Oysters En Escabeche Food

MUSSELS VINAIGRETTE WITH TOMATO TAPENADE

Steps:

• Clean the mussels using a sharp knife. Remove any barnacles, dirt or beards: the tough threads that sometimes stick out of the shell. Pull them out using your fingers.
• Then rinse the mussels and let them drain. Combine the tomato, capers, chopped parsley and chopped garlic. Season with a pinch of pepper and salt.
• Stir well. Then add the vinegar and olive oil to the tomato.
• Stir again. Then let the tomato bruschetta marinate for 10 minutes. Put it aside in the fridge to chill until needed later on. Pour a glass of water in a medium saucepan and add the bay leaf. Season with a pinch of pepper and salt.
• Place the pan over high heat until boiling, then add the mussels. Stir well and put a lid on the pan. Cook the mussels for 3 to 4 minutes. In the end all of the mussels should have opened their shells.
• Then take the pan off the heat, drain the mussels and place them on a clean chopping board or plate to cool down.
• Now rip off one of the shells of the mussels (discard them) and then loosen the cooked mussel from the other remaining shell using a sharp knife. Then place the mussels on a clean plate and top with the freshly made vinegar tomato bruschetta. Sprinkle with a last dash of pepper and salt. Serve chilled.

MUSSELS ESCABECHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Put a large saute pan over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons oil. Once heated, add the mussels and cover with a lid to quickly saute until they open, about 5 minutes. Remove the mussels from the pan to a large platter or sheet tray to cool slightly, then remove the mussels from the shells to a bowl and set aside. Reserve the cooking liquid in a bowl.
• Hollow out the sourdough boule to create a bowl, then cut the innards into large dice. Put the bread bowl into a 12-inch cast-iron pan and arrange the diced bread around it, then drizzle with olive oil. Put into the oven to toast, stirring the diced bread as needed to evenly toast, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add 2 tablespoons oil to the same pan the mussels steamed in and put back over medium-high heat. Add the onions, carrots, garlic, paprika, rosemary and thyme and sweat until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the vinegar and reserved mussel broth and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat and allow to completely cool before pouring over the mussels. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Fill the toasted bread bowl with the mussels. Garnish with the chives and serve with the toasted cubed bread.

OYSTERS EN ESCABECHE

Steps:

• In a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder reserved for grinding spices, combine the cumin, cloves, allspice, and peppercorns. Grind until cracked but not pulverized, then transfer to a small dish and add the bay leaves, oregano, and cinnamon. In a large heavy skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and chiles and cook for 2 minutes more. Add the vinegar, fish broth, and all the spices to the pan, cover and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 10 minutes. Transfer to a glass bowl and let stand at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours, for the flavors to marry. When ready to serve, return the mixture to the skillet and add the oysters. Over medium-low heat, bring the mixture just up to a gentle simmer and let the oysters cook very gently for about 3 minutes (the oysters are done when the edges curl and they turn almost white do not overcook). Remove from the heat and adjust the seasonings, adding more salt and vinegar if desired. Remove the bay leaves and cinnamon stick and serve in deep bowls, scattered with the fresh cilantro.