Salsa De Pinon Pine Nut Sauce Recipes

CREMA DE PINON

Steps:

• Butter a 10 x 6 inch or similar size rectangular baking dish with 2 1/2 inch sides and set aside.
• In a medium heavy saucepan, bring the milk to a boil, being careful not to let it boil over. Remove from the heat and immediately add 1/2 cup of the pine nuts, the orange zest, and the vanilla bean. Cover and let steep for 30 minutes, then strain out and discard the nuts and orange zest and return the mixture to a clean pan (wash and dry the vanilla bean and reserve to use again).
• Bring up almost to a boil over medium high heat and add the sugar. Reduce the heat to low and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Place the cornstarch-sugar mixture in a small bowl and stir 1/4 cup of the hot milk into it, stirring until it is a paste. Add the cornstarch mixture back into the hot milk and stir it in well. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes, until the mixture thickens slightly.
• In a small bowl, add about 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture to the egg yolks and whisk together well. Return this mixture to the pan and continue to cook, stirring and scraping the bottom and sides of the pan to be sure none of the mixture scorches. Cook until the mixture is a thick coating consistency and you can see the bottom of the pan as you stir. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 3/4 cup pine nuts.
• In a shallow bowl, combine the Grand Mariner and the orange juice. Dip whole ladyfingers into the mixture, soaking for about 2 seconds, then lay an even layer of them in the base of the pan. For the sides of the pan, break the ladyfingers in half, soak them in the juice mixture, and prop them all around the sides of the dish, cut side down, like a picket fence. Scoop the cream mixture into the prepared dish and spread it evenly. Garnish with pine nuts.
• Cool to room temperature and serve within 4 hours.

FISH IN PINE NUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the pine nuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and golden, about 8 minutes. Pour onto a plate to cool. Transfer 1/4 cup of the toasted nuts to a nut grinder or small food processor and grind or pulse until finely ground.
• In a frying pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the paprika, garlic, ground pine nuts, bread crumbs, and saffron, if using, and cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and stock and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 5 to 8 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Keep warm over low heat.
• In a large frying pan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper, add to the pan, and cook, turning once, until browned on both sides, about 3 minutes on each side. Pour the sauce over the fish, add the peas, if using, and simmer until the fish is opaque throughout, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer to a serving dish or individual dishes, and garnish with the remaining pine nuts and the parsley. Serve at once.
• Variation
• You can skip the step of browning the fish, and instead poach it in the sauce. Or, you can combine the fish and the sauce in a baking dish, making sure the fish is fully covered by the sauce, and bake in a preheated in a 450°F oven until fish is tender, 10 to 12 minutes, depending on the thickness of the pieces. If baking, do not reduce the sauce too much, as some of the liquid will evaporate in the oven.

SALSA DE TOMATILLO

Steps:

• Place tomatillos in a nonreactive saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil. Simmer until tomatillos soften and begin to burst, about 10 minutes.
• Drain tomatillos and place in a food processor or blender with onion, garlic, jalapeno peppers, cilantro, salt and pepper. Blend to desired consistency.