Sliced Radishes And Watercress On Buttered Ficelle Food

SAUTEED RADISHES AND WATERCRESS

Steps:

• Heat butter with oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then sauté radishes with salt and pepper, stirring occasionally, 6 minutes. Add water and cook, covered, until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes, then cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until liquid is evaporated, 1 to 4 minutes. Add watercress and sauté, stirring, until wilted, about 1 minute.

SLICED RADISHES AND WATERCRESS ON BUTTERED FICELLE

Steps:

• Spread some butter over bread slices. Sprinkle with fleur de sel. Top each bread slice with 2 watercress sprigs. Spread 1 side of each radish slice with butter. Place 2 radish slices atop watercress, buttered side down, overlapping slightly if necessary to fit. Top with flowers or sprouts, if desired. (Can be made 1 hour ahead. Cover; let stand at room temperature.)
• *Available at Italian markets and some specialty foods stores.

WATERCRESS SALAD WITH BOILED JERSEY ROYALS, ROAST SHALLOTS & PICKLED RADISH

Steps:

• Wash the watercress and leave to soak in a large bowl of cold water.
• Whisk the vinegar with the sugar and a pinch of salt. Toss the radish in the vinegar and leave to pickle.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the shallots in a roasting tray and coat in the olive oil. Season. Arrange the shallots cut-side down and roast for 45 mins.
• Meanwhile, put the potatoes and mint in a pan. Cover with cold water, bring to the boil and cook for 10 mins until tender. Leave to cool in the water, then drain, cutting any bigger potatoes in half.
• Peel off the roasted shallot skins and discard. Pull apart the shallot halves and toss in a salad bowl with the potatoes, dressing and the roasting oil. Drain the watercress, then add that, season, and scatter over the pickled radishes and a little cider vinegar. Toss everything together and serve.

BUTTER-STEWED RADISHES

Steps:

• Trim the tops from the radishes, leaving 1/4 inch of green stem. Cut off the roots at the base of each radish, then cut radish in half from top to bottom. Soak radishes in a large bowl of lukewarm water, agitating them to loosen any clinging sand. Drain and rinse, then soak them in cold water. Soak and rinse a third time if necessary.
• Put radishes in a wide skillet and season well with salt and pepper. Add butter and 1 cup of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Cover and reduce heat to a brisk simmer. Cook radishes until tender when pierced but no further, about 5 minutes.
• Remove lid, raise heat and boil to evaporate most of the liquid. Serve in the buttery juices with sprinkling of dill.

RADISHES WITH SWEET BUTTER AND KOSHER SALT

Steps:

• Divide the radishes among small plates.
• Neatly cut the butter into 4 small portions, and set on plates.
• Pile a small amount of salt on each plate.

LAYERED RADISH FINGER SANDWICHES

Steps:

• In a small bowl cream the butter and stir in the anchovy paste, the scallions, and salt and pepper to taste. Spread one side of each of 3 slices of the bread with some of the scallion butter and top the buttered side of one of the slices with an overlapping layer of the radishes. Top the radishes with another slice of the buttered bread, buttered side down, and butter the top of the slice. Top the butter with an overlapping layer of the radishes and top the radishes with the remaining slice of the buttered bread, buttered side down. Press the sandwich together gently, trim the crusts, and cut the sandwich lengthwise into thirds. Make sandwiches with the remaining bread, butter, and radishes in the same manner. The sandwiches may be made 2 hours in advance and kept wrapped in plastic and chilled.

WATERCRESS SALAD WITH RAW BEETS AND RADISHES

Steps:

• Season the beets: Slice red beet as thinly as possible with a mandoline or sharp knife and place in a small bowl. Slice golden beet and place in a separate bowl. Season each bowl with salt and pepper, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest. Toss and leave to marinate for at least 10 minutes.
• Make the horseradish cream: Put crème fraîche in a small serving bowl. Add horseradish, 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 1 teaspoon lemon zest. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Make the salad: Place watercress in a low salad bowl or serving platter. Arrange seasoned beet slices over the cress and drizzle with any remaining lemon juice. Scatter radish slices over the salad and garnish with quartered or halved eggs. Sprinkle salad very lightly with salt. Serve the horseradish cream separately and add a spoonful to each serving.