Steamed Sea Bass With Vanilla Baby Vegetables And Cappuccino Sauce Recipes

MADAME E'S SIMPLY STEAMED SEA BASS WITH GINGER AND PICKLED PLUM

Steps:

• Have your fishmonger cut the bass into nice, thick squares. With a sharp French knife or boning knife, score the skin side of the fish in a oneinch diagonal pattern. The best equipment for steaming this fish is a wok and a large bamboo steamer. Shallow, heat resilient ceramic bowls that fit inside the steamer are perfect. You may have to steam the fish in waves, or you can stack an additional steamer onto the original to create a layered steamer tower. If you do not have heat resistant bowls to serve the fish in, any shallow stainless pan will work and then you just will have to transfer the fish into serving bowls.
• Peel the shrimp, leaving heads intact. Slice shrimp down the middle, beginning at the base of the head and continuing to the beginning of the tail. Remove the vein. Hold the shrimp by the tail and then pull the tail through the slit, going under so the tail stands upright.
• For steaming in individual bowls:
• Place one piece of lightly salted fish in the center of the bowl. Combine in a stainless steel bowl, 3 to 4 cups of water, julienned ginger, tomato sections, cup of cilantro sprigs, and 4 to 5 umeboshi plums, seeds removed and lightly mashed between your fingers. In each bowl, place two shrimp and ladle two pieces of tomato and about 6 to 8 cups of the liquid around the fish, making sure to get equal amounts of ginger and plum in the bowl. Sprinkle cracked white pepper on top of the fish. While you are preparing the bowls, set up wok with water and steamer(s). Turn on heat, bringing it up to full steam. Carefully place bowl(s) in steamer, then cover and cook till fish is done. The cooking time will vary according to the thickness of the fish and the intensity of the steam. An average piece of bass, approximately one inch thick, will cook in approximately six to seven minutes. Cautiously remove bowl(s) and garnish with fresh cilantro sprigs. Serve with ample steamed rice.
• If you have a rice steamer, proceed as you would to steam any rice. A banana leaf placed in the steamer will impart a wonderfully fragrant perfume.
• To cook jasmine rice:
• Bring four cups water to a boil. Add rice, salt and oil and boil hard until you see big rounds of boiling rice, approximately three to four minutes. Reduce heat to simmer, cover pot and cook for 15 minutes. Check rice with a fork, taste. If it is a little al dente, leave covered on stove with the heat off for three to four more minutes. Serve in individual bowls.

CHINESE STEAMED SEA BASS

Steps:

• Season sea bass with salt.
• Place 1/3 of the spring onions and ginger onto a glass or ceramic plate; cover with sea bass. Scatter remaining spring onions and ginger over the sea bass.
• Bring a wide pot of water to a boil. Set a rack inside the boiling water; place the plate of sea bass on top. Cover pot and steam until sea bass flakes easily with a fork, 8 to 10 minutes. Pour out any water that may have collected on the plate.
• Mix soy sauce, chile oil, and sugar together in a small bowl; pour over the sea bass before serving.

CHINESE-STYLE STEAMED SEA BASS WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Rinse the fish thoroughly under cold running water; remove any debris from the cavity with a spoon; pat dry. Season the cavity with salt and pepper; stuff with the ginger slices, 4 slices garlic, and the cilantro sprigs. Rub the fish with 1 1/2 tablespoons sesame oil. Season with salt and pepper.
• Put the bok choy, mushrooms, two-thirds of the scallions, the remaining garlic, the grated ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Season with pepper, and toss.
• Transfer half of the bok choy mixture to a 9 × 13-inch baking pan; place the fish on top. Top with the remaining bok choy mixture. Whisk together the soy sauce, vinegar, mirin, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; drizzle over the fish. Tightly cover the pan with foil.
• Pour water to a depth of 1/4 inch in another 9 × 13-inch baking pan; bring to a boil on top of the stove. Reduce heat; let simmer. Set the pan with the fish on top; steam until cooked through, 16 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a platter; garnish with the remaining scallions and chopped cilantro. Drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons sesame oil.

STEAMED SEA BASS, CANTONESE STYLE

Steps:

• 1. Rinse the fish inside and out with 1/4 cup of wine.
• 2. Select a round or oval platter that's large enough to hold the fish but will fit inside the top of a steaming utensil. This could be a traditional Chinese bamboo or metal steamer, or a Western-style clam steamer.
• 3. Place the fish on the platter and set platter in the top of the steamer. Cover and steam over boiling water 10 to 15 minutes.
• 4. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce base by combining the 2 tablespoons of wine, garlic, scallions, ginger, and sugar in a small bowl.
• 5. Check fish for doneness. When cooked, the flesh will be white and pull easily from the bones. Remove the platter and pour off the liquid that has accumulated around the fish.
• 6. Heat the oil in a wok or saucepan, and when it is hot, add the sauce base. Cook, stirring until the sauce boils.
• 7. Pour soy sauce over the sea bass first, and then pour the boiled sauce over the fish. Serve immediately.

GORDON RAMSAY'S SEA BASS WITH VANILLA-BEAN FOAM

Steps:

• Trim the fillets into rectangles. Lightly score the skin to help it caramelize and to help prevent curling.
• Strain the fish stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Split the vanilla bean open and scrape the seeds into the hot stock followed by the pod. Remove the stock from the heat and allow the vanilla to infuse and the stock to cool completely. Return the stock to the stove and boil for about 20 minutes, until reduced by . Remove from heat, discard the vanilla and set the stock aside.
• Peel the salsify, then immediately drop it into cold water with 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice. Blanch in a large pot of boiling salted water for 2 minutes, drain, refresh in ice-cold water and drain again. Pat dry and cut into batons.
• Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a saucepan and add 1 cup of the fish stock. Bring to a light boil, toss in the salsify batons and cook until the stock has reduced to a glossy glaze. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the butter and season with i teaspoon sea salt. The batons should be lightly colored; if they are not, cook for another minute or so. Set aside.
• Melt another tablespoon of the butter in a medium pan and cook the fennel until nicely colored. Add 1/2 cup of the stock to the pan along with the thyme and the bay leaf. Cover and braise over gentle heat for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the thyme and the bay leaf and set the fennel aside.
• In a spice mill or using a mortar and pestle, grind the white and black peppercorns, coriander seeds, star anise and cardamom into a powder.
• Heat the oil in a heavy frying pan. Season the bass with salt, pepper and the remaining lemon juice. Add 2 tablespoons of butter to the pan. When it has stopped foaming, add the fish skin side down. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, then flip the fillets over and cook another 3 to 4 minutes, until firm and lightly springy. Season with the spice mixture and set aside.
• Warm the remaining stock and stir in the tablespoon of cream and 1/2 teaspoon of salt, or more to taste. Remove from the heat, add the 2 tablespoons ice-cold butter and reheat the stock, frothing it with an electric hand mixer.
• Divide the fennel among 4 warmed plates. Put the fish on top, skin side up. Arrange the salsify around it in a circle. Spoon the sauce over the fish and drizzle the rest over the salsify.