Corn Blinis Filled With Brandade Recipes

RUSTIC CORN BLINI WITH HAM SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Pulse the corn in a blender until almost smooth, leaving some visible kernels, then add the milk and puree until smooth. Transfer the corn mixture to a bowl and whisk in the butter and egg. Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and stir until well blended. Let the batter rest for 30 minutes.
• While the batter rests, pulse the ham in a food processor until finely chopped. Transfer the ham to a bowl and add the mayonnaise, onions, lemon juice, paprika, celery and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
• Heat a griddle or heavy nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot, then lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray. Working in batches, pour 1 teaspoon batter per pancake onto the griddle and cook until bubbles appear on the surface and the undersides are golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip the pancakes with a spatula and cook until the undersides are golden brown, about 1 minute more. (Reduce the heat if the pancakes brown too quickly.) Lightly coat the griddle with cooking spray between batches, if necessary.
• To serve, top the warm pancakes with 1 teaspoon ham salad and garnish with a parsley or celery leaf.

CORN BLINIS FILLED WITH BRANDADE

Steps:

• To make the brandade: In a large, heavy saucepan, warm the olive oil over low heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring for about 3 minutes, or until the aroma is released. Add the flaked cod and stir vigorously for about 1 minute, until it is well broken up. Add the mashed potato and cream and continue stirring energetically. Stir in the lemon juice and the pepper (taste for salt but, since the cod is salty to begin with, it will probably not need any more).
• Work the mixture until it a very fluffy consistency. Keep the brandade warm in the top of a double boiler, covered, over slightly simmering water while you make the blinis.
• To make the blinis: In a medium saucepan full of boiling water, cook the corn for 2 minutes. Drain well and dry on paper towels. In a large heavy skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring, until it is softened and slightly golden. Add the corn, cover and cook for about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the corn is tender.
• Add the cream and bring to the boil. Cook until the mixture is almost dry, about 5 minutes. Scrape the mixture into a blender and puree until very smooth, scraping down the sides of the container as necessary. Press the mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl, pressing hard on the solids to extract all the flavor and juices. Discard the solids. In the clean blender, combine the egg, egg yolk, salt, white pepper, and flour. Blend until smooth, add the milk and the corn puree and blend again. Transfer the batter to a large measuring cup and stir in the parsley.
• In a large cast-iron skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of the vegetable oil over medium heat until very hot. Make the blini by pouring about 2 tablespoons of batter into the pan for each one, and cook for about 1 minute on each side (they should each be 4 inches in diameter; you will probably only be able to fit 2 in the pan each time). Transfer the blini to a plate in a warm oven as they are done and continue making blini, adding a teaspoon of oil to the pan for each batch, until you have used all the batter. Place one or two blini on each of 6 warm plates and place a large dollop of brandade on one side of each. Fold over the other side to cover. Drizzle the crepes with some of the crema and serve immediately.

SWEET CORN BLINI

Steps:

• Put flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and sugar in a mixing bowl. Grind 1 cup corn kernels to a rough purée in a food processor, then add egg and yogurt, and pulse to mix. Add corn mixture to flour mixture and stir together until just mixed to make a thick batter. Stir in 4 tablespoons melted butter. Set aside for 5 minutes. Thin with a little milk if necessary. (Batter may be prepared several hours ahead.)
• Warm remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add remaining 1 cup corn kernels. Season with salt and pepper, then cook for 1 minute or so to heat through. Keep warm.
• Put greased griddle or cast-iron pan over medium heat. Using 1 tablespoon batter, make pancakes about 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Cook for 1 minute, until bubbles appear on surface and pancakes are lightly browned. Flip and cook for 30 seconds more. (Be sure to keep heat moderate or else the pancakes will blacken.) Pancakes may be cooked in advance and reheated.
• To serve, place 3 hot pancakes on small plate. Top with spoonful of cooked corn and some of the butter from the pan. Drizzle with crème fraîche and sprinkle with chives.