Roasted Arctic Char And Fennel Food

CITRUS ARCTIC CHAR WITH FARRO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400˚. Cook the farro as the label directs; set aside. Meanwhile, working with 1 orange at a time, cut off the peel and white pith with a paring knife. Working over a bowl, cut in between the membranes, letting the citrus and juices fall into the bowl.
• Lightly coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with olive oil. Add the fennel slices, leaving 4 empty spots for the fish fillets. Add the fish curved-side up to the pan; season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with the thyme.
• Heat the olive oil and garlic in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until the garlic sizzles and begins to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully pour the garlic and oil into the bowl with the citrus and stir well to combine; season with salt and pepper.
• Spoon the citrus oil over the fish and fennel. Bake until the fish flakes when poked with a knife at the thickest part, 10 to 14 minutes. Divide the farro among plates and top with the fish, fennel and citrus mixture. Top with fennel fronds.

WHOLE ROASTED ARCTIC CHAR WITH FENNEL AND PISTOU

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Rinse the fish well inside and out and pat dry with paper towels. Lay the big-boy out on a large rimmed sheet pan; cut 4 gashes crosswise on both sides of the fish, slicing all the way down to the bone. Season the arctic char with a generous amount of salt and pepper, inside the cavity and all over the skin. Stuff the mixed herbs and fennel inside the body of the fish. Tuck a lemon slice and bay leaf inside each of the slats. Rub a decent amount of olive oil on all parts of the fish. Roast for 30 to 40 minutes, until the skin is crispy and the fish itself is flaky. Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with fennel fronds. Serve with Pistou sauce.
• Combine all ingredients in a food processor and process until the garlic is finely chopped. Serve at room temperature with grilled or roasted fish.
• Yield: 1 cup

HERB-STUFFED ROAST ARCTIC CHAR

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Remove the leaves from 2 sage sprigs, 1 parsley sprig, all of the thyme sprigs and the rosemary; finely chop along with the lemon zest. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in the garlic and 1 tablespoon olive oil to make a paste; set aside.
• Brush a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil. Run the back of a knife over the skin of the fish to remove any excess moisture; pat dry inside and out. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Cut 4 slits through the skin on each side of the fish with a sharp knife; rub inside and out with 1 tablespoon olive oil, making sure to get inside the slits. Season the fish inside and out with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; spread the herb paste all over the inside.
• Roast until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part reaches 130 degrees F to 135 degrees F, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Remove the leaves from the remaining 1 sage sprig and 2 parsley sprigs; add to the hot oil and cook, stirring, until crisp, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.

PAN ROASTED ARCTIC CHAR STUFFED WITH TANGERINE AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Rinse the fish and pat dry. Slice the tangerines thinly; remove and reserve the fronds from the fennel bulbs and cut the bulbs into thick slices. Mix them together in a bowl with 1/4 cup olive oil and salt and pepper, to taste. Season the fish inside and out with salt and pepper. Stuff the fish with the tangerine mixture and tie it closed with kitchen string. Heat an ovenproof saute pan over medium high heat and add 1/4 cup olive oil. When hot toss in the fennel seeds and peppercorns. Cook to flavor the oil for about 1 minute, remove the spices and discard them. Place the fish in the pan and cook on each side for about 2 minutes. Put the pan in the oven and roast the fish for about 15 to 20 minutes or until cooked through. Serve with the Fennel and Olive Salsa Verde.
• Place the fennel fronds, parsley, olives, capers, and anchovies on a cutting board. Chop them with a knife until they are very fine. Put them into a bowl and stir in the olive oil, tangerine juice, and vinegar. Taste the salsa and season with salt and pepper.

PAN ROASTED ARCTIC CHAR WITH ORANGE AND ROSEMARY BEURRE BLANC

Steps:

• In a saucepot over medium heat add orange juice, white wine, orange zest and rosemary. Reduce to 1/2 cup of liquid. Strain and return to saucepot. Over medium heat whisk in the cream and bring to a low boil. Turn heat to low and whisk in cold cubes of butter. Remove rosemary sprig and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Reserve warm.
• In a skillet over medium heat add the olive oil. Season the fillets with salt and pepper, then add to the hot pan. Allow fish to cook until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• Remove fish from pan and place on top of warmed wild rice. Add sauce around and over fish. Garnish with chopped rosemary and orange segments.

ROASTED ARCTIC CHAR WITH LEEKS AND HORSERADISH CREAM

Steps:

• 1. To prepare the fish: Halve the leeks lengthwise, then slice crosswise and transfer to a large bowl of water. Swish leeks to release any grit; lift from the water. Drain.
• 2. Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add leeks and thyme, and cook, stirring, until wilted and liquid reduces, 6 minutes. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper, to taste. Add cider, bring to a boil, and cook until almost dry, 4 minutes. Stir in heavy cream, boil until thick and it coats the leeks. Add brandy, cook down slightly. Remove from heat and stir in parsley.
• 3. Open fish and season well with salt and pepper. Spread leek mixture along flesh and close fish. Tie closed with kitchen twine (or cooked leek greens) at 4-inch intervals. Brush oil all over skin, season with salt and pepper.
• 4. Preheat the broiler to high (with convection broiler if you have it). Line a pan with foil and lightly brush with oil. Place the prepared pan in broiler and heat for 5-10 minutes.
• Carefully lay the fish on the preheated pan. Broil fish until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 130 to 135 degrees F, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven and rest fish for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
• 5. Stir all sauce ingredients together. Transfer fish to a serving platter, remove strings. Serve with sauce on the side.

SLOW-ROASTED CHAR WITH FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Bring vinegar, sugar, caraway seeds, 2 tsp. salt, and 1/3 cup water in a small saucepan to a simmer over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat and add garlic. Let sit until garlic is slightly softened, 10-15 minutes.
• Add half of fennel and toss to coat. Let sit until fennel softens slightly and tastes pickled, 8-10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place char in a 2- or 3-qt. baking dish and coat with 1 Tbsp. oil; season with salt and pepper. Roast until flesh easily flakes apart and a paring knife inserted into fish meets no resistance, 15-18 minutes.
• Drain fennel mixture; discard liquid. Toss in a small bowl with lemon juice, preserved lemon, remaining 3 Tbsp. oil, and remaining fennel; season with salt and pepper. Mix in dill.
• Serve char topped with fennel salad.
• Do Ahead
• Garlic and fennel can be pickled 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.