Saffron Aioli For Basque Salad Recipes

SAFFRON AIOLI

Steps:

• Steep the saffron threads in warm water for about 10 minutes. Drain water, but don't allow threads to dry out.
• Combine mayonnaise, and lemon juice with a wire whisk, mixing together until uniform.
• Add pressed garlic, only 1/2 of saffron threads, 1 teaspoon of saffron powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and continue to mix once again until uniform in texture.
• Use remaining saffron threads to garnish aioli in a small ramekin, bowl, or directly on top of food. Serve cool to slightly below room temperature.

BASQUE SALAD

Steps:

• Cover potatoes with water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain; let cool completely.
• Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Heat sherry in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until warm, 2 to 5 minutes. Add saffron, and stir until it has dissolved. Set aside.
• Heat oil in a cast-iron skillet in oven 5 minutes. Season fish with salt and pepper; set aside. Remove skillet from oven, and add fish, skin side down. Drizzle with the sherry mixture. Add sausage and shallots. Roast 10 minutes. Remove from oven; brush fish with pan juices. Add clams and mussels. Roast until fish is cooked through and clams and mussels have opened, about 10 minutes (discard any shellfish that remain closed). Transfer skillet to a wire rack. Drizzle with lemon juice. Let cool 15 minutes.
• Arrange tomato slices on a platter. Cut cooled potatoes into 1/4-inch-thick rounds; arrange over tomatoes. Top with seafood mixture; reserve 2 tablespoons pan juices.
• Make the dressing: Whisk reserved pan juices, lemon juice, parsley, and basil in a medium bowl. Gradually add oil, whisking constantly until emulsified.
• Drizzle salad with dressing. Serve with saffron aioli and toasted baguette.

SAFFRON AIOLI

Steps:

• Place saffron in a small bowl with water; set aside.
• Use a mortar and pestle to mash garlic and a pinch of salt to a fine paste. Add mustard and incorporate. Add egg yolks and mix well. Add saffron-water mixture and stir to incorporate. Slowly add half the oil, drop by drop at first, and then in a slow steady stream, while mixing with the pestle. (Thin with about a tablespoon of warm water if mixture is too thick.) Continue incorporating oil until all of it is absorbed. Thin with additional water if needed, and season with salt to taste.

SAFFRON AïOLI

Steps:

• Put the saffron in a small bowl with 1 tbsp boiling water. Leave for 10 mins to cool and for the water to turn a golden colour.
• Meanwhile, put the egg yolks, garlic, mustard and lemon juice in a jug or a tall container with a pinch of salt and blitz with a stick blender (or in a food processor) until smooth. Slowly add the olive oil, a small drizzle at a time, keeping the blender on, until you get a thick, glossy mayonnaise. Season with black pepper, then stir in the saffron water to loosen the aïoli and turn it a golden hue. Cover the surface and chill until ready to serve. Add a splash of water or lemon juice, to serve, if your aïoli thickens up too much in the fridge.

GRILLED VEGETABLES SALAD WITH CRAB CAKES AND SAFFRON AIOLI

Steps:

• Saute the peppers and garlic in olive oil. Set aside to cool.
• In a big bowl, combine the crabmeat, 3 tablespoons of the mayonnaise, herbs, bread crumbs, and the cooled Sauteed mixture. Mix well. If it seems dry, add more mayonnaise. Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• Make balls from crab mix into 8 equal portions. Pat each into a disk. Chill again until ready to cook.
• Preheat grill for 20 minutes before you need to cook vegetables. Prep all the vegetables then toss in olive oil, salt, and pepper in separate bowls. Grill them over medium high heat until they are tender but not mushy, about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the heat of the grill. As they come off grill, toss them in a bit more olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Fry the crab cakes over medium high heat in olive oil until golden brown. Serve with the grilled vegetables and Saffron Aioli.
• Use garlic that is fresh and firm. If garlic has sprouted, split the cloves and remove green germ. In food processor, puree garlic until chopped fine. Season with salt and pepper and add the saffron and egg yolks. With motor running slowly, add the olive oil in a thin steady stream. When it is done, it should be like a thick mayonnaise. Add lemon juice and cayenne and taste for seasoning.
• Alternatively, you can make the aioli in a mortar and pestle, which is the traditional way.
• Yield: 2 cups

POACHED SALMON SALAD WITH SAFFRON AIOLI

Steps:

• Use a pot big enough to hold the salmon and add enough water to cover the fish. Add the white wine and heat the mixture until vapors rise from its surface, but not to a boil. Slip the fish into the liquid and cook until done. Salmon is done when there is the first sign of a white substance forming on the surface of the fish. Remove the fish from the liquid, and let cool to room temperature; then cover and refrigerate.
• To make the aioli, roast the garlic head in a 350-degree oven until soft- about 45 minutes. Squeeze the pulp from the roasted garlic into a food processor. Add mustard, egg and vinegar. With the motor running slowly, add the oil 1 drop at a time and then in a gentle stream once an emulsion has started. When the oil is used up, add the saffron infusion and season with salt and pepper. If the aioli is too thick, add more water.
• Dress the greens and onion in olive oil to coat, adding a squeeze of lemon juice to taste. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the fish on top of the greens on a platter and serve the aioli on the side. .

ALFRESCO DINING - SEAFOOD PAELLA AND SAFFRON AIOLI

Steps:

• Use a mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment, and combine egg yolks, garlic, saffron, and a pinch of salt; whisk at high speed, while adding oil, drop by drop (this is important because otherwise mixture will not thicken properly).
• As the aioli begins to thicken you can increase the oil to a thin stream; adjust seasonings with a squeeze of lemon juice and/or more salt, if needed.
• In a paella pan with lid or large deep-sided skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat; add onion and saute until softened and golden, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, coarsely grate the tomatoes, cut side, until only the skins remain and discard skins; you should have about 2 cups of tomatoes.
• Stir the tomatoes, peppers, and bay leaves into the onions; season with paprika.
• Simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid evaporates, about 15 minutes.
• Add the stock, bring to a boil, then stir in the rice; reduce heat to medium and simmer 10 minutes, stirring to prevent the rice from sticking.
• Stir in the peas, squid, mussels or clams, and shrimp; turn heat to low and simmer until nearly all the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes.
• Cover with lid, remove from heat, and let rest 5 to 10 minutes; sprinkle with parsley and let cool.
• Serve with saffron aioli and lemon wedges.

LENTIL AND ARUGULA SALAD WITH SAFFRON AIOLI

Steps:

• Cook the lentils in salted water, covered, for 30 minutes or until tender. Drain and cool. Add the shallot, vinegar and olive oil and toss well. Set aside.
• Make the saffron aioli. Peel the garlic cloves and mash them with half a teaspoon of salt in a mortar and pestle. Add the egg yolk and mix in thoroughly. Gradually add the olive oil little by little beating continually until you have a thick emulsion (this can also be done in a blender). Add the vinegar by the tablespoon to thin the sauce.
• Soften the saffron in the warm water. Add it to the aioli and mix in with a chopstick or a small fork. Let it sit for an hour or so, refrigerated, to develop the flavor.
• Thoroughly wash and dry the arugula. Arrange the leaves either on an individual plate or a large serving dish and spoon the lentils in the center. Serve with the aioli.

SAFFRON ALIOLI

Steps:

• Put saffron threads in a small cup, then add hot water and let stand 5 minutes.
• Purée saffron mixture with remaining ingredients in a mini food processor or a blender until smooth.

POTATO CROQUETAS WITH SAFFRON AIOLI (SPAIN)

Steps:

• Prepare Croquetas:.
• Peel potatoes and cut into 1-inch pieces. Cover with salted cold water by 1 inch in a 2-quart saucepan, then boil until tender, about 8 minutes.
• Drain in a colander. Mash or force potatoes through a ricer into a medium bowl and cool.
• Lightly beat 1 egg in a small bowl with a fork.
• Add to cooled potatoes along with herbs, butter, salt, and pepper and stir until just combined.
• Spoon tablespoons of potato mixture onto a tray, then lightly roll each into a ball between palms of your hands and return to tray.
• Lightly beat remaining 2 eggs in a small bowl and set aside.
• Spread flour in a shallow bowl, then spread bread crumbs in another shallow bowl.
• Working in batches, roll balls in flour to coat, gently shaking off excess.
• Dip balls in egg, turning to coat and letting excess drip off, then roll in bread crumbs and return to tray. Chill, covered, for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 200°F.
• Heat 1 1/2 inches oil in a pot.
• Working in batches, fry croquetas, turning if necessary, until browned, about 1 1/2 minutes per batch.
• Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain, then transfer to a baking pan and keep warm in the oven while frying remaining croquetas.
• **Croquetas can be fried up to 3 hours ahead and kept at room temperature. Reheat in a preheated 400°F oven for 8 minutes.
• Prepare Saffron Aioli:.
• Put saffron threads in a small cup, then add hot water and let stand 5 minutes.
• Purée saffron mixture with remaining ingredients in a mini food processor or a blender until smooth.
• **Aioli can be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered. Bring to room temperature before serving (this will take about 1 hour).

SAFFRON ORANGE AïOLI

Steps:

• Stir together saffron and water in a small bowl until saffron begins to dissolve (threads will still be intact). Transfer saffron mixture to a food processor along with remaining ingredients except oil, then pulse until combined. With motor running, add oil in a thin, steady stream until aïoli is thickened and emulsified. Transfer to a bowl and chill, covered, until ready to use.

SEAFOOD PAELLA AND SAFFRON AIOLI

Steps:

• To make the aioli: In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, combine the egg yolks, garlic clove, saffron and a pinch of salt. Whisk at high speed while adding the oil drop by drop. As the mixture thickens, increase the oil to a very thin trickle until it is used up and the aioli is thick and wobbly. Adjust the seasoning with a squeeze of lemon juice and more salt, if needed.
• To make the paella: In a large deep-sided frying pan or paella pan with a lid, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft and golden, about 15 minutes.
• Coarsely grate the tomatoes, cut side down, until only the skin remains. Discard the skins. There should be about 2 cups.
• Stir the tomatoes, peppers, bay leaves and paprika into the onion. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until no liquid remains, about 15 minutes. Add the stock, bring to a boil and pour in the rice. Stir and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring a few times to prevent sticking.
• Add the peas, squid, mussels or clams, and shrimp, incorporating everything into the rice. Simmer over low heat until nearly all the liquid has disappeared, about 10 minutes. Cover with a lid, remove from heat and rest for 5 to 10 minutes more. Scatter with parsley and cool. Serve with the saffron aioli and lemon wedges.

SAFFRON-AIOLI TOASTS

Steps:

• In a mortar work the garlic, saffron and salt to a paste. Stir in the lemon juice. Gradually stir this mixture into the mayonnaise, beating until smooth.
• Grill or toast the bread. Spread half of each slice with the mayonnaise mixture and serve alongside the mussels or cod.

BASQUE SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, toss together the green, red, and yellow peppers with the tomatoes, cucumber, and onion.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the vinegar and olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, and sugar. Whisk in oregano, basil, and marjoram. Continue whisking until ingredients are well blended and the oil and vinegar are emulsified.
• Pour dressing over vegetables, and toss gently with a wooden spoon. Cover, and marinate at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours, stirring frequently. Refrigerate until 1 hour before serving; then remove from the refrigerator, and let sit at room temperature. Garnish with chopped parsley.