Coconut Poached Black Bass Food

PAN-SEARED STRIPED BASS WITH THAI RED CURRY SAUCE AND SPICY EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• For the spicy eggplant: Add 2 tablespoons of the oil to a medium saute pan over high heat. Add the red onion and sweat, stirring frequently, for about 2 minutes. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil, eggplant, garlic, ginger, bird's eye chile and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the eggplant is browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chicken stock, fish sauce and chili paste. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for about 15 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and Thai basil before serving.
• For the fish: Add 2 tablespoons of oil to a medium saute pan over high heat. Season the fish generously on both sides with salt and lay it skin-side down in the hot pan. Sear until the skin is crispy, about 2 minutes. Flip the fish and cook for about 1 minute. Adjust the heat as needed. Transfer the fish to a baking sheet skin-side up. Bake until done, about 5 minutes.
• For the red curry sauce: Pour out excess oil from the pan used to cook the fish. Over medium heat, add the scallion whites, garlic and ginger and sweat for about 1 minute. Stir in the coconut milk, chicken stock, palm sugar, fish sauce, red curry paste, kaffir lime leaves and lime zest and juice. Bring to boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens, about 15 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Before serving, stir in the scallion greens.
• For serving: Top the fish with the red curry sauce, peanuts, cilantro and Thai basil. Serve with the spicy eggplant.

COCONUT POACHED BLACK BASS

Steps:

• Rinse fillets, fish heads and fish bones well (there should be no blood) and pat dry. Refrigerate fillets until ready to use.
• In stock pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add shallots, sliced chilies, garlic and lemon grass, and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add fish heads and bones, ikan bilis, assam skins, 4 lime leaves, Thai basil stems, Vietnamese coriander stems, cilantro roots and coriander seeds and cook 2 to 3 minutes more. Stir in coconut milk and salt. Simmer, covered, for 1 hour.
• Strain liquid into a bowl, wiping out pot. Add lime juice and zest to coconut mixture; taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
• Arrange fillets back in the pot and cover with coconut milk mixture. Cook, covered, over low heat, until fish is opaque and just cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Meanwhile, remove stem and spine from remaining lime leaves and discard. Julienne leaves. Tear up reserved basil and coriander leaves. Divide fish among shallow bowls and ladle some coconut mixture on top. Garnish with halved chilies, julienned lime leaves, torn herbs and ginger, if desired.

SEA BASS WITH COCONUT-CURRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and curry powder. Sauté mixture until onions are translucent, about 4 minutes. Mix in coconut milk and stock; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-high and boil until liquid is reduced to thin sauce consistency, about 50 minutes. Add carrots; simmer until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat; keep warm.
• Preheat broiler. Place fish on baking sheet; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil fish until just opaque in center, about 8 minutes. Using metal spatula, transfer fish to plates. Spoon sauce over fish. Sprinkle with green onions.

BLACK BASS POACHED WITH GINGER AND SCALLIONS

Steps:

• Place the wine, vinegar, coarsely chopped vegetables, coriander and fennel seeds, peppercorns and bay leaf in a saucepan. Add water, bring to a boil, season with salt, and simmer about a half hour. Remove from heat, add the dill, basil and mint, and steep the herbs for an hour. Strain the broth and transfer to a deep saute pan large enough to hold the fish in one layer.
• Bring the broth to a simmer, add the scallions, tomato and ginger, cook about a minute and remove with a slotted spoon, reserving the liquid. Peel, seed and dice the tomato. Cut the ginger slices julienne style. Set the vegetables aside.
• With a sharp knife, lightly score the skin side of the fillets in a crisscross pattern to prevent them from curling. Bring the broth back to a very gentle simmer, place the fish in the broth skin side down and poach until just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer the fish to soup plates.
• Bring the broth to a simmer again, spoon some over the fish and top the fish with the scallions, diced tomato, ginger and lemon pieces. Garnish with the coriander and serve. Freeze any leftover liquid for future use.

SALMON RICE BOWLS WITH COCONUT-GINGER BROTH

Steps:

• Cook the Salmon:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium until melted. Add panko, pepper, paprika, cayenne, and 1/2 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring constantly, until panko is golden brown, 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate. Wipe skillet clean; reserve for beans and greens.
• Line a quarter sheet pan or other small rimmed baking dish with parchment paper, then arrange salmon fillets skin side down; season with remaining 3/4 tsp. salt. Using a small spoon or offset spatula, spread mayonnaise across salmon, then sprinkle spiced panko over, pressing lightly to adhere. Roast until salmon is opaque, 8-10 minutes.
• Make the Broth and Beans and Greens and Assemble:
• Heat coconut milk, ginger, sugar, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/4 cup water in a small pot over medium and bring to a boil. Immediately remove from heat and stir in lime juice.
• Heat oil in reserved skillet over medium until melted. Add beans and kale, then cover pan and cook, stirring once halfway through, until kale is wilted, 2-3 minutes. Season with remaining 1/2 tsp. salt and stir to combine.
• Divide rice among bowls, then top with beans and greens mixture. Using a fish spatula, lift each fillet up off its skin-the skin will stick to the paper-and arrange in each bowl. Pour in coconut broth. Serve with lime wedges alongside.