Potato Pancakes With Mango Serrano Creme Fraiche And Smoked Trout Recipes

SMOKED TROUT, VODKA CREME FRAICHE AND CRISPY POTATOES

Steps:

• Cook the potatoes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the potatoes in a roasting pan and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and stir to evenly coat the potatoes. Roast for 30 to 35 minutes, until the potatoes are soft. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly. While the potatoes are still warm, gently press down on each one with the back of a pan or the side of a knife so it flattens to about 3/4 inch but stays intact (it's okay if the edges crack a bit, as they will get extra crisp when fried). Heat about 4 inches of canola oil in a heavy pot over medium heat. Once the oil reaches 350 degrees F, fry the crushed potatoes, in batches, for 5 to 6 minutes, until they become golden and crunchy. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.
• Make the vodka creme fraiche: Combine the creme fraiche and vodka in a mixing bowl and whisk vigorously to whip and combine. Season lightly with salt. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Prepare the toppings: Carefully flake the trout fillets into small bite-size pieces. Fry the shallots: Separate the shallot slices into rings. Lightly dredge the rings in the flour. In a saute pan, heat 1/2 inch of olive oil to 350 degrees F. Fry the shallots for 2 to 3 minutes, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and immediately season with kosher salt. To assemble, place a small dollop of vodka creme fraiche on each piece of potato and top it with a piece of trout. Garnish with the radish sprouts, chives and fried shallots. Season with fleur de sel and drizzle with a little extra-virgin olive oil.

AVOCADO PANCAKES WITH CRèME FRAîCHE AND TROUT ROE

Steps:

• TO MAKE THE CRÈME FRAÎCHE: Pour the cream into a glass container or bowl. Stir in the buttermilk, cover, and let the mixture sit in a warm spot until the mixture thickens to the consistency of sour cream, at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours. Cover and refrigerate.
• TO MAKE THE PANCAKES: In the work bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade or the jar of a blender, process the onion until pureed. Add the avocado, egg, flour, baking powder, milk, salt, and pepper, and process until the mixture is creamy and resembles breakfast-pancake batter, about 4 minutes. Set a large, lightly oiled skillet over medium-low heat. Drop the pancake batter by tablespoonfuls about 1 inch apart onto the heated skillet. Cook until the pancakes puff up, deflate slightly, and are lightly browned on both sides, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes per side.
• TO ASSEMBLE THE PANCAKES: Top each warm pancake with 1 tablespoon of crème fraîche and 1 teaspoon of trout roe. Serve immediately.
• do it early
• The crème fraîche will keep for 1 week in the refrigerator.
• tips
• If you don't feel like making your own crème fraîche, most grocery stores carry it.
• Many high-end markets, such as Whole Foods and Central Market, carry trout roe. A number of vendors offer it online as well.

POTATO LATKES WITH SMOKED SALMON AND CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• Using coarse side of box grater or food processor fitted with coarse grater blade, shred potatoes. Wrap potatoes in kitchen towel and squeeze out excess liquid. Transfer to large bowl. Repeat process with onion; add to bowl with potatoes.
• Add eggs, flour, salt and pepper to potatoes.
• Heat oil to 350 degrees.
• Working in batches, drop potato mixture by 1/4 cupfuls into skillet; flatten to 3-inch rounds. Fry latkes until golden brown on bottom, adding more oil by tablespoonfuls as needed, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer latkes to rimmed baking sheet; keep warm in oven.
• Mix crème fraîche and chopped fresh tarragon in small bowl to blend. Divide smoked salmon among latkes. Top each latke with dollop of tarragon crème fraîche.
• Or insted of creme fraiche and tarragon you can try: creme fraiche, 1 tbsp dill, finely chopped, 2 tbsp horseradish, 1 tsp lemon zest.