Anne Serannes Shad Roe Poached In Butter Recipes

SHAD ROE POACHED IN BUTTER

Steps:

• Gently pull the sacs away from each other, and the membrane attaching them will come apart. Snip any pieces of membrane that do not break easily with kitchen scissors. Take care not to tear the sacs. Run them under cool water, and pat them dry.
• To know how much butter to poach the roe in, place the sacs in a straight-sided frying pan or saucepan just large enough to hold them in one layer. Add water to halfway up the sides of the sacs. Drain water off into a measuring cup. The level of water in the measuring cup is the level that the melted butter to cook the roe should reach. (In poaching pike or striped bass roe, the water should almost cover it. Both of those puff up in cooking, so they will need more butter.)
• Remove the roe from the pan, and wipe the pan dry. Place the melted butter in the pan over medium heat. When the butter is bubbling, carefully slip the roe into the pan in one layer. Return to a boil.
• Cook over medium heat for 1 minute to firm up the roe. Turn the heat to low (bubbles should be breaking the surface, but not vigorously). Cook for 2 minutes. Gently move each piece to assure that it does not stick. Continue to cook 4 minutes more (5 minutes more for the bass, 27 minutes more for the pike). Carefully flip each piece. Cook for 3 minutes, moving roe gently so that it does not stick. Continue to cook until the roe sacs have changed color and are opaque all the way through, 4 minutes for the shad, 5 minutes for the bass and 27 minutes for the pike. Move the pike occasionally to keep it from sticking.

ANNE SERANNE'S SHAD ROE POACHED IN BUTTER

Steps:

• Trim off excess membranes. Do not split pair of roe in half although they may separate as they cook. Puncture roe in several places with pin. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
• Melt butter in small skillet or casserole with tight-fitting lid. Add roe, cover and let cook over gentle heat about 3 minutes. Using spatula, carefully turn roe. Re-cover and let simmer 8 or 10 minutes on second side.
• If roe has not split, divide carefully. Transfer pieces to 2 hot serving plates. Spoon a little butter over each. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

SHAD ROE WITH SORREL SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt the butter for the sauce in a small pan. Drop in the sorrel leaves, and
• cook over medium heat, stirring now and then, until the liquid has evaporated.
• The sorrel will turn a khaki color, but don't let that bother you. Season with salt and pepper and just a tiny pinch of sugar. Pour in the cream, and cook for about 5 minutes, until thickened. Keep warm.
• Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons butter in a small skillet that will just hold the shad roe. Rub the milk over the roe, dredge in flour, season with salt and pepper, and slip the roe into the pan. Cook slowly for about 5 minutes, turning once. Arrange on a warm plate, and spoon the sauce around.

SHAD ROE WITH MUSTARD

Steps:

• Heat an 8- or 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat for a minute or two, then add the butter. When it melts, gently lay the shad roe in the pan and sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Cook for about 3 minutes, or until the underside is lightly browned.
• Turn very gently-a large spatula is best for this-and season the cooked side. Cook for another 3 minutes or so, again until the underside is lightly browned. By this time the roe should be quite firm to the touch; if it is still soft, cover the pan and cook for another minute or two, then cut into it to check. When done, the center will be red and the area surrounding it pink.
• Transfer the roe to a warm plate. Add the mustard and 1/4 cup of water to the pan; stir. Raise the heat to high and stir the sauce with a wooden spoon until smooth and thick. Spoon over the roe, garnish if you like, and serve immediately.
• Shad Roe with Capers and Vinegar: In step 3, omit the mustard. Instead, stir in 2 tablespoons capers, 1 tablespoon vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of water. Stir until blended and the liquid is reduced by about half. Spoon over the roe, garnish, and serve.
• Shad Roe with Bacon: Omit the butter. Begin by cooking 4 thick slices good-quality bacon over medium heat until the fat is rendered and the bacon is done; remove the bacon and keep warm. Cook the shad roe in the bacon fat, exactly as directed. Serve the shad roe and bacon with lemon wedges, garnished with fresh parsley.

ERIC'S SAUTEED SHAD ROE WITH BACON-BUTTER SAUCE AND FRISEE

Steps:

• Make the sauce: Place bacon in a medium skillet, and cook over high heat until bacon is golden and just crisp. Remove 2 tablespoons bacon, and drain on a paper towel-lined plate; set aside. Continue cooking the remaining bacon until very crisp but not blackened. Transfer to a fine sieve; discard bacon fat. Transfer crisp bacon to the jar of a blender.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring chicken stock to a boil over high heat. Add butter, piece by piece, whisking constantly until incorporated. Add the chicken-stock mixture to the blender, and blend on high speed until bacon is pureed. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside in a warm place until ready to serve.
• Cook the shad roe: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Using a sharp knife, trim shad roe, and divide into 2 pieces, being careful not to tear the membrane. Pour flour into a shallow bowl, and season with salt and pepper; dust pieces lightly with the flour.
• In a medium nonstick ovenproof saute pan, heat grapeseed oil over medium heat. Add shad roe, and cook until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn, and transfer the saute pan to the oven until roe is cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from saute pan, and set aside while preparing salad.
• Make the salad: In a large bowl, combine vinegar, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper. Whisk to combine. Slowly add olive oil, whisking constantly, until combined. Add frisee and the reserved bacon; toss to combine.
• To serve: Slice the shad roe crosswise on the bias into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Divide among four plates. Spoon the bacon sauce over, and serve immediately with the frisee salad on the side.

POACHED SHAD ROE WITH SORREL SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the cream in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until reduced by half. Place the stock in another saucepan and heat over medium heat.
• Meanwhile, melt three tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. When the foam subsides, remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the flour. Return to the heat and whisk for another minute and gradually add the stock. Raise the heat and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly. Add the reduced cream, season with salt and pepper to taste and continue to cook for 10 minutes.
• Melt the remaining butter in a small pan over medium heat. Toss in the sorrel and stir into the sauce mixture. Reserve on the side of the stove.
• Wash the roe gently in cold water, pat dry with paper toweling and set aside. In a heavy, nonreactive skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Gently coat the roe in the butter, cover the skillet and cook 10 to 12 minutes, turning once.
• Divide the shad roe onto warm plates and spread the sorrel sauce over each pair of roe. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

SHAD ROE WITH BLACK BUTTER CAPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Pat the roe dry with paper towels and dredge them lightly with flour.
• Heat the oil and one tablespoon butter in a large skillet and brown the roe on both sides. Cover the pan and continue cooking for a further five to eight minutes, or until the roe are firm when pressed with your finger. Remove them to a heated platter and keep them warm.
• Wipe out the pan with a paper towel. Add the remaining butter and cook over medium heat, stirring, until it turns light brown. Add the capers and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper and pour the sauce over the roe. Garnish with lemon and parsley and serve.