Hayman Sweet Potato Leeks Food

CRISPY SKINNED CHESAPEAKE BAY ROCKFISH WITH HAYMAN SWEET POTATO, VIRGINIA COUNTRY HAM AND BLUE CRAB HASH, MELTED LEEKS AND MEYER LEMON BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the Meyer lemon butter: In a small saucepan, reduce the Meyer lemon juice until slightly syrupy. Stir in the heavy cream. Whisk in the cold cubed butter a few pieces at a time, not allowing the sauce to become cold or too hot to touch by hand. When all of the butter is incorporated, strain the sauce. If the sauce separates, pulse with an immersion blender to emulsify. Set aside and keep warm.
• For the hash: Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, salt it generously. Trim the root end of the leek and halve lengthwise. Rinse very well under running water to flush out any grit trapped between the leaves. Slice leeks into 1/4-inch-thick pieces, put in a small strainer and dip in the boiling water. Cook until just tender, about 3 minutes, then plunge strainer and leeks in an ice water bath to cool. Drain and pat dry leeks, set aside. Repeat this procedure with the diced sweet potatoes, blanch until almost tender, about 3 minutes, then cool in the ice bath. Drain and pat dry, set aside.
• In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the blanched Hayman sweet potatoes leeks, sweat until very tender about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the leeks continue to cook until heated through. Add the crab and country ham, stirring gently until heated through. Add the fines herbes at the last minute. Season, to taste, with salt and white pepper. Set aside and keep warm while you prepare the fish.
• For the rockfish: Score the skin side of the fillets with a sharp knife, taking care not to cut too far into the flesh of the fish. Season with salt and white pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add the clarified butter. Add the rockfish skin side down, sear until skin is golden and crisp, about 2 to 3 minutes. Flip, add the butter and thyme and bake until just cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes.
• In a bowl or plate, drizzle the warm Meyer lemon butter in a circle just inside the rim. Gently place the warm blue crab hash in the center of the plate. Place the rockfish on top of the hash with the crispy skin side up. Garnish with Meyer lemon segments or slices, if desired.

SWEET POTATO, APPLE AND LEEK CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat. Add the leeks and 2 tablespoons water; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender but not browned, about 8 minutes. Add the thyme and then the cream and cook until the liquid thickens, about 2 minutes; set aside.
• In a 2-quart shallow baking dish, arrange the sweet potato in overlapping layers. Spread the leek mixture evenly over the potatoes. Arrange the apples in an overlapping layer on the leeks. Brush the apples with the remaining tablespoon of oil and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake 40 minutes. Uncover and continue to bake until the Parmesan is golden brown and melted, about 20 minutes more. The tip of a paring knife should easily pierce the apples and potatoes. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

SWEET POTATO AND LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a heavy saucepan. Add leeks, and sauté slowly over low heat until tender but not brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in garlic.
• Add sweet potatoes and 3 cups water. Simmer about 20 minutes, until tender. Purée.
• Return purée to saucepan, add milk or half-and-half, bring to a simmer, add 1 to 1 1/2 cups more water to make soup no thicker than heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper and serve with a dusting of cilantro.