Robalo En Papillote With Local Vegetables And Scallion Ginger Sauce Food

WILD STRIPED BASS EN PAPILLOTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Fold 4 large square sheets of parchment paper in half. Starting at the fold, cut out a large half heart shape. Open the paper flat on a surface with the point of the heart towards you. Butter the centers of each heart lightly with a teaspoon of the butter.
• Divide the Swiss chard into 4 portions. Place a pile onto each heart, centering it on 1 side of the heart, towards the crease. Top each with 1/4 of the zucchini, asparagus, corn, and mushrooms. Season the fish well with salt and pepper and place a fillet on top of each pile of vegetables. Place 1 teaspoon of butter on each fillet and sprinkle each with some of the parsley, tarragon, shallots, and garlic. Drizzle a little white wine over each.
• Fold the paper over to cover the fish. Starting at the top of the heart, tightly fold over the edges, overlapping each time, all the way to the point, until it is sealed. Tuck under the last fold to keep it closed. Butter the tops of the packets with the remaining butter. Place the packages onto a baking sheet and put them into the oven for 15 minutes.
• To serve, put the papillotes onto plates and unfold them at the table. (Be careful of the hot steam.) Serve with lemon wedges.

SCALLION-GINGER SAUCE

Steps:

• Stir together the ginger, scallions and 1 teaspoon salt in a heatproof medium bowl.
• Heat the oil over high heat in a small pot until it just starts to smoke or registers 375 degrees F on a digital thermometer, 4 to 5 minutes. Carefully pour the hot oil over the scallion-ginger mixture and stir to combine. Mix in the sugar and 1/2 teaspoon white pepper. Serve as a condiment for bai qie ji (white cut chicken).

STEAMED SALMON WRAPPED IN NAPA CABBAGE, PEPPER, GINGER AND SCALLION SAUCE

Steps:

• Season both sides of the salmon. Lay out one leaf of napa on a flat surface. Place 2 mushrooms top side down and cover with salmon, also top side down. Wrap cabbage around salmon. Repeat. This can be done up to 2 hours before cooking. Place in steamer for 8 to 10 minutes. Salmon should be served medium rare. On a large plate, sauce completely and place salmon in the middle. Garnish with orange zest.
• In a saucepan coated with oil, saute ginger for 2 minutes then add peppers and scallions. Season then add stock and juices. Reduce by 20 percent. Whisk in butter and check for seasoning. Serve immediately.

CARAMELIZED-SCALLION SAUCE

Steps:

• In a tall-sided saucepan, heat the oil over medium-low heat.
• Trim the roots from 2/3 of the scallions, and cut them into 1-inch pieces. Pulse the scallions in a food processor until finely minced. (You may need to scrape down the sides once or twice.) Add 3/4 to 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and pulse until wet and puréed. Carefully add the purée to the oil (the oil should be warm, not hot, but be careful of splatters).
• Raise the heat to high, and cook, stirring, until it reaches a boil. Turn the heat down to maintain a mellow but insistent sizzle. Cook, stirring every few minutes to make sure the bottom and sides aren't sticking and browning, until the purée is army green, just starting to take on brownish tones, and goes from thick and clumpy to very liquid in the pot, around 35 minutes. In truth, it's ugly. (You can cook it further to get a more browned, caramelized flavor if you like, but don't let it get dark.)
• Meanwhile, trim the roots off the remaining scallions, and cut them into 1-inch pieces. Pulse them in the food processor until they are finely minced but not puréed. Remove the scallions to a bowl and stir in another 3/4 to 1 teaspoon salt. When the purée in the pot is ready, carefully stir in the minced scallions, and turn the heat up to high. Bring it back to a boil, stirring, and then remove the sauce to a heatproof bowl to cool to room temperature. When it has cooled, taste, and add more salt if desired.
• Store in a jar, topping it with a little oil if necessary to keep everything submerged. The sauce keeps, refrigerated and under oil, for a couple of weeks.