked through, about 3 minutes on each side. Douse the fish with the vermouth, then transfer to the platter and cover to keep warm.
• Return the skillet to the heat and toast the almonds over medium heat. Add the butter and cook until browned, about 3 minutes. Grate the zest of the lemon and add it to the browned butter, then squeeze in the juice from half the lemon. Stir in the parsley.
• Arrange the fish on a bed of crispy kale. Slice the remaining lemon half into 4 thin rounds and place one on each piece of fish. Spoon the brown butter sauce and the almonds on top.

BRANZINO WITH ROASTED TOMATOES, OLIVE OIL POACHED MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• For the mushrooms: In a saucepan over medium-high heat, add the olive oil to the pan and allow to heat until the verge of smoking. Then reduce the heat to medium and add the mushrooms. Allow the mushrooms to cook for 5 to 6 minutes, and then remove.
• For the fish: In a nonstick saute pan, add the grapeseed oil over medium heat for 1 minute. Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper, and then add the fish to the pan, flesh-side down. Cook for 2 minutes, flip the fish and turn the heat off. Allow the fish to finish with the residual heat for 2 minutes. Then remove the fish and allow to rest until serving.
• For the sauce: In the same pan, return to medium-high heat. Sprinkle the tomatoes with salt and pepper, add to the pan and cook for 1 minute. Then flip the tomatoes and add the wine to deglaze the pan. Next, add the lemon juice, parsley and garlic. Remove the tomatoes and arrange flat on a serving plate, end to end. Allow the sauce to reduce by half, yielding 1/2 cup. Once reduced, turn the heat off and stir in the butter to finish the sauce. Then place the fish over the tomatoes, arrange the mushrooms and spoon the sauce over the fish. Serve.