Smoked Trout Vodka Creme Fraiche And Crispy Potatoes Food

CRISPY TROUT WITH KITCHEN BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• If it's convenient, set the serving plates to warm in a low oven (175 degrees F) as you prepare the fish.
• For the sauce, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and thyme and cook them briefly until lightly browned. Add the cream, bring it to a boil and reduce quickly by half. Add the remaining 10 tablespoons butter gradually, pat by pat, whisking until incorporated. When the sauce is smooth and thick, discard the garlic and thyme and add the chives, sherry vinegar, tarragon and salt and pepper to taste.
• Heat two large cast-iron skillets over medium-high heat. Sprinkle both sides of the fish with salt and pepper and dust the skin sides with the flour. When the pans are hot, add enough canola oil to thinly coat the bottom of each and add a fish to each pan, skin-side down. Cook until the skins turn golden brown and opaque doneness creeps into the pink flesh of the fish. You want to cook the fish nearly all the way through on the skin side. Flip the fish and transfer them to a plate to keep warm in the oven. Cook the remaining fish.
• Pour 3 to 4 tablespoons of sauce onto each warm plate, top with a trout, skin side pointing up, and serve immediately.

SMOKED TROUT CANAPES WITH CREME-FRAICHE AND HERB SAUCE FOR TWO

Steps:

• For the sauce: In a small bowl combine the creme fraiche, herbs, lemon zest and juice, salt, and pepper.
• Assemble the canapes: Dab a teaspoon or of creme fraiche sauce on 1 side of the pumpernickel slices. Place 1 or 2 large flakes or chunks of trout on each, and top with a small dollop of crème fraiche sauce. Garnish each canape with a frond of dill, and serve.

SMOKED TROUT

Steps:

• In a shallow baking dish, mix together the kosher salt, sugar, cilantro, and lemon slices to make the cure. Rub the cure into the trout fillets, and cure in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
• Prepare a hot smoker.
• Smoke the trout with serrano peppers until the fish is cooked through, but not overcooked. Remove from the smoker and allow to cool.
• Peel the smoked peppers and remove seeds. Place the smoked pepper in a blender or food processor and puree. Add the vinegar, olive oil, mango, garlic, black pepper, salt, and tomato. Puree until smooth.
• Place the trout on a platter and sprinkle with peanuts. Drizzle a generous amount of the vinaigrette over the trout.

COLD SMOKED TORO WITH OSETRA CAVIAR, CREME FRAICHE, AND DAIKON SPROUTS

Steps:

• To make the toro cure and smoke the toro: Mix all the ingredients for the cure, except for the toro, in a bowl. Spread half of the cure on a sheet of parchment paper, lay the toro on top, and bury it with the remaining cure. Fold the parchment over, refrigerate, and lightly weigh it down (with a carton of milk, for example). Cure for 1 hour.
• Remove the toro from the cure, rinse it in cold water, and dry well with a paper towel. Place it in a slotted pan. Light 2 pieces of fig wood over a burner, set the smoking branches in a large roasting pan, and place 4 large ring molds or ramekins in four corners of the pan. Set a wire rack on top of the molds, and a bag of ice on the wire rack. Finally, put the slotted pan over the ice and cover it quickly with tinfoil. Let it cold-smoke for 30 minutes. Vacuum-pack the toro and freeze just until it firms.
• To serve: Shave the onion bulb, and thinly julienne the tops. On a deli slicer, shave the toro thinly, about 1/8-inch thick. Work slice by slice, laying each on a plate as quickly as possible. When all the toro is sliced, garnish each with several small dollops of caviar, small drops of creme fraiche, the onion bottoms and tops, and daikon sprouts. Using a small zester, grate lemon zest over the top. Serve with warm bread.

SMOKED SALMON WITH BEETROOT & VODKA CRèME FRAîCHE

Steps:

• Beat the crème fraîche with the vodka and a little seasoning until it holds its shape, then stir in the horseradish. Chill in the fridge.
• Lay the slices of salmon over plates, then top with the beetroot and a spoonful of the crème fraîche. Top with the salmon caviar, if using, then scatter with the dill. Grind over some black pepper and serve.