Pan Seared Salmon And Haricot Verts Potato Salad Food

PAN-SEARED SALMON WITH SUMMER SUCCOTASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the sauce: In a medium bowl whisk together the creme fraiche, mustard, lemon zest, lemon juice and salt. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside.
• For the salmon: Sprinkle the salmon fillets on all sides with the salt. Heat the olive oil in a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. With tongs, gently place the salmon, flesh-side down, in the pan. Allow the salmon to cook, undisturbed, for 3 minutes to form a golden crust. Using a spatula, gently flip each fillet. Transfer the pan to the oven for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and cover with foil to keep warm.
• For the succotash: Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the red peppers and shallots and cook for 4 minutes, stirring often with a wooden spoon. Add the corn, edamame and salt and cook for another 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the kale, basil and lemon juice.
• To serve: Spread 2 tablespoons of the sauce in a circle on each serving plate. Top with 1/2 cup of the succotash, and a salmon fillet. Serve with sauce on the side if desired.

PAN SEARED SALMON WITH HARICOTS VERTS SALAD

Steps:

• First blanch the haricots verts in salted boiling water until al dente (or cooked to your liking). Once this is done, drain the beans into a strainer or colander and then they should be shocked by dunking the strainer of beans into a waiting bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process, which will also help them retain a great color. Drain and set aside in refrigerator until needed.
• Place 1 of the limes in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave it until the essential oils in the skin are released. These limes will be hot coming from the microwave, so you can let them cool before squeezing them. Turn on the blender and through the feed tube, add the rosemary, tarragon, cilantro, stone-ground mustard, rice wine vinegar, and fresh ginger, and blend together until a smooth paste has formed. At this point the limes should be cool enough to squeeze. With the power on, add the lime juice through the blender feed-tube, and then very slowly add the oil and water until the mixture thickens and can coat the back of a spoon. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Set aside in refrigerator until needed. (When chilled, the dressing should resemble something like mayonnaise.)
• Reserve some of the dressing to drizzle on the plate later. Then, mix the beans, tomato, and onions with the dressing (adjusting the amount to your preference) and refrigerate for only a couple of hours. (Don't mix too far ahead, because the salad ingredients will bleed and you will have a very runny dressing).
• Heat a large saute pan or heavy skillet for about 3 minutes over high heat. Season the salmon fillets with your choice of seasoning. Add the oil carefully, a little bit at a time, to the pan swirling it around to coat the sides. Place the salmon, flesh side down, and leave untouched for about 3 minutes. (Do not shake the pan! You are trying to get the fish's natural sugars to come to the surface in this browning process.) After about 3 minutes, use a spatula to turn the fish over and cook the other side. The fish will cook quickly, although cooking time will vary according to the thickness of the fillet. Do not overcook it. When you touch the flesh and it springs back, it is done. Remove the fish to a platter and let it rest for a couple of minutes. This rest time is very important; it will allow the juices to flow back into the fish. (Don't worry, it won't get cold!)

30-MINUTE PAN-SEARED SALMON WITH BABY BOK CHOY AND SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Combine 1 1/2 cups water with the rice and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer until the rice is tender and most of the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest. Fluff with a fork right before serving.
• Meanwhile, quarter the bok choy through the stem ends. Halve the mushroom caps (or quarter them if they are large) by stacking them and cutting them in batches.
• Heat 2 large nonstick skillets with 1 tablespoon oil in each over medium-high heat. Divide the bok choy between the two pans, placing it cut-side down. Cook, undisturbed, until charred in spots, 2 to 3 minutes. By this time, the leaves will be fairly wilted, and there will be enough room to transfer all of the bok choy into just one skillet to finish cooking. Place the bok choy so that the other cut side faces down. Cook until charred in spots, about 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms, scallion whites, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Continue to cook, stirring, until the bok choy and mushrooms are soft, about 4 minutes (if the skillet looks dry add 1 more tablespoon of oil). Stir in the scallion greens, then remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the soy sauce and vinegar.
• While the bok choy cooks, pat the fish dry with paper towels and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Wipe out the other skillet and add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Put the salmon into the hot skillet, flesh-side down, and cook until golden brown and crisp, about 4 minutes. Flip with a spatula and cook the other side to the desired level of doneness, 2 to 3 minutes more.
• Divide the vegetables and rice between 4 plates and top each with a piece of salmon. Drizzle with a little extra soy sauce.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH SWEET POTATO 'RISOTTO' AND CHANTERELLES TRUFFLE-HARICOT VERTS SALAD

Steps:

• It is important that the sweet potato 'risotto' dice are all the same size. Traditional risotto cooking technique is used. In a 2 quart casserole, first saute the shallots in butter and season. Add the sweet potato and saute. Slowly add the hot chicken stock, one ladle at a time. Only add more stock after the previous ladle is fully absorbed. Continue adding stock until the 'risotto' gets creamy, but not mushy. The individual grains of 'risotto' should remain distinct.
• Season the scallops with salt and pepper. In very hot saute pan, coat with oil and sear the scallops until brown. Flip scallops and brown other side. Total cooking time should be about 8 minutes. Wipe pan out, return to high heat, coat with canola oil, add garlic and ginger and saute until soft. Add chanterelles and season. Cook for about 6 to 8 minutes.
• HARICOTS VERTS SALAD: In a stainless steel bowl, mix lemon juice, truffle oil and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Toss vinaigrette with the haricots verts. Check for seasoning. Garnish with chives.
• FUNKY SWEET POTATO GARNISH: Wrap the sweet potato hair around a slice of purple potato. In a 300-degree fryer, fry until golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes. Salt to taste and drain well.
• PLATING: Using a ring mold or pvc pipe, fill bottom third with the hot chanterelles, then cover with 'risotto.' Place in the center of a plate. Surround with scallops and top with haricot verts salad. Garnish with truffle oil, chive batons and funky garnish.

POTATO SALAD WITH HARICOTS VERTS, ROQUEFORT AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• To make potato salad:
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Mix potatoes and 3 tablespoons vinaigrette in large baking dish. Roast 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F. and continue roasting until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally, about 50 minutes. Transfer to large bowl and cool slightly. Mix in 3 tablespoons vinaigrette and 1/3 cup Roquefort cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cook haricots verts in large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Drain. Rinse under cold water to cool; drain well. Transfer to medium bowl. Mix in 3 tablespoons cheese, 2 tablespoons vinaigrette and walnuts. Season with salt and pepper.
• Arrange beans on platter. Mound potatoes in center of platter atop beans. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.