Wild Striped Bass Montauk Style Recipes

SEARED WILD STRIPED BASS WITH SAUTEED SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with ice water and salt it well. Place the asparagus in the boiling water and cook until the water comes back to a rolling boil. Remove and place it immediately in the salted ice water. When the asparagus has cooled completely, remove it from the water and reserve. Repeat this process with the sugar snap peas and then the fava beans. You can use the same blanching water for all of the veggies, just be sure to always do the fava beans last. Fava beans have very high iron content and will turn the blanching water black. After the beans are blanched and cooled, remove the tough outer skin to reveal a lovely spring green fava bean.;
• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil. Smash the three garlic cloves with the heel of your hand and add to the saute pan. Bring the pan to a medium high heat. When the garlic has become golden brown and very aromatic remove it from the pan and discard it. It has fulfilled its garlic destiny. Add the mushrooms and stock, season generously with salt, and saute for 1 minute. Add the prepared veggies, season with salt and saute until all the ingredients are coated with oil and hot and almost all the stock has evaporated. Serve immediately or later at room temperature.;
• Take the fish out of the refrigerator about 10 to 15 minutes before using. Pat the skin dry with a paper towel and season the fish on both sides with salt. Heat a large saute pan coated generously with extra virgin olive oil over high heat. Coat the bottom of another slightly smaller saute pan with olive oil. Gently place the fish fillets skin side down in the saute pan and place the other saute pan directly on top of the fish. The purpose of this is to gently press the skin of the bass onto the bottom of the saute pan to create a lovely crispy fish skin. Be sure to oil the bottom of the top saute pan or the fish will stick to it. After a couple of minutes remove the top saute pan from the fish, this will allow the steam to escape and the skin to become very crispy. As fish cooks it turns from translucent to opaque. The idea is to cook the fish 2/3's of the way on the skin side and flip it over for the last 1/3 of the cooking time. The rule for fish is about 7 to 8 minutes per inch of thickness, a little less if you like your fish more on the rare side.
• Serve the fish over the sauteed spring veggies and call your self a superstar!

STEAMED WILD STRIPED BASS WITH COCONUT RICE AND APPLE-BANANA CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Cut 4 to 6 shallow slits into the skin side of each fish fillet. Place 4 large squares of plastic wrap on a flat surface and sprinkle the center of each with 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil. Lay a piece of fish, skin-side up, on each square. Top each with another 1/2 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and pepper. Divide the garlic among the fish, pressing into the slits. Sprinkle each piece with a pinch of cinnamon and cloves. Loosely wrap the fish in the plastic and refrigerate.
• In a large pan with a lid, combine the rice, rice milk, coconut cream, shredded coconut, bay leaves, chili and 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt (or 1 teaspoon regular salt). Let sit for 30 minutes, then cover the pan, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 17 minutes. Turn off the heat and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in the chives.
• Meanwhile, to make the chutney, add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and the butter to a sauté pan. Place over medium heat and, when hot, add the onion, curry powder and turmeric. Cook, stirring, until the onion is translucent, 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the apple and banana and cook 2 minutes longer, until the apple is soft around the edges but still crisp. Transfer the chutney to a serving bowl.
• Fill a saucepan large enough to hold a steamer basket with 1 inch of water. Bring to a simmer. Place the wrapped fish in the basket. Lower the basket into the pan and cover. Steam the fish for 5 minutes, turn the pieces and steam until just cooked through, about 5 minutes more.
• To serve, remove the plastic from the fish. Spread the rice on a large platter, top with the fish and its cooking juices and serve with the chutney on the side.

ANDREW ENGLE'S MONTAUK WILD STRIPED BASS WITH TOMATOES AND ROASTED CORN

Steps:

• 1. Cut tomatoes into different shapes (thin wedges, halves, dice); place in a bowl. Combine with the onion, half of the parsley, corn, basil, lemon zest, juice, pepper, and 4 tablespoons oil. Set side.
• 2. Rub butter on the skin side of the fish; season both sides with salt and pepper. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook fish, skin-side down, until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Turn carefully; cook 3 to 4 minutes more.
• 3. Spoon tomato mixture onto 4 plates; top with a fillet. Drizzle with lemon juice; garnish with remaining parsley and serve.

WILD STRIPED BASS WITH FAVAS AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Put a 4-quart pot of water to a boil and prepare an ice bath. Once boiling, add the shucked fava beans and blanch for 3 minutes. Drain and shock in an ice bath or rinse under cold water. When cool, peel the outside skin from the favas to reveal the brightly colored bean inside. Set aside.
• Bring the stock and 2 cups water to a boil in another 4-quart pot, and then reduce to a simmer. Add the couscous and saffron. Cook like pasta until the couscous is al dente, 6 to 8 minutes or according to your package instructions. Drain the couscous, reserving the broth and set both aside.
• Meanwhile, fill a medium bowl with water. Slice the leek in half lengthwise. Slice the leek halves into half-moons about 1/3-inch thick using only the white and light green parts. Put the slices into the bowl of water and rinse to clean the leeks, allowing any grit or sand to collect on the bottom of the bowl. Scoop the leeks out of the bowl of water and set aside.
• Preheat a 12- to 14-inch skillet over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Sprinkle both sides of the fish fillets generously with salt and pepper. Sear the fish, skin-side down, until the skin is crispy and the fish is about two-thirds cooked, 6 to 8 minutes. Flip the fish and finish cooking on the flesh side for about 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, reheat the saffron broth to a simmer. Heat the remaining olive oil in a small saute pan and saute the leeks until soft, 2 minutes. Add the favas and a pinch salt and cook until warmed through. Add the tomatoes and remove from the heat.
• To serve, spoon the couscous into the center of 4 shallow soup bowls. Top with the seared fish. Sprinkle the sauteed favas and leeks around and spoon the saffron broth over top of the vegetables.

ROASTED WILD STRIPED BASS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Remove stalks from fennel bulbs; reserve bulbs for another use. Remove feathery fronds from stalks; and reserve for garnish. Using a sharp knife, halve stalks lengthwise. Arrange stalks in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch roasting pan; pour wine over stalks. Lay fish fillets on top; drizzle with oil, and season with salt and pepper.
• Cover pan tightly with foil. Bake until fish is just cooked through and opaque throughout, 20 to 25 minutes. Divide fish among serving plates, discarding fennel stalks. Garnish with reserved fennel fronds.

POACHED WILD STRIPED BASS

Steps:

• In a fish poacher or a deep roasting pan, combine the wine, 4 quarts water, thyme, fennel, carrots, onion, garlic, peppercorns, salt and lemon. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Turn off heat, and let cool to room temperature.
• Measure fish at its thickest point. If using a roasting pan, wrap fish in cheesecloth and tie ends with string; the ends of the cheesecloth serve as handles for removing the fish later. Lay the fish in the cooled liquid. If liquid does not cover it, add water. Bring to a simmer. When bubbles begin appearing on the surface, begin timing at 7 minutes per inch of thickness.
• When time is up, turn off heat and let cooking liquid cool to the touch. Carefully transfer fish to a serving platter. Reserve a cup of poaching liquid to make a sauce. Using a small knife, peel away the skin and excess fat from the head to the tail. Brush fish with olive oil. Serve warm or at room temperature, passing a bowl of sauce.