Leek Sauce For Any Fish Food

HADDOCK & LEEK AU GRATIN WITH SWEETCORN MASH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180 fan/gas 6. Boil the potatoes for 15-20 mins until tender, then drain. Reserve 3 tbsp corn and blitz the rest (with its juice) using a hand blender or a food processor until completely smooth, then mash into the potatoes. Cook the spinach following pack instructions - if you have a microwave, choose this method.
• Put the leeks in a pan with the 300ml milk and the butter. Cook gently, part-covered, for 8 mins until the leeks are tender. (Keep an eye on things as milk can easily boil over.) Mix the 3 tbsp milk with the flour and mustard, then stir into the leek mixture - keep stirring until thickened. Take off the heat and stir in three-quarters of the cheese.
• Squeeze as much liquid as you can from the spinach, then arrange on the base of 2 gratin dishes. Place a fish fillet on top of each, then spoon over the leek & cheese sauce. Top with the sweetcorn mash. Mix the remaining corn and cheese, and scatter on top. Place the dishes on a baking tray and cook for 25 mins until the fish flakes when tested and the top is golden.

PORTERHOUSE STEAK WITH CREAMY LEEK SAUCE

Steps:

• Generously sprinkle the steaks with salt and fresh ground black pepper 1 hour before cooking and hold in the refrigerator.
• Heat the butter and olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the leeks and saute until soft, 3 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for another 2 minutes. Reduce the heat, add the chicken broth and season with salt and pepper. Continue to cook until the leeks are tender and the liquid is mostly absorbed, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream and continue to cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Heat 2 heavy-bottomed or cast-iron skillets over high heat. Add 3 tablespoons of the canola oil to each skillet. Place a steak in each pan and sear 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer the skillets to the oven and cook until an internal thermometer inserted into the steaks reads 130 degrees F, 6 to 8 minutes. Rest the meat for 10 minutes. Slice the steaks and serve with the leek sauce.

SEARED SALMON WITH CREAMY LEEK SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a medium skillet set over medium-low heat. Add leeks; simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Add wine, and simmer until leeks are very tender, about 4 minutes. Add cream and 2 tablespoons chives; return to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper. Reserve half; transfer remaining mixture to jar of blender. Add chicken broth, and puree until leek sauce is smooth.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Season fillets with salt and pepper; place in pan skin side down. Cook until skin side is well browned, about 5 minutes. Turn over, and saute just until fish is cooked through, 3 to 6 minutes more; it should still be slightly pink in the center. Transfer to a platter.
• Serve salmon with leek sauce. Garnish with reserved leek mixture, remaining chives, arugula, and lemon wedges.

CREAMY FISH & LEEK PIE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Prick each potato a few times with a knife (to prevent them from bursting) and bake on a baking tray for 1 hr-1 hr 30 mins or until soft when pressed. Cut the potatoes in half and scoop out the flesh into a bowl and mash it with a fork or ricer. Save the skins for another day. While the potato is still hot, mix in the cream and milk to make a smooth mash, season and set aside.
• While the potatoes are baking, make the fish pie mix. Put a large frying pan on a medium heat. Melt the butter and cook the leeks slowly for 10 mins until they are sweet and tender, then season and add the nutmeg. Stir in the mustard, then pour in the wine and reduce until there is almost no wine left. Pour in the cream and simmer for about 10 mins until reduced by half. Remove from the heat, and add the chives along with the lemon juice and zest. Taste for seasoning.
• Stir the haddock, salmon and prawns into the creamed leeks and transfer to a medium baking dish, then top with the mashed potato, smooth over to cover the fish, and scatter over the cheeses. Bake for 25-30 mins until the cheese has turned golden brown.

FISH POT PIE WITH LEEK, A CREAMY AND DELICIOUS COMFORT FOOD

Steps:

• Place the smoked haddock (skin side down) along with the other fish in a pan, and pour enough of the 20 oz of milk just to cover them. Remove the fish, bring the milk to a boil, then put the fish back in, reduce the heat, and simmer over low heat for 4 minutes.
• Remove the fish from the milk and allow to cool, then remove the skin from the smoked haddock. Strain the milk into the jug with the milk from the original amount, and set aside.
• Put the potatoes in a pot and cover with water with 3/4 tsp Kosher salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 13 minutes or until they are ready, then drain thoroughly. While the potatoes are cooking...
• In another pot over medium high heat, add one tablespoon of butter and leeks, and sauté for a few minutes until the leeks are a bit transparent, but not brown. Remove the leeks and set aside.
• Put the other tablespoon of butter into the pan, then add the flour. Cook for a few minutes without browning or the flour will taste raw. Begin adding a little of the measured milk into the pan a little at a time. Mix it well each time before adding more.
• Continue adding the milk until it's finished.
• When the sauce is ready, add about 1/2 tsp salt and some white pepper, then add the leeks.
• Flake the cooled fish into pieces.
• Next, add the fish to the sauce with the leeks and still well, but try not to break the pieces of fish any more. Taste for salt and pepper and adjust as needed.
• Spoon into ramekins and allow to cool while mashing the potatoes which should be ready.
• Mash the potatoes while still hot, adding salt, butter (I add about an ounce) and about 2 ounces of milk. If not soft and creamy, add more butter or milk, and salt if needed. Add a beaten egg after the potatoes have cooled a little and mix well.
• Either pipe the potatoes onto the fish pot pie in the ramekins or baking dish. I used a 1M tip.
• Or spoon the mashed potatoes on evenly and spread with a fork. I do prefer piping, but the flavor is the same.
• Use the fork to decorate the top. Place on a baking tray for easier handling.
• Bake the fish pot pie in preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until the potato topping is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling.
• Serve and enjoy while hot! Be sure to warn diners that the ramekins are very hot, too.
• Children love these, too, so don't hesitate to make smaller ramekins for them.

FILLET OF FISH WITH LEEK SAUCE

Steps:

• Sprinkle fish on all sides with salt and pepper.
• Trim off root ends of leeks. Cut each leek crosswise in half. Put upper green portion to another use, such as soup, or discard.
• Slice white part of leek lengthwise and rinse thoroughly between the leaves. Cut into thin strips, then into very thin cubes. There should be about 3 1/2 cups.
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet and add shallots. Cook briefly, stirring, and add leeks. Cook, stirring, about 2 minutes and add wine and fish broth or clam juice. Cover closely and cook 5 minutes. Uncover and cook until most of the liquid evaporates. Swirl in 6 tablespoons of butter and the chives or parsley. Add salt and pepper.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in a large, heavy skillet and add fish fillets. Cook about 2 minutes on one side or until golden brown. Cook about 1 minute on second side. Cooking time will depend on thickness of fillets. This may have to be done in two batches.
• Spoon equal batches of the leek mixture into centers of four warmed plates. Cover each portion with one cooked fillet. Spoon 1 teaspoon of lemon juice over each fillet and serve.

LEEK SAUCE (FOR ANY FISH)

Steps:

• Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add leeks and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally until leeks are very tender. (About 10 minutes).
• Increase heat back to medium and add lemon juice. Stir until liquid evaporates (about 1 minute) and then mix in cream. Let simmer until slightly reduced. (about 2 minutes).
• Remove from heat and cool slightly.
• Transfer to blender and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve on top of broiled salmon, talapia, grouper, halibut, cod --
• For simple fish: Preheat broiler. Place fish skin side down in roasting pan. Sprinkle with salt & pepper and dot with butter. Broil (4 inches from heat) 5-6 minutes or until browning. Make a cut in thickest part to ensure it's done and flaky, then use metal spatula to lift off from the skin, serving browned side up.

SALMON WITH LEEKS AND CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat broiler.
• Place fish, skin sides down, on rack of broiler pan sprayed with cooking spray; brush with oil.
• Broil, 4 inches from heat, 6 to 7 min. or until fish flakes easily with fork. Meanwhile, melt butter in medium skillet on medium heat. Add leeks; cook and stir 5 min. or until tender. Stir in remaining ingredients; simmer on low heat 5 min. or until cream cheese is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring frequently.
• Serve fish topped with sauce.

FISH WITH CREAMY LEEKS

Steps:

• Whisk together sour cream and flour.
• Wash leeks, then put in a large heavy skillet with butter, 1/3 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cover with parchment, then with a lid, and simmer over medium heat, stirring once or twice, until leeks are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in sour-cream mixture and remaining 1/3 cup water.
• Season fish with 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper, then add to leeks and cook, covered with parchment and lid, until just cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Serve sprinkled with dill.

CREAMED LEEKS

Steps:

• Heat the oil and butter in a frying pan and gently fry the garlic with the leeks and thyme leaves (if using) for 3-4 minutes, or until the leeks are soft.
• Stir in the milk, cream and parsley, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for a further 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Serve immediately, or transfer to an oven dish, cover with kitchen foil and keep warm in the oven until ready to serve.