Tarragon Chive Dipping Sauce Recipes

SALMON CAKES WITH TARRAGON-CHIVE DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Pat salmon dry and with a sharp knife cut into roughly 1/3-inch cubes. In a medium bowl lightly beat egg and gently stir in salmon and remaining ingredients until just combined.
• Heat a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderate heat and, working in batches, drop 2-tablespoon measures of salmon mixture about 1 inch apart into skillet. Cook cakes until undersides are golden, about 1 minute. Turn cakes over and cook until just cooked through, about 1 minute more. Transfer cakes as cooked to a platter. Salmon cakes may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring cakes to room temperature before serving.
• Garnish cakes with lime wedges and serve with dipping sauce.

TARRAGON CHIVE VINEGAR

Steps:

• *Cook's Note: You will need half of the herbs when you start the recipe and half in 2 weeks. It is best to purchase the second half of the herbs when they are needed.
• If using pint jars for storage, you will need 3 jars. If using small wine bottles, each holds approximately 13 ounces; therefore, you will need 4 bottles.
• Put the water and bleach in a large container. Dunk 12 sprigs of tarragon and 12 chive shoots in the solution, and then rinse in cold water. Pat dry.
• Heat the vinegar in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, and heat until vinegar reaches 190 degrees F. Place the herbs in a container large enough to hold the vinegar. Pour the vinegar over the herbs, and after the vinegar has cooled, place the lid on the container. Set in a cool dark place for 2 weeks.
• After 2 weeks, sanitize the second half of the herbs as previously, rinse, pat dry, and set aside.
• Sterilize the containers and lids that you will store the vinegar in by immersing them in a large pot of boiling water and boiling for 10 minutes. If using corks, purchase pre-sterilized corks, and then dip them in and out of boiling water 3 to 4 times.
• Discard the old herbs. Strain the vinegar through a sanitized colander or funnel lined with cheesecloth. Divide the fresh herbs among the containers and pour the vinegar over them. Seal and refrigerate. The vinegar may be stored at room temperature for 5 to 6 weeks or in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.

TARRAGON-CHIVE DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• In a food processor pulse together mayonnaise, tarragon, and 1/3 cup sour cream until smooth. Transfer mixture to a bowl and stir in remaining cup sour cream, chives, lime juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Garnish dip with chives.

HORSERADISH CHIVE SAUCE

Steps:

• Fold all ingredients together in a mixing bowl and combine well. Refrigerate until ready to use.

HADDOCK ON POLENTA WITH TARRAGON SAUCE

Steps:

• Rub the bottom of a large saucepan with the butter. Add the scallions and the fish (folding the fillets in half if they are thin and long to approximate the thickness indicated here so they will cook in about the same length of time). Add 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, pepper and wine. Bring to a boil over high heat, cover, reduce the heat to low, and boil gently for 3 minutes.
• With the lid held slightly ajar on the pan so the fish don't fall out, pour the cooking juices into another saucepan. Add the cream to the juices, stir in the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and bring the mixture to a boil. Boil 1 minute, add the dissolved potato starch and return to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the tarragon and chives.
• To serve, spoon polenta (see recipe) onto six individual plates. Arrange fish fillets on top of polenta and spoon some tarragon sauce on top.

CHEF JOHN'S TARRAGON AIOLI

Steps:

• Crush garlic and salt together in a mortar with a pestle; add tarragon and continue crushing with the pestle until tarragon is pulverized.
• Stir mayonnaise and lemon juice into garlic-tarragon mixture until aioli is smooth; season with cayenne pepper.

BEET SOUP WITH TARRAGON, CHIVES AND YOGURT

Steps:

• Put olive oil in a heavy-bottomed soup pot or deep, wide skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, cook slowly, stirring, until softened, about 10 minutes.
• Add beets and season generously with salt and pepper. Add a pinch of cayenne and pour in vinegar. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, then add water and raise heat to a brisk simmer. Taste broth and adjust. Cook for another 10 minutes, until beets are completely soft.
• Purée in a blender, in batches if necessary, and strain through a fine-mesh sieve. (Consistency should be like heavy cream, no thicker - thin with water or broth as necessary). Return puréed soup to pot and reheat. In a small bowl, combine yogurt with tarragon and chives. Add a good pinch of salt and beat with a fork to loosen yogurt.
• Taste soup, and adjust for salt and vinegar. Ladle into individual bowls. Swirl a large (2 to 3 tablespoons) spoonful of herbed yogurt across the surface of the soup.

TARRAGON-YOGURT DIP

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine yogurt, lemon zest and juice, tarragon, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper.

CHICKEN BREAST WITH TARRAGON CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Season chicken with salt and pepper. In a skillet, melt butter with oil over medium heat.
• Brown chicken breasts on both sides. Reduce heat and cook, covered, 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Put chicken aside; keep warm.
• Add cream to skillet; scraping up brown bits. Stir in mustard and tarragon. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 5 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Pour sauce over chicken and sprinkle with chives.

TARRAGON MAYONNAISE DIP

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
• Makes about 1 3/4 cups.
• Variation: For spicer version of this dip, add 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes, hot pepper sauce, or horseradish to taste, and even 1 Tbs. of Brandy if you please.

CHIVE BLINI WITH CREME FRAICHE, QUAIL EGGS, AND TARRAGON

Steps:

• Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Coarsely chop enough tarragon leaves to make 6 tablespoons, and set chopped leaves aside. Reserve remaining sprigs for garnish. Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil; add 1 teaspoon salt. Add scallions, and cook until bright green and just tender, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add tarragon leaves, and cook until bright green, about 20 seconds; immediately transfer scallions and tarragon to the ice-water bath. Let cool completely.
• Drain scallions and tarragon, then squeeze dry in a clean kitchen towel. Coarsely chop, then transfer to a food processor; pulse until finely chopped. Add mustard. With machine running, add oil in a slow, steady stream; process until smooth and thickened, about 1 minute. Transfer to a small bowl; stir in creme fraiche. Cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve (up to 2 days).
• Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Place a dozen eggs in a saucepan large enough to hold them in a single layer; cover with cold water by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, and simmer 1 1/2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer eggs to the ice-water bath, and let cool. Meanwhile, repeat with remaining eggs. Peel eggs, dipping them in cold water if needed to remove shell pieces. (Peeled eggs can be refrigerated in an airtight container overnight.)
• Pick 4 dozen small leaf clusters from remaining tarragon sprigs; set aside. Halve eggs lengthwise. Arrange blini on a platter. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon sauce in center of blini. Top each with half an egg, 1/4 teaspoon roe, and a tarragon cluster.