Striped Bass En Escabeche Food

OYSTERS EN ESCABECHE

Steps:

• In a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder reserved for grinding spices, combine the cumin, cloves, allspice, and peppercorns. Grind until cracked but not pulverized, then transfer to a small dish and add the bay leaves, oregano, and cinnamon. In a large heavy skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and chiles and cook for 2 minutes more. Add the vinegar, fish broth, and all the spices to the pan, cover and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 10 minutes. Transfer to a glass bowl and let stand at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours, for the flavors to marry. When ready to serve, return the mixture to the skillet and add the oysters. Over medium-low heat, bring the mixture just up to a gentle simmer and let the oysters cook very gently for about 3 minutes (the oysters are done when the edges curl and they turn almost white do not overcook). Remove from the heat and adjust the seasonings, adding more salt and vinegar if desired. Remove the bay leaves and cinnamon stick and serve in deep bowls, scattered with the fresh cilantro.

STRIPED BASS ESCABèCHE WITH BELL PEPPERS AND GREEN BEANS

Steps:

• Make marinade:
• In a bowl combine marinade ingredients, stirring until brown sugar is dissolved.
• To marinade add olives, bell peppers, and onion. Season fish with salt and pepper and in a bowl toss with flour to coat, shaking off excess. Line a shallow baking pan with paper towels. In a large heavy skillet heat 3 tablespoons oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté fish, 6 pieces at a time, turning once and adding remaining tablespoon oil to skillet as necessary, until golden on both sides and just cooked through, about 6 minutes. Transfer fish as sautéed to paper-towel-lined pan to drain.
• Transfer fish to a 13- by 9-inch shallow baking dish and pour marinade mixture over fish, spreading vegetables in one layer. Marinate fish, covered and chilled, at least 1 day and up to 3.
• In a large saucepan of boiling salted water cook beans 3 minutes, or until crisp-tender, and drain in a colander. Refresh beans under cold water and drain. Beans may be cooked 2 days ahead and chilled in a sealable plastic bag.
• Remove fish from marinade mixture and add beans to dish, tossing to coat. Transfer mixture to a large deep platter and arrange fish on top.

STRIPED BASSTRAMI

Steps:

• Cut bass into 4 serving pieces. In a coffee grinder, coarsely grind up coriander, mustard, cumin and pepper. Coat fish with mixture and garlic. Drizzle on olive oil and set in refrigerator for at least 4 hours, turning every hour or so. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Over high heat, saute fish (in ovenproof pan) to sear. Pop into oven for 5 minutes to cook. Remove fish from pan and add lemon juice. Cook down on stove until syrupy. Serve over fish.

CHILES SERRANOS EN ESCABECHE

Steps:

• Wash the chiles, leaving the stems intact. Cut a cross in the tip of each chile so the vinegar can penetrate.
• In a large heavy skillet, over a mediumhigh heat, heat the olive oil until it smokes. Reduce the heat to medium and add the onions, chiles, carrots, and garlic. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring from time to time. Add the vinegar, salt, bay leaves, oregano, marjoram, and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes longer.
• Pack 6 sterilized pint jars with the chile mixture, top with the vinegar, and seal. Process according to USDA guidelines.

OVEN POACHED STUFFED STRIPED BASS

Steps:

• Combine all stuffing ingredients and correct seasoning. The stuffing must taste delicious by itself. This stuffing should be made at time of final preparation or the bread stuffing will have a heavier consistency than desired.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Keep fumet hot in a pot on the stove.
• Check the entire fish for scales or bones. This is done by running your fingers over all surfaces of the fish. Remove any bones with a pair of needle-nosed pliers.
• Place fish on a lightly oiled sheet of aluminum foil in large pan. Salt with kosher salt inside and out.
• Since there are crevices within the fish, use your hands to place the salt throughout. Pepper the inside and outside of the fish. Lightly place a coat of olive oil on outside of fish. Stuff fish with bread mixture. If the mixture does not adequately remain in the fish cavity, gently tie the fish around with butchers twine every few inches. Place fish in oven and pour 3 cups of the hot fumet over fish. Cover and cook for about 80 to 90 minutes, basting with hot fumet every 15 minutes.
• To check for doneness use a fork in the thickest part of the flesh and determine that the meat is opaque, signifying doneness. The fish will have an internal temperature of 130 degrees when it is done.
• Remove fish from the pan with foil. Gently peel back foil and place fish on a platter. Slice and serve.
• Simmer first 9 ingredients for 25 to 30 minutes. Add fish parts. Simmer for 1 hour, covered. Salt and pepper, to taste.
• Strain through chinois. Strain again, using cheesecloth. Place liquid in tightly covered container and refrigerate until needed.

ROASTED STRIPED BASS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the oil in a medium saute pan and saute the onion and pancetta over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, or until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the tomatoes, saffron, salt, pepper, white wine, and Pernod, if using, and simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, lay the fish in a 10-by-14-inch baking dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the shrimp and mussels to the dish. Pour the sauce over the seafood and bake uncovered for 20 to 30 minutes, until the fish and shrimp are cooked through and the mussels are open. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

GRILLED STRIPED BASS WITH TOMATOES AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Prepare a grill or grill pan for medium-high heat; lightly oil the grill grates.
• Toss together the olives, parsley, vinegar, tomatoes and 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large bowl. Season lightly with salt and generously with pepper and toss again; set aside until juicy.
• Meanwhile, brush the fish on both sides with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the fish, skin side up, until it has strong grill marks and releases easily from the grill, about 5 minutes. Rotate it about 45 degrees to create a crosshatch pattern and continue to grill for another 3 minutes. Turn the fish over and cook until just opaque throughout and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the side registers about 135 degrees F, 5 minutes more. Transfer to a cutting board.
• Using the natural seams of the fish as a guide, cut into 4 pieces. Put a slice of bread on 4 serving plates. Top with a piece of fish and spoon the tomato mixture and its juices over the top.