Striped Bass With Cucumber Broth Recipes

STRIPED BASS WITH LIME BROTH

Steps:

• Toast coriander, cardamom, and curry paste in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring, until spices are fragrant and curry paste begins to caramelize, about 2 minutes. Add cilantro stems, kaffir lime leaves, fish sauce, and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer gently until flavors meld, 8-10 minutes.
• Strain broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a large heatproof measuring cup; discard solids. Let cool, then stir in lime juice; season with kosher salt and more lime juice, if desired.
• Meanwhile, using a sharp knife, cut all peel and white pith from grapefruit; discard. Working over a small bowl, cut between membranes to release segments into bowl; discard membranes. Repeat with lime.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Season fish with salt and pepper. Cook fillets, skin side down, 1 minute, then firmly press down with a fish spatula to ensure even browning and crispiness. Continue cooking until skin is golden brown and fish is mostly cooked through, about 4 minutes; carefully turn fish and sauté until just cooked through, about 1 minute longer.
• Divide lime broth and fish among shallow bowls. Scatter citrus segments, cilantro leaves, and mint and basil over; drizzle with olive oil and season with sea salt.
• DO AHEAD: Broth can be made 1 day ahead (do not add lime juice). Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature and add lime juice just before serving.

PAN-COOKED BASS WITH DILL AND CUCUMBER

Steps:

• Melt butter in a 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet, then remove from heat and cool. Put fillets, flesh sides down, in butter, then turn over so skin sides are down. Sprinkle fish with salt (1/2 teaspoon), pepper (1/4 teaspoon), and 1 tablespoon dill. Arrange cucumber slices overlapping on fish (like scales) and season with salt and pepper. Cover fish directly with a piece of buttered parchment paper (buttered side down) large enough to cover it, then tightly cover skillet with lid or foil.
• Cook fish over moderately high heat until just cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes, depending on thickness of fish. Remove parchment and sprinkle fish with remaining 1/2 tablespoon dill and drizzle with some pan juices.

GRILLED STRIPED BASS WITH LIME GINGER BROTH

Steps:

• Make ginger juice with the 3 inch knob of fresh ginger by grating it into a thin cotton kitchen towel or piece of cheesecloth, then squeeze the juice into a bowl (you want 2 tablespoons); set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the wine to a boil and cook for about 2 minutes; add vegetable stock, ginger juice, mushrooms, and ginger matchsticks.
• Cook for 3 minutes, then strain the broth back into the saucepan, reserving both the broth and the solids; set aside.
• Blend the butter into the broth with an immersion blender; return reserved solids to broth, along with 2 tablespoons lime juice (any extra can be saved for another use), scallions, cilantro, cayenne, and lime zest; cook for 2 minutes then remove from heat.
• Preheat a grill to medium high; season bass pieces with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil.
• Place bass skin side down on grill and cook 2 minutes, rotate a 1/4 turn and cook 3 minutes; flip and cook until flesh is easily flaked with a knife, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove fish to a large oval platter, reheat broth and vegetables, then pour it around the fish; garnish with fresh cilantro sprigs.

STRIPED BASS WITH CUCUMBER BROTH

Steps:

• Cut 1 cucumber into 1/2-inch-thick slices; set aside. Pass remaining cucumbers through a juicer; you should have about 3 cups juice. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whip cream to soft peaks. Stir in horseradish and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator until ready to use.
• Using a sharp knife, make shallow slits in skin side of fish. Heat oil in a large ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until it is very hot. Season both sides of fish fillets with salt and pepper, and place in pan skin side down. Cook until skin is browned, about 5 minutes; turn, and saute until fish is cooked through, about 5 minutes more. Transfer fish to warm shallow serving bowls.
• Add garlic and reserved cucumber slices to pan; cook over low heat until cucumber is soft and translucent. Add reserved cucumber juice and the thyme leaves; cook just until mixture is hot. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle cucumber broth and slices around fish; garnish with horseradish cream and thyme sprigs.