Alton Brown Tartar Sauce Recipes

STEAK TARTARE

Steps:

• Cut the steak into 1-inch cubes and park in the freezer for 10 minutes.
• Whisk the vinegar, dry mustard, and egg yolks together in a small bowl. Whisk continuously while streaming in the oil until emulsified, then whisk in the shallots, capers, salt, and roughly 2/3 of the celery leaves and parsley.
• Hand chop the meat to your desired texture. Alternately, divide the meat into 4 batches and pulse each batch separately 3 to 4 times in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the standard S-blade.
• With clean hands, quickly fold the meat and dressing together. Plate using a 3 3/4-inch pastry ring and garnish with the reserved herbs and lemon zest.

TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients in a food processor or mini chopper fitted with a steel blade and pulse several times until the pickles are finely chopped and all the ingredients are well mixed but not pureed.

BEER-BATTERED HALIBUT WITH TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• For the tartar sauce: In a bowl, add the parsley, tarragon, shallot, and cornichon. Chop the hard boiled egg by removing the yolk and crumbling it, then dice the white. Add both yolk and whites to the bowl. Add vinegar, salt, mustard, mayonnaise, and a few dashes of hot sauce (or more to taste). Stir to combine and set aside.
• For the beer batter: In a large mixing bowl, mix the cake flour and baking soda with a fork. Slowly pour in the beer, stirring the entire time (it's okay if there are a few lumps). The batter should be thin, falling off the fork easily so it coats the fish, not heavy like pancake batter. Set aside.
• Fry the halibut: Fill a deep heavy-bottomed pan with oil-don't go higher than 2 inches from the rim-and heat to 350 degrees F. Season the halibut with salt on both sides. Test the oil by cooking a few drops of batter; they should float to the surface when the oil's hot enough. Remove these "tester crunchies" with a slotted spoon. One piece at a time, drop the fish into the beer batter, then remove it, letting the excess drip off. Then place it halfway into the oil, letting a crust form for 10 seconds, then releasing it gently into the pan. Repeat with two more pieces (three at a time), so the pan isn't overcrowded and cook each for 3-4 minutes. Remove the fish to a baking sheet fitted with a wire rack to drain any excess oil. Season with flaky sea salt and serve with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.

TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• In 2 (13 by 9-inch) pans place tomato halves cut side up. Sprinkle with oil, salt and pepper, onion, garlic, and herbs. Bake tomatoes for 2 hours. Check the tomatoes after 1 hour and turn down the heat if they seem to be cooking too quickly. Then turn the oven to 400 degrees and bake another 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and process tomatoes through a food mill on medium dye setting over a small saucepan. Discard skins. Add white wine, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cook for 5 minutes.

FRUIT TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Crimp seams of puff pastry together with fingertips. Dust both sides of pastry with sugar. Using a rolling pin, roll pastry in each direction to close seams. Using a sharp pizza cutter (and tracing a small plate) cut out 2 circles of pastry. Place pastry circles on a chilled sheet pan and let cool in the refrigerator for a few minutes.
• Using a vegetable peeler cut wafer thin apple slices. Put apple slices in lemon-juice-spiked water.
• Flip pastry circles over on the sheet pans and poke them with a fork to provide an outlet for steam. Put parchment paper on the pan underneath the pastry circles. Sprinkle pastry with sugar and arrange apple slices on top.
• Bake in the middle of the oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Poke the crust; if it feels soft it needs more time in the oven.
• Microwave some apricot jam for 30 seconds. Dab (don't brush) the jam on the tarts. Cool tarts at least 4 hours and seal in a resealable plastic bag. Serve at room temperature or heat in the microwave and top with ice cream.

DARK SALTY CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper.
• Combine the sugar, water, corn syrup, and cream of tartar in a heavy 4-quart saucepan and put over high heat. Stir occasionally until the sugar has dissolved. Cover and continue to cook for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the heavy cream and soy sauce in a liquid measuring cup. Have this and the butter standing by.
• Remove the lid from the sugar mixture, and attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan. When the sugar mixture reaches 230 degrees F, reduce the heat to medium and cook, without stirring, until the syrup is a golden color and is approaching 300 degrees F, about 6 to 7 minutes. At this point, there is less likelihood of any crystallization, so gently swirl the pan to break up any hot pockets.
• When the temperature approaches 350 degrees F, it will turn deep amber. Remove the pan from the heat, and gently swirl again to break up all of the hot pockets. Cool for 2 minutes.
• Carefully incorporate the cream and soy mixture and the butter into the pan. Stir to combine. Return the caramel to medium heat, stir until the butter is completely melted, and continue cooking until it reaches 255 degrees F. Remove from the heat and pour into the parchment-lined pan, tap gently to release air bubbles.
• Cool on a cooling rack for 30 minutes, and then sprinkle evenly with the salt. Continue cooling on the rack for an additional 3 1/2 hours. Cut into 1-inch pieces and wrap individually in parchment. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

TART CRANBERRY DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a non-reactive saucepan (stainless steel), and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 to 45 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half.
• Carefully puree with stick blender or blender until smooth. Check for seasoning and serve in small ramekins.

HOMEMADE TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix all the ingredients together until well incorporated. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.