Spicy Seared Striped Bass And Corn Salad With Figs And Peaches Food

WHOLE SMOKE-ROASTED STRIPED BASS AND ROCKET PESTO

Steps:

• Make sure the fish has had all its scales removed, and that the inside cavity is clean. If there are any scales left, remove them using the back of a knife to scrape the skin from tail to head. Pat the skin dry with a towel.
• Prepare smoker and bring heat to 400degreesF (200 degrees C). We recommend oak or hickory as the smoke wood.
• In a blender, puree the olive oil, garlic, 5 cups (300 g) parsley leaves, rosemary, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until smooth. Coat the fish with the herb mixture inside and out. Stuff the cavity with the basil, tarragon, thyme, and remaining 1 bunch parsley.
• Transfer fish to a large foil-lined baking sheet, and smoke for 5 minutes for every inch (2.5 cm) the fish measures at its largest circumference, or until the fish's internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F (60 degrees C).
• To serve, gently transfer roasted fish to a large platter or cutting board and drizzle with Rocket Pesto. Serve with Cheesy Grilled Corn.
• Pesto is traditionally made with basil, garlic, parmesan or pecorino cheese, pine nuts, and olive oil, but we thought we'd shake things up a bit by replacing the basil with arugula and substituting pistachios for pine nuts.
• In a food processor, puree the pistachios, garlic, and cheese. Add arugula and pulse to combine. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
• Grilled corn with cotija cheese (a hard, dry cheese named for the town in Mexico from whence it originates), mayonnaise, and a dusting of chili powder is popular street food in Mexico. One bite and it's easy to see why. Here's our version.
• In the bowl of a food processor, puree the egg yolks, garlic, and lemon juice. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in oil to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl and reserve.
• Prepare grill. When fire is medium-hot (you should not be able to hold your hand over the coals for more than 10 seconds), grill corn for about 5 minutes, rolling it to toast all sides and keep it from burning (C). Remove from grill and slather with aioli, then sprinkle with queso fresco and chili powder. Serve with lime wedges.

CANTALOUPE SALAD

Steps:

• Arrange cantaloupe slices on a serving platter. Drizzle with honey. Press the grated ginger firmly down into the bowl and then tilt bowl to 1 side to release juices, drizzling ginger juice over cantaloupe. Top with freshly torn mint and serve.

SPICY SEAFOOD SALAD

Steps:

• Thaw the crab sticks according to package directions. Pull the crab sticks into strands and put them into a large bowl. Add the shrimp, scallions, mayonnaise, tobiko, lemon juice, and hot sauce. Mix well then taste and adjust the seasoning with salt. Serve in chilled martini glasses garnished with more tobiko and chives.

LATIN CABBAGE AND CORN SALAD

Steps:

• Make the dressing by whisking all the ingredients together in a small bowl. Toss all the salad ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.
• Just before serving, toss the salad with the dressing. Keep refrigerated and covered until ready to use.

STRIPED BASS PUTTANESCA WITH SEARED FINGERLING POTATOES

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until just fragrant, 1 minute. Add the anchovies, capers and olives and cook until the anchovies have begun to dissolve in the oil, about 5 minutes. Pour in the wine and the Basic Tomato Sauce and bring to a simmer. Add the fish fillets, making sure they are submerged in the sauce, and gently simmer until the fish is cooked through and the flesh is milky white and slightly flaky, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Meanwhile, cut each fingerling in half lengthwise and place in a medium bowl. Toss well with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the potatoes, cut side down, and cook until well browned, about 5 minutes.
• Serve the potatoes alongside the puttanesca and garnish with basil and freshly ground black pepper.
• In a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
• Add the garlic and cook until fragrant but not browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, bring to a simmer, and cook until thickened slightly, about 15 minutes. Stir in sugar, and season with salt, to taste.
• Let extra sauce cool completely and then seal in airtight containers. Refrigerate for up 1 week and freeze for up to 1 month.

ROASTED FISH WITH BROWN BUTTER CORN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Season fillets with salt and pepper and place in a baking pan, skin-side down.
• In a small bowl, mash together the butter, about two-thirds of the garlic, and the lemon zest if using. Smear on top of fish fillets. Roast until cooked through to taste, 7 to 12 minutes depending upon variety of fish and thickness of fillets.
• Meanwhile, in a blender or food processor, purée half the brown buttered corn with broth or water, oil, lemon juice and remaining garlic. Stir in remaining corn. Serve sauce over fish, garnished with herbs.

STRIPED BASS WITH FRESH FIGS

Steps:

• Place 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add shallots and garlic and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Add figs and continue to sauté another minute or two, until they are warmed through and just start to soften. Sprinkle with cloves. Add saba and continue cooking until the syrup just coats the bottom of the pan. Stir in wine. Remove figs and as many shallots as you can from the pan, draining well.
• Increase heat to medium-high and cook sauce until wine has reduced by half. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter bit by bit, swirling it in. Cook a minute or so more, until sauce starts to become syrupy. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
• Heat a broiler. Place rack about 4 inches from the source of heat. Dry fish. Dust skin side of bass or bottom side of halibut with flour. Flip fillet and season top surface well with salt and pepper. Heat remaining butter on medium-high in a large, heavy skillet, preferably cast iron. Place fish, floured side down, in skillet and sear 2 minutes. Brush top surface of fish with some of the sauce and place fish under the broiler. Broil about 7 minutes, until just cooked through. Remove from heat. Transfer fish to a warm platter.
• Return figs and shallots to the sauce, heat on medium a minute or so, then spoon sauce with figs around the fish on the platter. Serve.

SPICY STRIPED BASS

Steps:

• Sauce: Saute the garlic, scallions, ginger, and the habanero chili in oil in a saucepan. When browned, add the remaining ingredients and cook for 5 minutes.
• Bass: Grill the Striped Bass. Depending on the thickness of the filets and the heat of the fire, grill for 8 to 10 minutes.
• Pour sauce on the bass filets. Garnish with chopped scallions.