Herb Crusted Skate Food

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.

HERB CRUST

Steps:

• Stir together the breadcrumbs, basil, oil, thyme, parsley, pepper and salt. To use with meat, moisten chicken or pork with water and press the crumb mixture over the meat. Place on a rack and bake at 400 degrees F until done, 10 to 20 minutes.

CORNMEAL CRUSTED SKATE WITH RICE NOODLE AND PEA SALAD LEMON GRASS CAPER BROWN BUTTER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Season the skate with salt and pepper and dredge in the cornmeal. In a hot nonstick pan add oil and saute skate for about 5 minutes a side until golden brown. Place skate on top of rice noodles. Drizzle with vinaigrette and garnish with pink peppercorns.
• In a saucepot completely melt butter. On low heat, continue heating butter until a brown color is achieved. This will take about 30 minutes. Quickly deep fry capers in this butter which will puff up, sprinkle with salt and strain on paper towel. Do the same thing with the lemon grass, but place into a tall stainless steel container. The butter should still be hot and brown. Add the juice, shallots and Dijon to the lemon grass. With the blender running, slowly pour the hot butter into the mix to make the vinaigrette. Be careful, the butter will foam up. Add salt and pepper and check for seasoning.
• In a large bowl, toss everything together with the vinaigrette. Season and taste.

CORIANDER-CRUSTED SKATE WITH SPAGHETTI SQUASH AND FRIZZLED BRUSSELS SPROUT LEAVES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Brush the halves with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and cayenne pepper. Arrange them on a sheet pan and roast them, flesh side down, until the outside of the squash can be easily pierced with a fork, about 1 hour. Remove from the oven, cover with foil and keep in a warm place.
• Add olive oil to a large saute pan until it is about 1/4-inch deep, and put over high heat. While the oil is heating, pat the skate dry with paper towels. Season the fish with salt and the ground coriander seed. When the oil is very hot but not yet smoking, dredge the skate wings in flour and shake of the excess. The fish should go IMMEDIATELY from the flour to the oil, no pausing! If all the fish will not fit in the pan at the same time, only flour the ones that will fit in the pan. Premature flouring will result in a gummy gritty skate wing. The oil should be hot and sizzling when the fish goes in. Cook each piece of fish until golden brown and crispy, about 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Remove from the oil and blot immediately on paper towels. Season with salt, to taste. If working in batches, keep the cooked fish warm in a preheated 225 degree F oven.
• While the fish is cooking, coat another large saute pan with olive oil, add the smashed garlic cloves and a pinch of crushed red pepper and put the pan over medium-high heat. When the garlic is golden brown and aromatic, remove it and discard. Add the Brussels sprouts to the pan and season them with salt. Saute the sprouts until they get very brown and crispy.
• Using a large fork, scrape the flesh out of the spaghetti squash, it should look like...spaghetti! Add it to the frizzled sprouts and season again with salt. Stir together and toss in the chopped cilantro, reserving a little to garnish the fish.
• Arrange some of the squash/and sprout mixture on each serving plate. Lean the crispy skate next to it and sprinkle with the remaining cilantro and a squeeze of lemon juice.
• Let's go skating!

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.)

HERB-CRUSTED HALIBUT

Steps:

• Lightly rinse the halibut steaks and pat dry with paper towels.
• Place each steak between two sheets of plastic wrap and flatten to about 1/2-inch thick.
• Dip each steak into the beaten egg white, then into the breadcrumbs.
• Set aside.
• Lightly coat a cast iron skillet or a heavy nonstick skillet with cooking spray.
• Place over high heat and add the halibut steaks.
• Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, turning once, until golden brown and fish flakes easily when prodded with a fork.
• Remove halibut steaks; keep warm.
• Heat olive oil in a heavy saucepan; add shallot and sauté for 4 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Stir in the wine and lemon juice.
• Cook over medium-high heat until sauce is reduced by half.
• Add the chicken broth, capers, parsley, and cornstarch mixture.
• Bring sauce to a boil.
• Arrange halibut steaks on heated serving plates.
• Tap each with some of the sauce.

HERB-CRUSTED SKATE

Steps:

• Season skate with salt and pepper. Lightly brush both sides with mustard. In a medium bowl, combine panko, chopped parsley, and chives. Coat skate with panko mixture.
• Heat oil and butter in a large nonreactive saute pan over medium heat. Add skate, and cook until golden brown, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes on each side.
• In a small bowl, combine chervil, tarragon, and whole parsley leaves. Drizzle with lemon juice. Season with salt, and set herb mixture aside.
• Spoon mashed potatoes into center of each plate. Top with a skate wing. Place beet salad around skate, and garnish with herb mixture.