Caviar Parfaits Food

CAVIAR PARFAITS

Steps:

• Make potato cakes:
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake potatoes until tester can pierce center but potatoes are not yet tender, about 30 minutes. Cool. Peel and coarsely grate potatoes. Transfer grated potatoes to bowl. Add chives. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix in egg white. Oil baking sheet. Press 1 heaping tablespoon potato mixture onto sheet, forming 2-inch round. Repeat with remaining mixture, forming 8 cakes total. Add enough oil to heavy large skillet to reach depth of 1 inch. Heat oil to 350°F. Add potato cakes to skillet and fry until golden, about 2 minutes. Drain on paper towels. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool; cover and chill. Rewarm in 350°F oven about 10 minutes before serving.)
• Make egg mixture:
• Gently mix all ingredients in small bowl.
• Make horseradish crème fraîche:
• Combine first 4 ingredients in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat until peaks form. Season with salt and pepper.
• Place 1 warm potato cake in center of plate. Place 2-inch-diameter cookie cutter or biscuit cutter with 1-inch-high sides around potato cake. Top cake with 2 tablespoons egg mixture; press to adhere. Press 2 tablespoons salmon atop. Dollop with 2 tablespoons horseradish crème fraîche. Gently remove cookie cutter. Smooth top. Top with small spoonful caviar. Repeat with remaining cakes.
• Drizzle basil oil around if using.

CAVIAR ON POTATO WITH CREAMY CHAMPAGNE DRESSING

Steps:

• Make potatoes:
• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Boil the potatoes until just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Drain and cool immediately; set aside.
• Make dressing:
• In a mixing bowl combine the sour cream, sparkling wine, chives, and lemon zest.
• Assemble:
• Add the well-drained, cooled potatoes to the dressing and gently mix until combined. Fill 8 shot glasses almost to the rim with potato salad. (You can also use 4 martini or other glasses, Chinese soupspoons, or other small containers.) Top with 1/4 ounce of caviar. Serve immediately or keep chilled until service.

CAVIAR AND SALMON PARFAIT

Steps:

• Drain the sour cream overnight in a cheesecloth-lined sieve, mix dill into sour cream. Coat the inside of the pastry ring with a thin coating of vegetable oil and place the pastry ring in the center of a decorative serving platter.
• Fill the bottom of the ring with smoked salmon that is thinly sliced and layer it into one even layer. Spoon a thin layer of dill cream onto the salmon. Top with an even layer of salmon caviar, being careful not to break any of the eggs. Top with dill cream. Finish with a layer of black caviar and dollop with dill cream. Chill in ring for 1 hour or more before serving to allow parfait to set. Remove the ring carefully and garnish the top of the parfait with sprigs of dill. Use watercress leaves and crisp bread to garnish the platter.

PARFAIT OF SALMON AND TUNA TARTARE, CAVIAR AND CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• Combine the shallots and 1 TBS of olive oil in a small saucepan, and saute until the shallots are translucent.
• In a medium bowl sitting on a bed of ice, combine half of the sweated shallots, all the tuna, half of the mustard oil, half of the lemon zest, all the soy sauce, 1 Tbs of the olive oil and all the coriander.
• Lightly season with coarse salt, season generously with the white pepper, mixing well with a large spoon.
• In another medium bowl sitting on a bed of ice, combine the remaining shallots, mustard oil, lemon zest, and salmon.
• Mix with the remaining olive oil, horseradish, capers, chives, and salt and pepper to taste, and mix until all ingredients are combined.
• Line a sheet pan with waxed or parchment paper and lightly oil with fingers the inside of ten, 2 inch high by 2 inch diameter metal rings or molds, placing the molds on the sheet.
• Place 1 1/2 TBS of the tuna mixture in each of the ten molds, making sure to smooth the mixture with the back of a spoon.
• If available, press down with the bottom of a Worcestershire or Tabasco bottle.
• Then place 1 1/2 TBS of the salmon mixture on top, pressing down and smoothing the salmon mixture with the back of the spoon.
• Spoon approximately 1/2 teaspoon of oestra caviar on on half of the top of the salmon and approximately 1/2 teaspoon of salmon roe caviar on the other half, smoothing with the back of the spoon.
• Whip the creme fraiche until thick, stiff peaks are formed.
• Add 2 TBS of the creme fraiche, smoothing with the blade of a flat knife or small metal spatula, making sure that the creme fraiche is level with the top of the mold.
• Chill the molds in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes, but preferably for 2 to 3 hours.
• To serve, place each ring or mold on a dinner plate, and gently remove the mold by pulling ring upward, leaving the parfait intact.
• Garnish each parfait with one long chive spear placed at an angle over the parfait.