Weeknight Steak With Parsnip Puree Food

PARSNIP PUREE

Steps:

• Peel parsnips, trim and cube parsnips.
• Place in a boiling pot of salted water (about 2 tsp of salt for a large pot of water). Boil until softened. Remove from heat and carefully drain water when soft.
• Add parsnips to a blender and add milk, butter, salt and pepper.
• Blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

PARSNIP PUREE

Steps:

• Put parsnips in a pot, season with salt and cover with milk and cream. Add garlic, bay and thyme then place over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Cook until tender, the tip of a paring knife should easily go through without resistance - about 12 to 15 minutes.
• Place parsnips in a food processor with butter and pour in enough of the milk mixture to puree the parsnips and achieve the texture of whipped cream. Season with salt and pepper then finish with a sprinkle of parsley.

ROAST FILLET OF SEA BASS WITH PARSNIP PURéE & CARAMELISED GARLIC

Steps:

• For the crisps, peel parsnips and slice lengthways, using a mandolin to slice as thinly as possible. Deep-fry in hot oil until crisp. Drain on kitchen towels to absorb any excess fat and set aside in a dry place. Can be made up to 1 day ahead and kept in an airtight container.
• For the caramelised garlic, peel the shallots and garlic. Blanch the shallots in boiling salted water for 10 mins or until tender. Cut them in half if large and drain well. Put the garlic in a small saucepan of boiling salted water, bring to the boil for 2 mins, then drain and change the water. Repeat 4 times and drain well. Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan over a medium heat, add the shallots and garlic and cook until caramelised, shaking the pan so they don't stick. Can be made in the morning and reheated.
• For the purée, peel the parsnips and cut them into big chunks. Cook in boiling salted water until tender. Bring the milk to the boil and set aside. Drain the parsnips well, then put in a blender with the butter and some of the boiled milk and blend until totally smooth: the purée should be the consistency of double cream, so add more milk if necessary. Season and keep warm or make ahead and reheat.
• Scale and fillet the fish. Remove any pin bones (or ask your fishmonger to do this, but keep the bones for the sauce). Rinse under cold water and pat dry with kitchen paper. Score the skin of the fish several times with a sharp knife to help prevent it from curling during cooking. Leave the bones (but not the heads) to soak in cold water.
• To make the sauce, heat a little olive oil in a pan and cook the shallots for about 5 mins until golden and soft. Add the mushrooms and continue to cook for 10 mins, stirring occasionally. Drain the fish bones, add to the pan and cook for 5-6 mins. Add the vinegar and let it come to the boil for 3 mins, then add the stock, season lightly and simmer for 30 mins, skimming at regular intervals. Pass through a fine sieve into a clean pan, bring back to the boil and whisk in the butter to thicken and gloss the sauce.
• Heat a non-stick frying pan until smoking hot, add a few drops of oil, then add the fish, skin side down. Season with salt and pepper and press the fish down with a palette knife if it begins to curl up. Once the skin is well browned, turn the fillets over and cook the other side; the whole process should take no more than 5-6 mins, depending on the thickness of the fish. To serve, spoon the purée on to warmed plates, make a hollow in the centre, and fill with the caramelised garlic and shallots. Pour the sauce around the purée, place the fish on top and add a few parsnip crisps for garnish.

SALMON WITH LEEKS & PARSNIP MASH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Place the salmon pieces into a roasting tin, squeeze over the lemon juice and scatter with ½ the zest. Season and sprinkle over ½ the thyme. Roast for 15 mins until salmon is cooked through.
• Meanwhile, bring a lightly salted pan of water to the boil and cook the parsnips for 15 mins, until tender. Drain well, then mash with the remaining lemon zest and the fromage frais. Keep warm.
• Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan. Cook the leeks over a medium heat for 6-8 mins, adding a splash of water and covering with a lid after 5 mins, until soft. Stir the leeks into the mash and serve with the salmon, scattered with the remaining thyme leaves.

CHICKEN PARM SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Place wire racks over 2 sheet pans. Cut two 12-inch sheets of plastic wrap.
• Place one sheet of plastic on a clean cutting board. Put one chicken piece in the center of the plastic and top with the other sheet of plastic. Pound the chicken with the flat side of a meat mallet, starting in the center and working your way to the edges, until the chicken is 1/4-inch thick.
• Heat the oil and butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat.
• Meanwhile, combine the panko, all but 2 of the basil leaves and Parmigiano-Reggiano in a food processor and pulse until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer the mixture to a small sheet pan or plate. Place the flour on a second small sheet pan or plate and season with salt and pepper. Whisk the eggs, mustard and 2 tablespoons of water together in a shallow bowl until combined. Season with salt and pepper.
• Begin by dipping one piece of chicken into the flour, then into the egg mixture, then into the breadcrumb mixture to coat completely. Set the breaded cutlet on one of the wire racks. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
• Raise the heat under the skillet to medium-high. Cook the cutlets in two batches until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to the second wire rack and sprinkle with salt.
• While the chicken is frying, prepare the sauce.
• Combine the passata, garlic and reserved 2 leaves of basil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until warmed through, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Place the sliced rolls on a sheet pan. Broil the rolls until just toasted, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Top each fried chicken cutlet with the sauce and a few slices of mozzarella. Broil until the cheese is brown and bubbly, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Place each chicken parm cutlet onto the bottom half of a roll. (If chicken is too wide, cut lengthwise and stack the chicken so it all fits.) Top with more sauce and the top buns. Slice in half and take a crunchy bite!

PAN-FRIED SCALLOPS WITH PARSNIP PURéE & PANCETTA CRUMBS

Steps:

• To make the pancetta crumbs (which you can do up to a day ahead), set a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the pancetta and sizzle for 5 mins, turning, until coloured. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs into the pan and continue frying and stirring until browned and crisp. Blitz the mixture in a food processor to fine crumbs. Mix in the thyme and store in an airtight container if making ahead.
• To make the parsnip purée, tip the parsnips into a small saucepan with the milk and some seasoning. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 mins until the parsnips are tender. Purée the mixture in the food processor, then add the butter. Rub through a fine sieve into a clean saucepan, ready to reheat.
• Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Season the scallops and lay them in a circle around the edge of the pan (see step 1). When the last scallop has been added, leave for 1 min until browned. Then, starting with the first scallop, gently turn (step 2). When all the scallops are cooked, transfer to a warm plate and quickly add the lemon juice to your hot pan, scraping the bottom to form a sauce and adding a splash of water if needed.
• Reheat the parsnip purée, then swipe onto 3 plates (step 3). Top with the scallops, pancetta crumbs and juices from the pan. Serve straight away.