Skate And Spinach Salad Food

SKATE WITH SAUTEED SPINACH AND FRIED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place potatoes in cold water, and set aside. Place a large saute pan over medium-high heat, and add oil. Drain potatoes, dry thoroughly on paper towels and add a single cube to the oil. If oil is hot enough for the cube to begin sizzling immediately, add the rest of the potatoes. Saute until barely golden, about 1 1/2 minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels, and set aside. Reserve the pan with the oil.
• Remove stems and wilted leaves from spinach, wash thoroughly and drain well. In a large saute pan over medium heat, melt the butter (not the clarified butter), add the spinach and toss until wilted. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Drain well, return to pan and keep warm.
• Return pan of oil to medium-high heat. When oil is hot, return potatoes to pan, and fry until golden brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels, and salt to taste.
• In a wide, shallow bowl, combine skate wings and milk, and soak for 15 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and cracker meal. Remove wings from the milk, and season both sides with salt and pepper to taste. Dredge the wings in the flour mixture, pat off excess and set aside on a plate. In a large saute pan over medium-high heat, heat clarified butter until sizzling. Add skate wings with the smoother sides down, and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Turn the wings, and fry an additional 2 minutes.
• To serve, mound spinach at the top of each plate. Place skate like an inverted fan beneath spinach. Sprinkle potatoes over spinach, and sliced chives over skate wing. Garnish plate with lemon wedges and parsley sprigs, and serve immediately.

WARM SKATE SALAD

Steps:

• Bring the court bouillon to a boil in a flameproof roasting pan. Season the skate with salt and pepper. Add the skate to the roasting pan and poach until a knife will go easily into the crease between the skate ribs, about 1 minute.
• In a bowl, toss the mesclun with 3 tablespoons of the vinaigrette. Arrange in a tall mound in the center of 2 dinner plates.
• As soon as the skate is cooked, separate it into thin strips, cutting through the natural creases in the fish. Drape the strips over the salad in a circle, as if making a teepee.
• Drizzle the skate with the remaining 2 tablespoons of vinaigrette. Scatter the coriander and the tomato over all. Serve immediately. For the Court Bouillon: Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer up to 2 months. Yield: 6 cups For the vinaigrette: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the mustard, salt, pepper and vinegars. Whisking constantly, very slowly drizzle in the olive oil and then the corn oil. Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up

SKATE AND SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• Place the skate fillets in a skillet that will hold them in a single layer, add the wine, bring to a simmer and poach gently for eight minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool in the poaching liquid.
• Remove the stems from the spinach and place the spinach in a bowl.
• Fry the bacon until golden. Remove it from the pan and drain it on paper towels. Crumble it into one-half inch pieces and mix with the chives. Add the olive oil to the bacon fat in the pan.
• Beat the mustard and vinegar together and whisk them into the bacon-fat mixture. Toss the spinach with all but three tablespoons of this dressing. Arrange the spinach salad on each of six plates.
• Drain the fish and divide it into six equal portions. Place a warm fish fillet on each bed of spinach. Spoon the remaining dressing over each fillet, then sprinkle with the crumbled bacon and chives. Season with pepper and serve.

PAN-FRIED SKATE WINGS WITH CAPERS

Steps:

• Put the skate fillets in a dish large enough to hold them in one layer. Pour the milk over them and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Turn the fillets in the milk so they are coated on both sides.
• Scatter the flour over a large dish. Lightly dredge the fillets in the flour on both sides.
• Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the fillets. If it is necessary to do this in two batches, use the same oil. Saute on one side until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Turn and cook on the other side until golden brown, about 3 minutes more. When the fillets are done, transfer them to a warm platter or serving plate.
• Wipe out the pan with a paper towel and return the skillet to the heat. Melt the butter and add the red peppers, shaking the pan frequently until the butter turns light brown. Add the capers, cook briefly, and add the shallots, vinegar and parsley. Cook briefly; then stir and pour the sauce over each fillet evenly. Serve immediately.