Oyster Leek Gratine With Ponzu Sabayon Kaffir Lime Smoked Salmon Rillette Recipes

LOBSTER IN CALVADOS SABAYON

Steps:

• Split the lobsters lengthwise using a large chef's knife. Pour the liquid into a small bowl, and remove the liver and set aside. Discard the stomach (the small sac behind the eyes). Remove the claws and the legs and set aside. Slice down through the tail meat and the shell at the point of the natural hinges. Slice the body into pieces of the same approximate size.
• Melt 4 ounces of the butter in a large heavy saucepan. When the butter starts to turn the color of a hazelnut, add the lobster pieces and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the carrots, tomatoes and tomato paste, and cook over high heat for 10 minutes, turning lobsters often. Once they have turned red all over, remove the lobsters from the saucepan and set aside.
• Make the roux by combining the flour and the remaining butter in a separate saucepan. Stirring constantly, heat and mix until you have a light golden paste. Remove the roux to a small bowl.
• To the carrot and tomato mixture, add the shallots, and sizzle for 1 minute without burning. Add the Calvados, ignite, and when the flame dies out, add the cream. Using a whisk, add the roux mixture, and stir until smooth. Bring the sauce slowly to a boil.
• In a separate bowl, mix the reserved livers and lemon juice together, and add salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. Add the liver mixture to the sauce and cook for about 5 minutes. You may cook the sauce longer to reduce and thicken it. Once it has reached its desired consistency, add the parsley.
• To serve, place the lobster pieces on a plate to recreate the shape of the lobster and set the claws on each side. Pour the sauce over the lobsters.

STUFFED SALMON IN FLAKY DOUGH

Steps:

• To make the mushroom-shrimp stuffing: Heat the tablespoon of butter in a skillet. When it is hot but not smoking, add the shallots. Saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots have softened, then add the mushrooms, and cook over medium to high heat until they have released their juice. When that juice has evaporated and the mixture starts sizzling again, add the shrimp, and cook for about 1 minute, just long enough for the shrimp pieces to change color. Season with the pepper, salt, and chives. Cool.
• When ready to assemble the dish, line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Roll the dough into a 16-inch square. Cut a 16-inch-long strip from the dough measuring 5 to 6-inches wide, and place it on the diagonal on the parchment paper. Place one of the salmon fillets on top, and sprinkle it lightly with salt and pepper. Spread the cooled mushroom-shrimp stuffing evenly on top, then cover the stuffing with the remaining salmon fillet.
• Take care to arrange the fillets so that the thinner part of the fillet on the bottom corresponds to the larger, thicker part of the fillet on top (tail to head and head to tail), and the shape and thickness are the same throughout. This way the salmon will cook evenly.
• Roll the remaining, wider strip of dough up onto your rolling pin, then unroll it on top of the second fillet. Brush off any flour from the surface of the dough, and press it all around the edges, so it conforms to the fish shape underneath. The large top layer of dough will stick around the edge to the layer of dough underneath. Press the two layers of dough gently around the edge so they adhere well together, then place in the freezer for about 10 minutes to firm up the dough. This will make trimming and decorating the "fish" easier. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• After 10 minutes, remove the "fish" from the freezer, and trim the excess dough all around the edge to create a fish outline with dorsal fins as well as a tail from the extra dough around the salmon. Make a gill with a strip of the trimmed dough, and cut and position a round piece of dough for the eye. Continue decorating as you fancy.
• Break the whole egg into a small bowl, and remove about half the white. Beat the remaining egg in the bowl with a fork to make a wash for coating the "fish". Brush the salmon with the egg. Holding the tip from a pastry bag (large end down) at an angle, press it lightly into the "fish" to simulate scales. Bake in the 375 degree F oven for 35 to 40 minutes. Remove and set aside, uncovered, in a warm place while you make the sauce.
• Foamy lemon sauce: Whisk together 1 cup of the chicken stock and the potato starch in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Whisk the egg yolks and the remaining chicken stock in a bowl, then pour into the hot stock, and whisk constantly over medium heat for about 2 minutes, or until the sauce thickens and foams, but don't let it boil. It should reach a temperature of 180 degrees, the temperature needed to cook the eggs and the starch and to thicken the sauce. Whisk in the salt and cayenne, then remove the saucepan from the heat, stir in the lemon juice, and set aside. The sauce should have doubled in volume.
• Using 2 long hamburger spatulas, transfer the "fish" to a serving platter. To serve, cut into 1 to 1 1/2-inch slices, and arrange on warm individual plates. Spoon some sauce around the slices, and serve immediately.

STERLING GOLD CAVIAR, SMOKED SALMON AND POTATO NAPOLEON

Steps:

• Using a turning slicer, make potato hair. Deep fry the hair until golden brown. Season with salt and break into 3 by 3-inch oblong pieces. Mix the creme fraiche and chives. Place a small dab on a plate and top with potato crisp. Lay 1 slice of salmon on top, small dab of creme and a teaspoon of caviar. Top with second potato crisp and repeat, finishing with the caviar. Garnish with black pepper and chive points.
• Ravenswood, Big River Zinfandel, Alexander Valley, 1997 Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin Champagne

RILLETTES DE SAUMON (SALMON RILLETTES)

Steps:

• In a food processor, briefly whiz the pieces of smoked salmon with the thyme and lemon juice and zest. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add the butter and Boursin. Season lightly with the paprika, a touch of cayenne, and black pepper. Whiz again briefly until the mixture is combined, but still a little rough. Taste, and adjust the seasoning, salt, pepper or paprika. Chill for at least 20 minutes, longer if convenient. Remove from the refrigerator at least 10 minutes before serving.
• Serve with or on slices of buttered rye bread, with a few watercress leaves.

POTATO, LEEK, GRUYèRE AND OYSTER MUSHROOM GRATIN

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and sauté until almost tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté until mushrooms are tender and golden, about 3 minutes longer. Transfer mushroom mixture to bowl. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in same skillet over medium-high heat. Add leeks and thyme and sauté until leeks are tender and beginning to brown, about 8 minutes. Add leek mixture to bowl with mushrooms. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Butter 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish. Whisk broth, cream, wine, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in large bowl to blend. Layer 1/3 of potatoes on bottom of prepared dish. Top with half of mushroom-leek mixture, then 3/4 cup cheese. Top with half of remaining potatoes. Pour half of cream mixture over. Top with remaining mushroom-leek mixture and 3/4 cup cheese. Cover with remaining potatoes. Pour remaining cream mixture over; sprinkle with remaining cheese.
• Bake gratin uncovered until potatoes are tender and sauce bubbles thickly, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Let gratin stand 30 minutes before serving.