Butter Poached Tripletail With Braised Leeks Blackened Butternut Squash And Sauce Nantua Recipes

BLACKENED BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine everything but the butter in a small bowl and mix until well blended.
• Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of the spice mixture to the softened butter and blend completely. (Reserve the remaining spice mixture for another use.)
• Lay a piece of plastic wrap on a work surface. Place the spiced butter on the lower third of the plastic in a 2- to 3-inch-wide oblong shape. Gently wrap the shorter end of the plastic up and over the butter, using it to help shape and roll the butter into a log. Twist the ends of the plastic closed, like a hard-candy wrapper. Chill until firm, at least 30 minutes, preferably 1 hour.

HOW TO BUTTER POACH LOBSTER TAILS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring 2-3 tbs. of water to a simmer over medium heat
• Whisk in 1 tbs. butter, when butter melts add another piece. Continuing adding butter pieces - 1 cup (two sticks total.) Do not let the butter come to a boil or the butter will separate. Try to keep the butter between 160 and 175 degrees F. Use an instant read thermometer to to keep it under 180 F
• Add defrosted, raw tails. Cook for 6-8 minutes and turn tails in butter mixture. Again, make sure the butter does not come to a boil, reduce the heat if necessary. Be careful not to overcook lobster. Poached lobster tails should have an an internal temperature of about 140-145°

BUTTER-POACHED TRIPLETAIL WITH BRAISED LEEKS, BLACKENED BUTTERNUT SQUASH, AND SAUCE NANTUA

Steps:

• In a large saute pan, heat 1/4C water and juice of 1 lemon over medium heat. Add leeks in an even layer; cook until softened. Add 2T butter; cook until butter is melted and enough water evaporates to form an emulsion. Season to taste with salt.
• In a large bowl, prepare an ice bath. In a large pot, add 2-3 quarts water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add squash and blanch for 3 minutes in boiling water. Transfer squash to the ice bath to stop cooking; drain when cool and pat dry.
• Season squash with salt to taste and blackening seasoning. Heat a cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add squash; sear until caramelized, about 3-4 minutes. Let cool. Cut into bite-sized cubes.
• Season fillets with salt. In a wide saute pan, bring remaining 1C water and remaining juice of 1 lemon to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer, and place fillets in pan. Steam, uncovered, until fish is about halfway cooked, and liquid is reduced to about 1/2C, about 4 - 6 minutes. Swirl in remaining 1C butter, 2T at a time, adding more liquid if needed to maintain emulsion. Baste fish with butter repeatedly until fish is fully cooked, about 4 minutes. Add chives, and season butter with salt. Spoon Sauce Nantua into a wide bowl. Reheat leeks and squash. Spoon vegetables into center of bowl. Place fish over vegetables, and baste with a little lemon chive butter from pan. Garnish with green onion, celery leaves, and shaved fennel, if desired.
• SAUCE: In a medium saucepan, heat a thin layer of oil over high heat. Add shrimp heads; saute until evenly pink. Add celery, carrot, and onion; cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Add tomato paste, and stir to evenly distribute. Stir in wine, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, scraping browned bits from bottom of pan with a wooden spoon. Add garlic; cook until wine is reduced by half. Add cream, and bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Let cool slightly. Puree mixture using an immersion blender or in batches in the container of a blender. Strain through fine-mesh sieve. Season to taste and add lemon juice.