Blinis With Tapioca Caviar Candied Fruits Toasted Pecans And Crème Fraîche Recipes

BLINIS WITH TAPIOCA CAVIAR, CANDIED FRUITS, TOASTED PECANS, AND CRèME FRAîCHE

Steps:

• For tapioca:
• Bring 3 quarts water to boil in large saucepan. Add tapioca and boil until tapioca is clear, stirring occasionally, about 16 minutes. Drain; rinse under cold water until cool. Transfer tapioca to medium bowl.
• Pour cream into heavy small saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring to simmer. Whisk egg yolks, sugar, and salt in medium bowl 1 minute. Gradually whisk hot cream mixture into yolks. Return mixture to saucepan and stir over medium heat until mixture is thick enough to coat back of spoon, about 5 minutes; do not boil. Transfer custard to medium metal bowl. Set over bowl of ice water and stir until custard is cool. Stir 3/4 cup custard into tapioca. Do ahead Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill tapioca and remaining custard separately. Stir all remaining custard into tapioca to loosen before continuing.
• For blinis:
• Cook potatoes and parsnips in separate medium saucepans of boiling salted water until very tender, about 15 minutes. Drain vegetables well, then transfer to sieve set over medium bowl. Force potatoes and parsnips through sieve into bowl. Stir in milk. Whisk in flour in 3 additions. Add eggs 1 at a time, whisking to blend after each addition. Whisk sugar and salt into batter. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites until stiff but not dry. Fold egg whites into batter.
• Line rimmed baking sheet with foil. Heat griddle over medium heat. Brush with oil. In batches, drop batter by rounded tablespoonfuls onto griddle, spreading to form 21/2- to 3-inch rounds. Cook until brown, about 21/2 minutes per side. Transfer to sheet. Do ahead Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, cover tightly with foil, and chill. Rewarm uncovered in 350°F oven, about 7 minutes.
• Divide tapioca among 8 small bowls. Place 1 bowl on each of 8 plates. Divide warm blinis among plates. Arrange dried cherry halves, candied apricot slices, and toasted pecans on plates. Place dollop of crme frache and honey and small mound of ground cinnamon on plates.

CHIVE BLINI WITH CAVIAR AND CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine flour, egg, milk, 1 tablespoon butter, chives, and salt. Whisk just until ingredients come together. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside for 1 hour. Set a medium nonstick pan over low heat and brush with melted butter. Pour approximately 1 teaspoon of the batter into the pan, and repeat leaving some space between pancakes. When bubbles appear on the surface of the pancakes (about 1 to 2 minutes), flip them over with a spatula. Continue cooking for 1 minute more or until the pancakes are golden brown on both sides.
• Serve with a tiny dollop of creme fraiche and an even tinier dollop of the caviar of your choice (paddle fish, hackleback, golden whitefish and tobiko all work well.)

LEMON BLINIS WITH CAVIAR AND SCALLION CRèME FRAîCHE

Steps:

• Stir together crème fraîche and 1 tablespoon of the scallions.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large non-stick skillet over low heat and scrap into a small bowl. Whisk in milk, egg, and 1 teaspoon zest. Add flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt and whisk until smooth.
• Melt half of remaining butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat.
• Drop 6 rounded teaspoons of batter into skillet and cook until tiny bubbles form on the surface, edges appear dry, and undersides are golden, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Flip and cook until golden and cooked through, about 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
• Melt remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter in skillet and make 6 more blinis (you will have a little batter left over).
• To serve, top blinis with a small dollop of scallion crème fraîche and some caviar, then sprinkle with remaining lemon zest and scallion.