Smoked Black Bass Food

BLACK BASS WITH PIPERADE AND POLENTA

Steps:

• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and bring to a high heat. Coat the bottom of another smaller saute pan with olive oil.
• Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper on both sides. When the large saute pan is screaming hot but not quite smoking, lay the fish fillets in the pan skin-side down. Place the small saute pan directly on top of the fillets; this applies gentle pressure to the fish and forces the skin to have contact with the pan and will create crispy skin. Cook the fish for 2 to 3 minutes, and then remove the top pan. Shake the pan a little to unstick the fish. Use a fish spatula to flip the fillets, and cook until the flesh is opaque.
• Place a dollop of the Soft Parmesan Polenta on the bottom of each plate, top with some Yellow and Red Pepper Piperade and place a piece of fish on top. Finish with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.
• In a medium-size saucepan, bring the milk, 2 cups water and bay leaf to a boil. Season generously with salt, almost to the point of over seasoning. How do you know that you are there? TASTE IT! When it has reached a boil, slowly whisk in the polenta in small sprinkles. Once all of the polenta has been incorporated, reduce the heat to medium and immediately switch over to stirring with a wooden spoon. Cook the polenta until it begins to pull away from the pan, adding water to loosen it up if it becomes too thick.
• When the polenta is thoroughly cooked, it should look creamy and not feel gritty on your tongue. Remove it from the heat and stir in the Parmesan and mascarpone.
• In a large saute pan, add enough olive oil to coat the bottom and place over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until aromatic. Add the onions and continue to saute until slightly caramelized, 6 to 7 minutes. Add the plum tomatoes and diced peppers, season with salt and cook until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes, chile flakes and pimenton and cook until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Add the sherry vinegar and cook for an additional minute. Taste and season.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the chopped almonds and chives. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil.

SMOKY-SPICY BASS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high to high heat. Put a platter in the oven to warm.
• Combine all the spices in a small bowl. Score the skin of the fish with several shallow hash marks using a very sharp knife. Season the fish on both sides with lots of salt and pepper, to taste, and rub both sides with spices.
• Add the oil to the hot pan and cook the fish in 2 batches, until firm, about 4 minutes on each side. Transfer the fillets to the warm platter. Serve with lemon wedges and garnish with parsley or chives.

MARJORAM-SCENTED BLACK BASS, GRILLED OVER WOOD FIRE

Steps:

• Quickly rinse the two black bass under gently running cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Season inside and out with a generous amount of salt and pepper. Fill the cavity of each fish with 2 1/2 cloves garlic, half of the marjoram and half the lemon slices. Drizzle half of the oil onto a very large platter, sprinkle each fish with salt and pepper and then with half of the remaining garlic, marjoram and lemon slices. Place both fish on top of the garnish, drizzle with the remaining oil and top with the remaining garlic, marjoram and lemon slices. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 to 4 hours.
• Brush a grill rack or grill basket generously with oil and place 5 inches away from medium coals on a charcoal or gas grill. Cook the fish for about 10 minutes on each side, depending on its size, until done. Remove from the grill to a large platter with the help of two large spatulas. Filet and serve.