Arctic Char Stuffed With Leeks Recipes

ROASTED ARCTIC CHAR WITH LEEKS AND HORSERADISH CREAM

Steps:

• 1. To prepare the fish: Halve the leeks lengthwise, then slice crosswise and transfer to a large bowl of water. Swish leeks to release any grit; lift from the water. Drain.
• 2. Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add leeks and thyme, and cook, stirring, until wilted and liquid reduces, 6 minutes. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper, to taste. Add cider, bring to a boil, and cook until almost dry, 4 minutes. Stir in heavy cream, boil until thick and it coats the leeks. Add brandy, cook down slightly. Remove from heat and stir in parsley.
• 3. Open fish and season well with salt and pepper. Spread leek mixture along flesh and close fish. Tie closed with kitchen twine (or cooked leek greens) at 4-inch intervals. Brush oil all over skin, season with salt and pepper.
• 4. Preheat the broiler to high (with convection broiler if you have it). Line a pan with foil and lightly brush with oil. Place the prepared pan in broiler and heat for 5-10 minutes.
• Carefully lay the fish on the preheated pan. Broil fish until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 130 to 135 degrees F, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven and rest fish for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
• 5. Stir all sauce ingredients together. Transfer fish to a serving platter, remove strings. Serve with sauce on the side.

ARCTIC CHAR EN PAPILLOTE WITH CRISPY LEEKS AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 400˚ F. Tear off 4 sheets of parchment paper, 16 to 18 inches long each. Thinly slice 1 leek crosswise into half moons and divide among the parchment sheets, slightly off center. Top evenly with the thyme and parsley sprigs and 1 piece of butter each. Top each pile with a char fillet (if it's skin-on, place skin-side down) and season generously with salt and pepper. Top each fillet with another piece of butter and carefully pour about 2 tablespoons wine over each mound of ingredients.
• Fold the parchment over the fish. Starting at one corner, fold and pleat the parchment all the way around to the other corner, making sure the packet is well sealed. Carefully transfer the packets to 2 baking sheets. Bake until the fish is just cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Let stand 3 to 5 minutes, then carefully open the packets.
• While the fish cooks, cut the remaining leek crosswise to make 4 pieces, then slice lengthwise into thin strips. Put in a medium nonstick skillet with the olive oil and turn the heat to medium. Cook, tossing, until crisp and browned, 8 to 10 minutes, adding the sliced garlic for the last minute. Remove from the heat and season with salt. Top the fish with the crispy leeks and garlic and chopped parsley.

HERB-STUFFED ROAST ARCTIC CHAR

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Remove the leaves from 2 sage sprigs, 1 parsley sprig, all of the thyme sprigs and the rosemary; finely chop along with the lemon zest. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in the garlic and 1 tablespoon olive oil to make a paste; set aside.
• Brush a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil. Run the back of a knife over the skin of the fish to remove any excess moisture; pat dry inside and out. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Cut 4 slits through the skin on each side of the fish with a sharp knife; rub inside and out with 1 tablespoon olive oil, making sure to get inside the slits. Season the fish inside and out with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; spread the herb paste all over the inside.
• Roast until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part reaches 130 degrees F to 135 degrees F, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Remove the leaves from the remaining 1 sage sprig and 2 parsley sprigs; add to the hot oil and cook, stirring, until crisp, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.

ARCTIC CHAR STUFFED WITH LEEKS

Steps:

• Heat oil in large skillet. Add leeks, onion and fennel. Sauté until soft. Add 2 tablespoons fennel tops. Season with salt and pepper.
• Season inside of whole fish with salt and pepper. Spread leek mixture down center. Close up and tie fish with butcher's cord at 2-inch intervals. Pat skin of fish dry.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Lightly butter bottom of baking pan. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet. Brown fish over high heat on one side, about 1 minute. Turn fish, then at once transfer to baking pan browned side up. Place on upper rack of oven for 25 minutes.
• Add shallots, vinegar and wine to skillet. Simmer until shallot is tender and wine and vinegar reduce to about 1/4 cup. Remove from heat.
• When fish is done, transfer to serving platter and remove cords. Return skillet to medium heat. Whisk in remaining butter a tablespoon at a time. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour sauce over fish, scatter remaining fennel tops over and serve.

PAN ROASTED ARCTIC CHAR WITH ORANGE AND ROSEMARY BEURRE BLANC

Steps:

• In a saucepot over medium heat add orange juice, white wine, orange zest and rosemary. Reduce to 1/2 cup of liquid. Strain and return to saucepot. Over medium heat whisk in the cream and bring to a low boil. Turn heat to low and whisk in cold cubes of butter. Remove rosemary sprig and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Reserve warm.
• In a skillet over medium heat add the olive oil. Season the fillets with salt and pepper, then add to the hot pan. Allow fish to cook until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• Remove fish from pan and place on top of warmed wild rice. Add sauce around and over fish. Garnish with chopped rosemary and orange segments.

CRISPY SKIN ARCTIC CHAR WITH BUTTER-BRAISED CABBAGE

Steps:

• For the butter-braised cabbage: Cook the bacon in a large high-sided saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until crisp, about 12 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Add the butter to same pan, followed by the onions. Cook until the onions begin to caramelize, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the wine, vinegar and cabbage. Cover, reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking for 30 minutes.
• Remove the lid from the cabbage and continue cooking until all the liquid has evaporated. Stir the crisped bacon into the cabbage and season with salt and pepper.
• For the arctic char: The secret to crispy skin is lack of moisture. Leave your fish uncovered in the fridge 10 to 15 minutes to dry out. Then dry the fish with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
• Heat a cast-iron skillet or heavy-bottomed saute pan over medium-high heat. Add enough oil to coat. When the oil is hot, but not smoking, place the fillets skin-side down in the pan, cooking in batches if needed. Using the back of a spatula, press down hard on the fillets for at least 20 seconds to ensure that the entire skin has full contact with the bottom of the pan. This will help to achieve the crispiest skin possible.
• Continue cooking until the flesh cooks and there is only a bit of pink left, 5 to 6 minutes. The skin should be pulling away from the bottom of the pan. If necessary, use a spatula to loosen the skin before flipping. Flip the fish and continue cooking for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute before transferring to a plate to rest.
• Gently remove the fish skin with a paring knife and place the skin back into the pan, flesh-side down. Fry another 1 to 2 minutes over medium-high heat. Transfer to a wire rack or a paper towel-lined plate, at which point it will harden like a super-crispy fish chip.
• Serve the crisp arctic char over the butter-braised cabbage and top with the crispy fish skin.
• Cook's Note: Removing your fried fish skin to a wire rack will help it harden by letting the air circulate around it.