Herb Crust Food

HERB CRUSTED SALMON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Blend the tarragon with bread crumbs, salt and pepper, to taste, in a food processor, pulsing in the dill last. Remove and stir in just enough melted butter to create the consistency of wet sand.
• Pat the salmon dry and season on all sides with salt and pepper, to taste. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a large saute pan and sear the salmon, flesh side down, over medium- high heat, about 2 minutes. Do not crowd pan. Flip and top each fillet with the herb/crumb mixture. Put the pan in the oven and bake until the fish flakes with a fork. About 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer the fish to a platter and serve immediately.

HERB CRUST

Steps:

• Blend first 5 ingredients in processor until herbs are very finely chopped. Add butter and shortening. Blend until mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer mixture to large bowl. Using fork, mix enough ice water into flour mixture to form moist clumps. Gather dough into ball; flatten into rectangle. Cover and chill 30 minutes. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled. Let dough soften slightly before rolling out.)

ROAST NEW YORK STRIP LOIN WITH GARLIC-HERB CRUST

Steps:

• With machine running, drop garlic into processor; blend until finely chopped.
• Add sage, thyme, oil, salt and pepper; process until paste forms.
• Pat meat dry with paper towels.
• Rub meat all over with herb paste.
• Cover; chill at least 3 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.).
• Preheat oven to 450°F
• Place meat, fat side up, on rack in roasting pan.
• Roast meat 15 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350°F
• Roast meat until instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of meat registers 130°F for medium-rare, about 35 minutes (or 140°F for medium, about 40 minutes).
• Remove from oven; let stand 20 minutes.
• Cut crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick slices.
• Arrange slices on platter.

COD WITH MUSHROOM-HERB CRUST AND TOMATO COMPOTE

Steps:

• Make tomato compote:
• Heat oil in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add tomatoes and sugar. Stir until tomatoes are very tender and mixture is thick, about 15 minutes. Season tomato compote with salt and pepper.
• Make fish:
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and chopped shallots. Sauté until liquid evaporates and mushrooms begin to brown, about 8 minutes. Cool completely.
• Using electric mixer, beat 5 tablespoons butter in large bowl until light. Beat in egg, then parsley, 1 tablespoon thyme, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Mix in breadcrumbs and mushroom mixture.
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Sprinkle sliced garlic, sliced shallots and remaining 1 teaspoon thyme over bottom of 15 x 10 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Add fish stock, then fish fillets. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper. Spoon breadcrumb mixture atop fish, covering tops of fish completely and pressing slightly to adhere. (Can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Cover tomato compote and fish separately and refrigerate. Rewarm compote over medium-low heat before serving.)
• Bake fish until opaque in center, about 15 minutes. Transfer to broiler. Broil just until topping is crisp and golden, about 1 minute.
• Using slotted spatula, transfer fish to plates. Transfer cooking liquid to another medium skillet. Bring cooking liquid to simmer over medium heat. Add remaining 1 tablespoon butter and whisk just until melted and well blended. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon sauce around fish. Spoon dollop of tomato compote alongside and serve fish immediately.

ROAST PORK WITH HERB CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Trim fat off meat; Score top of loin in diamond pattern, about 1/4" deep.
• Combine garlic, parsley, pepper, thyme, rosemary, salt set aside.
• In small bowl mix the mustard and olive oil.
• Line a shallow roasting pan with foil lightly greased or pan sprayed.
• Place pork roast on foil, spread mustard mixture on sides and top.
• Take the garlic herb mixture and sprinkle over top and sides, press in gently.
• Insert oven proof meat thermometer near the center of the roast.
• Roast at 400' first 10 minutes.
• REDUCE OVEN TEMP TO 325' and continue roasting for 1-1/4 to 1-3/4 hours or until the thermometer registers 155'.
• Remove roast to a platter, and let rest for 15 minutes.

HERB-CRUSTED LEG OF LAMB WITH RED WINE GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Use a sharp knife to make little slits all over the lamb, then insert a slice of garlic into each hole. Tip the onions and carrot into a large flameproof roasting tin, then place the lamb on top and season. Pour 250ml water into the base of the tin and roast in the oven for 30 mins.
• Meanwhile, make the crust by mixing together all the ingredients and seasoning well. Remove the lamb from the oven and turn the heat down to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Brush the lamb all over with the mustard, then pack on the crust in a thick layer - don't worry if any falls in the tin, this will be used in the gravy later (you probably won't use the entire crust, so set aside what's left for later). Return the lamb to the oven and cook for a further 1 hr 30 mins. Check the lamb during cooking and add more water to the base of the tin if it dries out.
• Remove the lamb from the tin, cover lightly with foil and leave to rest for 30-40 mins - if covered too tightly, the crust will go soggy.
• To make the gravy, put the roasting tin with the vegetables still in it directly on the heat and whisk in the flour. Cook for 1 min, then add the wine, scraping any flour from the bottom of the tin. Let it bubble for 1 min, then pour in the stock. Bring to the boil, then simmer gently for 10-15 mins until thickened, stirring in a little of the reserved crust for a thicker gravy. Strain the gravy through a sieve into a pan, discarding the vegetables left in the sieve. Add mustard to taste and stir through the butter. Keep warm until ready to serve.

LEMON, HERB & PARMESAN CRUSTED FISH

Steps:

• Mix the breadcrumbs with the grated lemon zest, grated Parmesan, chopped parsley, salt and pepper.
• Season the 4 skinless fish fillets. Pan fry in a little oil for 2-3 minutes until just tender. Turn over and sprinkle with the crumb mixture. Brown in the pan under a hot preheated grill for 2-3 minutes. Add the butter to the pan with the juice of 1 lemon. Melt around the fish and serve.