Sesame Arctic Char Donabe Recipes

SESAME ARCTIC CHAR DONABE RECIPE

Steps:

• Combine kombu and 4 1/2 cups cold water in a medium saucepan. Let sit until kombu is pliable, 25-30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water. Shake off excess water and toss noodles in a medium bowl with 2 tsp. oil. Divide among serving bowls and set aside.
• Bring kombu mixture to a boil over medium heat, then immediately remove pan from heat. Lift out kombu from broth with tongs and discard. Add bonito flakes to broth and stir once to moisten. Bring mixture to a simmer over medium, then reduce heat and simmer very gently 5 minutes. Let sit off heat 15 minutes. Strain dashi through a fine-mesh sieve into a large heatproof measuring glass or a medium bowl; discard solids. (You should have about 4 cups.)
• While the dashi is infusing, remove the dark green tops of the scallions from the white bulbs. Thinly slice tops and set aside for serving. Slice bulbs on a diagonal into 1/2" pieces; set aside.
• Pour dashi into a large donabe or skillet and add mirin and soy sauce; season with salt. Place fish in the center of the skillet and arrange turnips, daikon, mushrooms, and reserved scallion bulbs around fish. Heat over low until liquid is steaming but not bubbling (simmering will make the liquid cloudy; reduce the heat if needed). Cook until fish looks opaque all across the surface, 10-15 minutes. Remove donabe from heat and let rest 5 minutes.
• To serve, sprinkle sesame seeds and reserved scallion tops over fish and vegetables and drizzle with more oil. Break fish into smaller pieces and divide among reserved noodle bowls. Ladle vegetables and dashi over.
• Dashi can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

OH MY ARCTIC CHAR!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking dish with aluminum foil.
• Season arctic char with salt, place in prepared baking dish, and sprinkle with lime zest.
• Combine lime juice, olive oil, sherry, rosemary, and garlic in a food processor; pulse until garlic is finely chopped. Spread mixture over fish and season with black pepper and cayenne pepper.
• Bake in the preheated oven until fish flakes easily with a fork, 12 to 15 minutes, basting with pan juices about halfway through. When the fish is close to being cooked, switch the oven to broil for remaining two minutes or until browned.

SEARED SOY-SESAME ARCTIC CHAR

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil. Season the fish with salt and pepper and brush with half of the sauce.
• Heat a small cast-iron skillet over high heat. Sear the fish skin side up for 4 minutes. Pour the remaining sauce over the fish and swirl the sauce around the pan. Carefully turn the fish, spoon the sauce over the top, and cook for 3 more minutes, until the fish is just cooked through. Serve immediately.

STEAMED ARCTIC CHAR WITH SOY, CRISPY GARLIC, AND CHILES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place green scallion pieces in a bowl of cold water and transfer to refrigerator until ready to use.
• Place fish in an even layer in a baking dish. In a small bowl, mix together rice wine and soy sauce; pour over fish. Sprinkle white scallion pieces and ginger over fish, cover baking dish with parchment paper-lined aluminum foil, and transfer to oven. Cook until fish is cooked through but still moist, about 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat oil to a depth of 2 inches in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and chiles and cook until golden and crisp. Using a slotted spoon, transfer garlic and chiles to a paper towel-lined place to drain.
• Remove fish from oven and drizzle chile sauce over fish. Drain green scallion pieces and sprinkle over fish along with cilantro, garlic, and chiles. Serve immediately with lime wedges and rice.

ARCTIC CHAR WITH SOBA NOODLES, PINE NUTS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Cook the noodles according to the package instructions. Rinse under cold water; drain well.
• Pulse the pine nuts in a food processor until finely ground. Scrape them into a large bowl. Add the garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper and lemon zest. Whisk in the lemon juice. Slowly whisk in 3 tablespoons oil. Toss noodles with the dressing.
• Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with foil.
• Set a small skillet over medium-high heat and allow to heat up, about 1 minute. Add the cumin seeds and sizzle until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Turn off the heat and add remaining oil. Allow to cool slightly.
• Season both sides of the fish with remaining salt and a pinch of pepper and place on the baking sheet. Spoon the cumin and oil evenly over the fillets. Roast to desired doneness, about 10 minutes for medium rare.
• Divide the noodles among four plates and place the fish over the noodles. Garnish with the lemon wedges and cilantro or mint.

SEARED SOY-SESAME ARCTIC CHAR

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil. Season the fish with salt and pepper and brush with half of the sauce.
• Heat a small cast-iron skillet over high heat. Sear the fish skin side up for 4 minutes. Pour the remaining sauce over the fish and swirl the sauce around the pan. Carefully turn the fish, spoon the sauce over the top, and cook for 3 more minutes, until the fish is just cooked through. Serve immediately.