Fillets Of Lamb With Tarragon Food

SEARED FILLET OF SEABASS WITH TOMATO AND ONION CONFIT AND SHERRY VINEGAR NAGE INFUSED WITH TARRAGON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Slice the onions and cut the cherry tomatoes in half. Mix together in a bowl, then add 1/2 cup sherry vinegar and leave to marinate for 30 minutes.
• Place the shallots into a small saucepan and add the remaining 1/2 cup sherry vinegar. Pick off the tarragon leaves, set aside, and add the stalks to the pan. Bring the vinegar mixture to a boil and allow to reduce by 2/3. Remove pan from heat and start to whisk in the diced butter. Keep the pan warm but do not allow it to get hot as this will cause the butter to separate and will split the sauce. When all the butter has been whisked in, pass the sauce through a sieve into a clean pan and keep warm.
• Remove the onion and cherry tomatoes from the marinade and place in a saucepan. Sweat the mixture over the medium heat until the tomatoes start to break down. Add approximately 1/2 of the remaining marinade and cook slowly over moderate heat for 30 minutes.
• While the tomatoes and onions are cooking, take the sea bass fillets and the scallops and season them with salt and pepper. Sear the sea bass fillets in a very hot non-stick frying pan, skin-side down first. When golden brown, remove from the frying pan, place onto a baking tray and cook in the oven for 3 to 4 minutes. Do exactly the same with the scallops.
• Blanch the baby asparagus and chives separately, in boiling, salted water. Remove from the water and tie the asparagus into bundles of 10 using a blanched chive.
• To assemble, put 1 piece of sea bass on each plate and top with the confit of tomatoes. Place the second piece of sea bass on top and lean the asparagus bundle against the sea bass. Take the tarragon leaves that were set aside and roughly chop them. Add the tarragon to the warm sauce and spoon sauce around plate. Add a scallop to the side of each plate and serve.

NAVARIN OF LAMB & SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Trim all the veg and peel the carrots. Boil a large pan of water and have a bowl of heavily iced water ready. Working in batches, cook the turnips for 3 mins, scoop into the iced water, then scoop out to drain. Repeat the process, cooking the carrots for 4 mins, the leeks for 5 mins, the peas and broad beans together for 1 min and finally the onions for 8-10 mins. Use a clean cloth to rub the skins off the turnips. Put all the vegetables in separate piles on a plate. TIP: Use the timings for cooking the baby vegetables only as a guideline, as they can vary in size. To be sure the vegetables are cooked properly, add a few more than the required amount to the water for you to test as they cook.
• Slice the lamb fillets into finger-thick pieces, then season generously with salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a large non-stick frying pan, then fry the lamb pieces for 2 mins on each side for rare or 3 mins on each side for medium. Tip the lamb into a colander with a bowl underneath to catch the juices, then leave in a warm place. TIP: When you cook lots of pieces of meat together, place them in the pan like points on a clock face - this makes it easy to remember which needs turning and removing from the pan first.
• Place the pan back on the heat and tip in the wine. Boil vigorously until reduced to a sticky syrup, then pour in 200ml of the chicken stock and any lamb juices from the bowl. Boil down until reduced by about half, then whisk in the butter. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then stir in the chopped tarragon. Pour the sauce into a small bowl, then wipe out the pan with kitchen paper.
• Heat a drizzle of oil and add the turnips and onions. Sizzle until starting to brown, then sprinkle over the sugar and a pinch of salt. Cook, shaking the pan constantly, until the veg are caramelised. Add carrots, leeks and balsamic, bubble for a moment, then add the stock. Bring to the boil, add the peas and broad beans, then boil for a few mins until all the liquid has nearly evaporated. Turn off heat.
• To serve, dress each bowl by placing a few pieces of lamb on the base, spooning the smaller vegetables around the lamb and balancing the carrots and leeks on top. Pour the hot sauce over everything, scatter with tarragon leaves and finally drizzle with olive oil.

MOROCCAN LAMB FILLET (BACKSTRAP)

Steps:

• Combine all the marinade ingredients in bowl, add lamb and turn to coat each fillet well. Marinade several hours in the fridge.
• Heat a little oil on a grill plate or fry pan, add lamb and cook each side until browned and cooked as desired. (mine were quite thick and it was about 4-5 Min's a side to get a nice pink center.).
• Remove lamb from heat and allow to rest 5 Min's, slice thickly and serve.
• Serve lamb over couscous with a mint yogurt sauce.

FILLETS OF LAMB WITH TARRAGON

Steps:

• Cut each lamb fillet crosswise into 4 equal portions.
• Place the pieces, one at a time and cut side down, on a sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper. Cover with another sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper. Pound lightly to flatten each piece.
• Sprinkle the pieces on both sides with salt and pepper.
• Beat the egg with the water and pour the mixture into a flat dish with raised edges.
• Dip the pieces of meat in flour on both sides. Shake off excess.
• Dip the pieces in the egg mixture, coating them well. Combine the bread crumbs and cheese and dip the pieces in the mixture to coat on both sides. Pat lightly to make the crumbs adhere.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a nonstick skillet and add as many pieces as the skillet will hold. This may have to be done in two steps, depending on the size of the pieces. Cook two minutes on one side and turn. Turn and cook two minutes on the second side. Continue cooking, adding a little more oil as necessary until all the pieces are cooked. Transfer the pieces to a serving dish as they are cooked.
• Pour off the fat from the skillet. Wipe out the skillet and add the butter. Heat the butter until melted and add the tarragon. Cook about 4 seconds, shaking the skillet. Pour the tarragon butter over the meat and serve.

TROUT/SALMON FILLETS WITH TARRAGON CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large frying pan, season fillets and cook for 6 minutes, turning once.
• Transfer to plate, cover and keep warm.
• To make the sauce, add the green onions and cucumber to the pan, and cook over a gentle heat, stirring until soft but not coloured.
• Remove pan from heat and stir in flour.
• Return to heat and pour in cream and sherry/wine (if using).
• Simmer to thicken, stirring continuously.
• Add the chopped tarragon and tomato, and season to taste.
• Spoon the sauce over the fillets.
• Serve with buttered new potatoes and green beans.