Caviar Parfaits Recipes

AHI TUNA PARFAIT WITH TWO CAVIARS

Steps:

• To make the vinaigrette, combine the mustard, vinegar, oil, and tobiko in a small bowl. Season with the salt and pepper and whisk lightly.
• In a small chilled bowl, whip the cream until stiff peaks form. Reserve.
• Fill a large bowl with ice. Place a medium bowl in the ice and add the tuna, Tabasco sauce, chopped chives, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste and mix lightly.
• Spray the insides of four 1- to 1 1/2-inch ring molds, or tuna cans with tops and bottoms removed, with nonstick cooking spray. Layer the tuna mixture and caviars in the molds as follows: one-eighth of the tuna, one-fourth of the tobiko, one-eighth of the tuna, one-fourth of the osetra. Press down lightly on the parfaits after each layer with the bottom of a Tabasco bottle (it's the perfect size) or the butt end of a whisk. Top the layers with a thin layer of the cream, smooth to cover, and unmold cream side up onto white serving plates. Or use the Tabasco bottle to push the parfaits from the bottom, then carefully lift them onto a plate. Garnish each portion with 2 chives. Drizzle the vinaigrette around and serve with demitasse spoons.

CAVIAR PARFAITS

Steps:

• Make potato cakes:
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake potatoes until tester can pierce center but potatoes are not yet tender, about 30 minutes. Cool. Peel and coarsely grate potatoes. Transfer grated potatoes to bowl. Add chives. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix in egg white. Oil baking sheet. Press 1 heaping tablespoon potato mixture onto sheet, forming 2-inch round. Repeat with remaining mixture, forming 8 cakes total. Add enough oil to heavy large skillet to reach depth of 1 inch. Heat oil to 350°F. Add potato cakes to skillet and fry until golden, about 2 minutes. Drain on paper towels. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool; cover and chill. Rewarm in 350°F oven about 10 minutes before serving.)
• Make egg mixture:
• Gently mix all ingredients in small bowl.
• Make horseradish crème fraîche:
• Combine first 4 ingredients in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat until peaks form. Season with salt and pepper.
• Place 1 warm potato cake in center of plate. Place 2-inch-diameter cookie cutter or biscuit cutter with 1-inch-high sides around potato cake. Top cake with 2 tablespoons egg mixture; press to adhere. Press 2 tablespoons salmon atop. Dollop with 2 tablespoons horseradish crème fraîche. Gently remove cookie cutter. Smooth top. Top with small spoonful caviar. Repeat with remaining cakes.
• Drizzle basil oil around if using.

CAVIAR AND SALMON PARFAIT

Steps:

• Drain the sour cream overnight in a cheesecloth-lined sieve, mix dill into sour cream. Coat the inside of the pastry ring with a thin coating of vegetable oil and place the pastry ring in the center of a decorative serving platter.
• Fill the bottom of the ring with smoked salmon that is thinly sliced and layer it into one even layer. Spoon a thin layer of dill cream onto the salmon. Top with an even layer of salmon caviar, being careful not to break any of the eggs. Top with dill cream. Finish with a layer of black caviar and dollop with dill cream. Chill in ring for 1 hour or more before serving to allow parfait to set. Remove the ring carefully and garnish the top of the parfait with sprigs of dill. Use watercress leaves and crisp bread to garnish the platter.