Herbed Maryland Shad Recipes

HERBED MARYLAND SHAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Wash shad and dry with paper towels. Sprinkle inside and out with salt and pepper.
• Put fish on rack of baking pan. Add four cups of water and wine to level just under fish. Add remaining ingredients except the sauce. If necessary, add fifth cup of water to prevent burning.
• Cover tightly and steam for five hours. Baste often. Serve sliced crosswise through bones, with herb butter sauce if desired.

HERBED POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• For the potato salad: Place the potatoes and whole garlic cloves in a large pot and cover by 2 inches with cold water. Season the water liberally with salt. Bring the potatoes to a simmer over medium heat and cook until fork-tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain the potatoes and garlic in a colander. Transfer to a sheet tray or cutting board. Gently press each potato and garlic clove to smash them and set them aside in a bowl, covering the bowl with aluminum foil to keep the potatoes warm.
• For the vinaigrette: In a large bowl, whisk together the shallots, vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, honey, salt and a generous grinding of pepper. Slowly whisk in the olive oil to emulsify the vinaigrette.
• Add the warm potatoes to the vinaigrette and toss to combine. Add the parsley, dill and tarragon to the potatoes. Toss to coat, seasoning with additional lemon juice and salt to taste. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with the Fresno chile and chives. Serve at room temperature or keep covered in the refrigerator overnight, tossing again before serving.

BAKED STUFFED SHAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wipe shad fillets with damp paper towel. Season both fillets with salt and pepper and wine. Lay one fillet on a large piece of foil and spoon stuffing onto fillet. Top with second shad fillet, dot with butter and wrap up in foil. Place whole package onto a baking sheet and bake about 30 minutes until fish flakes easily. Serve immediately.

SHAD ROE WITH BEETS, BACON, AND BALSAMIC

Steps:

• Place each variety of beet in a separate saucepan; divide fennel slices, garlic, apple pieces, 4 sprigs of thyme, bay leaves, and 2 tablespoons salt evenly between saucepans. Add enough water to each saucepan to cover contents by 4 inches. Place each saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil; immediately reduce heat to a simmer and cook until beets are easily pierced with the tip of a knife, 25 to 35 minutes. Drain and discard all contents except for beets.
• Peel and quarter beets. Transfer each variety to its own bowl. Toss each with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Place flour in a shallow dish and season with salt. Add shad roe and gently toss to coat, shaking off excess. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
• Place bacon slices in a large nonstick skillet and cook over medium heat until bacon is crisp and fat has been rendered. Remove bacon from skillet and set aside. Remove all but 3 tablespoons bacon fat and discard. Add 3 tablespoons olive oil, shad roe, and remaining 2 sprigs thyme to skillet. Cook for 1 minute and turn; add butter and continue cooking until shad roe reaches an internal temperature of 135 degrees on an instant read thermometer, 1 to 2 minutes more. Remove from heat and set aside.
• To serve, divide beets, bacon, and frisee evenly between 4 plates. Place shad roe on each plate and sprinkle with sea salt and chopped herbs. Drizzle with remaining 1/4 cup olive oil and balsamic vinegar before serving.

SHAD ROE WITH MUSTARD

Steps:

• Heat an 8- or 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat for a minute or two, then add the butter. When it melts, gently lay the shad roe in the pan and sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Cook for about 3 minutes, or until the underside is lightly browned.
• Turn very gently-a large spatula is best for this-and season the cooked side. Cook for another 3 minutes or so, again until the underside is lightly browned. By this time the roe should be quite firm to the touch; if it is still soft, cover the pan and cook for another minute or two, then cut into it to check. When done, the center will be red and the area surrounding it pink.
• Transfer the roe to a warm plate. Add the mustard and 1/4 cup of water to the pan; stir. Raise the heat to high and stir the sauce with a wooden spoon until smooth and thick. Spoon over the roe, garnish if you like, and serve immediately.
• Shad Roe with Capers and Vinegar: In step 3, omit the mustard. Instead, stir in 2 tablespoons capers, 1 tablespoon vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of water. Stir until blended and the liquid is reduced by about half. Spoon over the roe, garnish, and serve.
• Shad Roe with Bacon: Omit the butter. Begin by cooking 4 thick slices good-quality bacon over medium heat until the fat is rendered and the bacon is done; remove the bacon and keep warm. Cook the shad roe in the bacon fat, exactly as directed. Serve the shad roe and bacon with lemon wedges, garnished with fresh parsley.

HERBED FLATBREAD

Steps:

• Place water in a medium bowl; sprinkle with yeast. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour, oil, 2 teaspoons coarse salt, and the sugar. Stir until dough forms.
• Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface; knead with floured hands until smooth, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a lightly oiled bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Let dough stand in a warm, draft-free place until it doubles in volume, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Divide dough into 16 equal pieces; cover with plastic wrap. Roll out 1 piece to roughly 4 by 10 inches on a lightly floured surface; transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush with egg wash; sprinkle with sea salt and herbs. Repeat with remaining dough, arranging 4 pieces per sheet.
• Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until crisp and golden, 18 to 22 minutes. Let cool on sheets on a wire rack.

FRESH HERBED HALIBUT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven's broiler and coat a baking sheet or broiling pan with olive oil.
• Rinse the fish and pat dry. Place on the greased pan, and brush with olive oil or coat with olive oil cooking spray. Squeeze the juice from the lemon wedges over the entire fillet, and season generously with salt first, then garlic and finally dill.
• Broil for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until the fillet is opaque and can be flaked with a fork. Broiling time may depend on the thickness of your fillet.