Skate With Sauteed Spinach And Fried Potatoes 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.

SPICE-CRUSTED SALMON WITH SAUTéED POTATOES & SPINACH

Steps:

• Start by toasting the fennel, coriander and mustard seeds in a dry frying pan on a low heat, about 8-10 mins. Once you start to smell the rich aromas of the spices, you know they have cooked through. If they start to smoke, the spices will taste bitter and it would be better to start again. Once toasted, roughly crush using a pestle and mortar, or wrap the spices in a tea towel and crush with the base of a small saucepan. Stir in a pinch of black pepper.
• Scrape the skin sides of the salmon with a knife to get rid of any remaining scales, and scrape off as much of the film of moisture you sometimes get (this helps to get the skin crisp). Slash the skin 3 times, about 3cm in length, to stop it shrinking during cooking.
• Tip the spice mix onto a plate, lay the fish on it, skin-side up, so that the spices cover the underside of the fish. You can do this a few hrs ahead to help infuse the fish with the spices. You can also start the sauce ahead - put the finely chopped shallots in a pan with the vinegar, fish stock and saffron. Bring to the boil, then reduce by two-thirds. Set aside.
• Put the potatoes in a pan and cover with salted water. Bring to the boil and boil for 1-2 mins only, then drain. Heat the oil in a large frying pan, then add the turmeric and chilli powder, if using. Toss the potatoes in the spiced oil, then cook for 5 mins without stirring. Shake the pan and cook for 5-10 mins more, or until the potatoes are cooked through. Season and keep warm.
• When ready to cook the salmon, rub the skin sides with some oil, then fry in a pan (skin-sides down) on a medium heat with a little bit more oil, pressing down lightly on the fish for a few secs when it first goes in the pan. Don't touch the fish or move the pan for about 5-6 mins - this ensures you get beautiful crisp skin. When the edges start to look golden, turn the fish over and cook for 1 more min.
• While the fish is cooking, cook the spinach in a large pan of boiling water for 2 mins. Drain, then squeeze out the excess water. Return to the pan and stir in the butter. This will form a simple emulsion, which will prevent water running out over the plate. Season.
• To finish the sauce, warm the pan of reduced mixture until hot. Take off the heat, then whisk in all the butter, reserving 2-3 cubes. Once the butter is amalgamated, stir in remaining cubes. Season with pepper and use immediately.
• Place a spoonful of spinach in the middle of each plate, then lay the salmon on top. Scatter some potatoes and pour some sauce around the fish. Sprinkle a few sea salt flakes over the fish and serve.

NEW POTATOES WITH SPINACH & CAPERS

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with cold salted water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 15 mins until they are tender but still hold their shape, and you can insert a cutlery knife easily.
• Drain the potatoes and allow to steam-dry. Heat the oil with 1 tbsp of the butter in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Once the butter is foaming, add the potatoes, cut-side down, and fry undisturbed for 5 mins until golden.
• Add the remaining butter along with the spinach, capers, lemon zest and juice. Stir everything together for a few mins so that the potatoes are coated and the spinach has wilted, then season to taste with salt and black pepper.

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.