Cast Iron Blackened Grouper With Grilled Seasonal Asparagus Morels Roasted Fingerlings And Watercress Cream Recipes

CAST IRON BLACKENED GROUPER WITH GRILLED SEASONAL ASPARAGUS, MORELS, ROASTEDFINGERLINGS AND WATERCRESS CREAM

Steps:

• Prepare the blackening spice. Put all listed ingredients into a coffee grinder and grind for approximately 1 minute. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Portion the grouper fillet into 4 equal portions, leaving the skin on. Place the fillet skin-side down on a plate and generously rub the blackening spice onto the flesh. Set aside.
• Roast the fingerling potatoes in oven for 15 minutes or until they are fork tender. Peel and blanch the asparagus in salted boiling water until al dente. Saute the morels with the spring peas and butter until tender. Blanch, shock and puree the watercress in a blender with the cream and 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil for a fine puree.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil until it smokes and carefully place the grouper flesh side down and blacken the fish. Finish in the oven for 10 minutes.
• To finish the dish, reheat the asparagus on the grill. Bring the watercress cream to a simmer. Reheat the morels and peas. Reheat the fingerling potatoes. Place the asparagus on the plate, place the morels and peas on top of the asparagus. Place the fingerlings next to the vegetables. Place the grouper on the side of the vegetables and sauce. Garnish with a few watercress leaves.

BLACKENED GROUPER LINGUINE

Steps:

• For the linguine: Bring 4 cups of water to a boil and add the oil and a dash of salt. Add the linguine and cook until al dente (slightly firm to the bite), 3 to 4 minutes. Drain the pasta and set aside.
• For the beurre blanc: Put the cream, lemon juice, vinegar and shallots in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and reduce by about half. Whip in the butter until smooth. Strain the sauce to remove the shallots. Add salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
• For the grouper: Heat a medium nonstick pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Sprinkle Cajun seasoning over one side of the grouper (the serving side). Cook until well seared and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
• Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil, haricots verts and minced garlic and cook briefly. Add the linguine and toss in 2 ounces (1/4 cup) of the beurre blanc sauce.
• To assemble, arrange the linguine in the center of a plate and place the grouper fillet on top. Sprinkle on the shredded Parmesan and garnish with a lemon wedge.

GRILLED ASPARAGUS WITH CAPER SALSA

Steps:

• Fill a medium-size pot with cold water, and place it over high heat. When the water boils, add the asparagus, and blanch for 1 minute. Drain the asparagus, and rinse it immediately under cold water. Drain the asparagus again and place in a medium bowl, with 1 tablespoon of the oil, a pinch of salt and a generous grind of black pepper. Mix gently, and set aside.
• Light a charcoal or gas grill, or place a grill pan on the stove over high heat. Once it is hot, add the asparagus in batches, and grill for approximately 2 to 3 minutes, turning a few times, until the spears are lightly charred. Transfer to a large platter with all the tips facing in one direction.
• Meanwhile, make the salsa. Mix together the capers with the remaining tablespoon of oil, the lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic and parsley. Add the goat cheese to the mixture, stir gently and spoon over the asparagus.

PAN-SEARED ASPARAGUS WITH CRISPY GARLIC

Steps:

• Place a paper towel-lined plate next to the stove. In a medium or large skillet, combine the garlic and olive oil over medium-low heat. Cook, shaking the skillet often, until the garlic is very light golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat, tilt it, then use a slotted spoon to transfer the garlic to the towel-lined plate, leaving the remaining oil in the skillet. Season the crispy garlic with salt.
• Return the skillet to medium-high heat. Add the asparagus, season with salt and pepper, and cook, shaking often, until bright green, crisp-tender and browned in spots, 4 to 5 minutes. Slide onto a platter, including any oil in the skillet. Top with the garlic chips and season again with salt and pepper.

BLACKENED GROUPER

Steps:

• Preheat a cast iron skillet for a half hour on HIGH. til it turns white.
• While skillet is heating, place filets of fish in a shallow dish, drizzle 2 oz oil on the fish. turn fish to coat both sides.
• Sprinkle 1 TBSP of blackening spice on each fillet. Rub into each with your hand so it sticks. repeat this on the other side of fish.
• Cut the lemon in half, remove seeds.
• Now the pan is HOT! (Hot pan--that's the KEY).
• Pour the remaining oil in the skillet,(carefully) it will smoke. Now you're ready!
• Place each fillet in pan, let it burn! (aka BLACKENED) about 2 to 3 minutes and turn it. ( depends on the thickness of the fish).
• Cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Turn off pan.
• Let it sit for 3 minutes.
• Sprinkle on the lemon.
• AND DONE!

GRILLED ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON DRESSING

Steps:

• Snap off the woody ends of the asparagus; most spears will break an inch or two from the bottom. Peel the stalks up to the flower bud. Meanwhile, start a charcoal fire or heat a gas grill; if you're cooking indoors, heat a cast-iron or other heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it smokes.
• To grill the asparagus spears, toss them with about a tablespoon of oil, mixing with your hands until spears are coated. Season well with salt and pepper. Grill until tender and browned in spots, turning once or twice, in all 5 to 10 minutes.
• To pan grill the asparagus, do not oil or season them. Just toss them in the hot skillet, and cook, turning the spears individually as they brown, until tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove as they finish, and season with salt and pepper.
• Mix together the lemon juice and shallots, then stir in enough olive oil to add a little body and take the edge off the sharpness of the lemon; the mixture should still be strong. Season it well with salt and plenty of black pepper, and stir in the parsley. Serve the asparagus hot or at room temperature with grilled fish. Spoon the sauce over everything.

ASPARAGUS WITH MORELS AND TARRAGON

Steps:

• Put morels, porcinis or both in a bowl with very hot water to cover; soak until soft, about 20 minutes. Drain morels and reserve soaking liquid. Cut morels in half; if porcinis are large, chop them roughly.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; when butter is hot and foam has subsided, add shallots and reconstituted and fresh mushrooms to pan. Cook until shallots soften and fresh mushrooms have released their liquid and it has cooked off, about 10 minutes.
• Add asparagus and 1/2 cup reserved liquid to pan. Bring liquid to a boil, cover, reduce heat so mixture simmers, and continue cooking for another 2 to 4 minutes, or until asparagus is crisp-tender. Add cream and tarragon or chervil and continue cooking, uncovered, until sauce thickens slightly and asparagus is tender, about 4 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

GRILLED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Prepare grill.
• Divide asparagus into 4 bunches. Align each bunch in a flat row and thread 2 skewers crosswise through each bunch (see photo, above). Brush asparagus with oil and season with kosher salt.
• Grill asparagus on an oiled rack set 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals until tender, 3 to 5 minutes on each side.