Triggerfish With Pistou And Garden Vegetables Recipes

TRIGGERFISH WITH PISTOU AND GARDEN VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Combine the first 11 ingredients in a large pot. Simmer for 25 minutes. If using right away, strain and move on to Step 2. Otherwise, the broth can be cooled and stored, unstrained, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Wash the vegetables and peel, if necessary. They can be prepared in any or all of the following ways: cooked in the broth until tender and left whole; cooked in the broth until tender and then puréed with broth; or left raw and shaved with a mandoline or peeler. Utilizing all three of these methods makes for a beautiful presentation.
• Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Have a bowl of ice water ready. Blanch the basil for 2 seconds. Quickly remove and immerse in the ice water. Strain and put in a blender with the garlic clove, salt, pepper and sugar to taste; add plenty of broth to keep the purée spinning. When it's smooth, slowly drizzle in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil to emulsify. Strain, reserving the bright green broth. Discard the solids.
• Season the fish fillets with salt and cayenne. Heat a large sauté pan over high heat. Add enough canola oil to cover the bottom. When the oil shimmers, add 2 fillets to the pan, skin side up, and do not disturb. Cook until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Place on a baking sheet, skin side down. Repeat with the remaining 2 fillets. When all the fillets are seared on one side, drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and a little lemon juice. Place the baking sheet in the oven and cook until the fish is opaque throughout, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Ladle the pistou into 4 warm bowls. Divide the vegetables among them, reserving some of the shaved ones. Place the warm fish on top of the vegetables. Garnish with herbs, greens, edible flowers (if desired) and remaining shaved vegetables.

PISTOU VEGETABLE SOUP WITH MUSSELS

Steps:

• For the pistou, make a paste with the basil, garlic and olive oil by pounding with a mortar and pestle or pureeing in a blender. Press plastic wrap directly onto the pistou and refrigerate. (The pistou can be made 1 day ahead). For the beans, place all the ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower the heat slightly and simmer until tender, about 30 minutes. Drain and discard the aromatics. Refrigerate the beans. For the mussels, place the olive oil, garlic, shallot and parsley in a large wide pot over medium heat. Cook until the garlic and shallot are softened, about 2 minutes. Add the wine and mussels, cover the pot and raise the heat to high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mussels are opened, about 5 minutes. Strain and reserve the mussel broth. Shell the mussels, discarding any that did not open, Refrigerate. For the vegetables, measure the mussel broth and add fish fumet, if necessary, to make 2 cups. Place in a medium saucepan with with 2 1/2 cups additional fish fumet. Add the carrots, fennel and zucchini and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, skimming off the foam as it rises, until the vegetables are tender, about 12 minutes. (This recipe can be done to this point several hours ahead: refrigerate vegetables and broth.) To serve, stir the tomato and the beans into the vegetables and broth. Bring to a boil. Stir in the pistou and remove from heat. Divide the mussels among 4 soup bowls. Ladle the soup over the mussels, making sure the beans and vegetables are evenly distributed. Squeeze lemon juice over the top and serve immediately.
• Remove the gills and eyes from the fish or have your fish store do it. Cut the heads and bones across into 4-inch pieces. Put them in a shallow pan and cover with cold water. Let stand for 1 hour, changing the water twice. Drain. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, fennel, leek, peppercorns, salt, parsley and bay leaf. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook until the vegetables are softened but not browned, about 4 minutes. Add the fish bones and cook, stirring from time to time, until the bones and any flesh around the bones turn from translucent to white, about 12 minutes. Add the wine and water and bring to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes, skimming off the foam as it rises to the top. Remove from the heat and let rest for 10 minutes. Strain the fumet through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing firmly on the solids to extract as much of the flavorful liquid as possible. If you have more than 3 cups of fumet, place the liquid in a clean saucepan and boil until reduced to 3 cups. Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

PISTOU OF SEASONAL VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Combine the blanched asparagus, fava beans and peas. Place half of the vegetables in a blender with the blanched basil. Puree adding the olive oil.
• In a large saucepan, sweat shallots until translucent. Add chopped herbs and blanched vegetables. Add puree of vegetables. Add vegetable stock until desired consistency is reached. Season, to taste.

PISTOU OF SUMMER VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Have ready large bowl ice water. In medium saucepan over high heat, bring salted water to boil. Add asparagus and boil, uncovered, until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain, then immediately plunge spears into ice water to stop cooking. Drain again and pat dry.
• Have ready large bowl ice water. In medium saucepan over high heat, bring salted water to boil. Add fava beans and boil, uncovered, 1 minute. Drain in colander, then immediately plunge colander into ice water to stop cooking. Drain again. Slip outer skin off each bean and discard.
• Have ready large bowl ice water. In medium saucepan over high heat, bring salted water to boil. Add peas and boil, uncovered, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain in colander, then immediately plunge colander into ice water to stop cooking. Drain again and spread on paper towels to dry.
• Have ready large bowl ice water. In medium saucepan over high heat, bring salted water to boil. Add basil and boil, uncovered, 45 seconds. Drain in colander, then immediately plunge colander into ice water to stop cooking. Drain again and spread on paper towels to dry.
• (Asparagus, fava beans, sugar snap peas, and basil can be blanched up to 4 hours ahead, then dried well, and chilled, covered until needed.)
• In large bowl, toss together asparagus, fava beans, and peas. Transfer half vegetable mixture to blender and add basil. Blend until chopped, then add 5 tablespoons olive oil in slow, steady stream, and blend until smooth.
• In heavy, large saucepan, over moderately high heat, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil until hot but not smoking. Add shallot and sauté until translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in vegetable stock, vegetable purée, remaining blanched vegetables, salt, and pepper and bring to simmer. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally until vegetables are heated through, 3 to 5 minutes. Ladle into bowls, sprinkle each with herb mixture, and serve immediately.