Brandade With Escabeche Recipes

FRENCH SALT COD AND POTATO BRANDADE

Steps:

• Rinse salt cod well and rub off any salt. Soak in 2 quarts cold water. Drain and change water every few hours (an overnight soak without changing is fine). Total soaking time should be at least 8 hours.
• In a medium saucepan, heat milk plus 1 cup water over medium-high heat. Add soaked salt cod, thyme, bay leaf, peppercorns, allspice berries and clove. Adjust heat to maintain a bare simmer. Cook until fish flakes easily, about 15 minutes. Remove fish and hold at room temperature.
• Meanwhile, in another pot, cover potatoes with water and bring to a boil. Add garlic cloves and a good pinch of salt. Drain potatoes when they are soft, about 15 minutes, reserving cooking liquid and garlic.
• Put cooked garlic cloves in a small saucepan and crush with a fork. Add olive oil and heat over a medium flame until quite warm to the touch. Set aside.
• Put potatoes in a large mixing bowl. With your fingers, flake cooked salt cod on top. With a potato masher, roughly blend potatoes and fish. Drizzle in warm garlic oil and mash again. Add cayenne, nutmeg to taste and lemon zest. Stir in ½ cup crème fraîche and beat well to combine. Beat in about ½ cup cooking liquid to lighten mixture so it has the texture of soft mashed potatoes. Taste and adjust seasoning - it will probably need salt and pepper.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Use 1 tablespoon butter to grease a low-sided 1-quart baking dish or pie pan. Transfer brandade mixture to dish and smooth with a spatula. Paint the top with 2 tablespoons crème fraîche, and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Dot top with remaining butter. (May be prepared up to a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator; bring to room temperature before baking.) Bake until golden and bubbling, about 20 minutes.

SNAPPER AND GROUPER ESCABECHE

Steps:

• Place lemon in a small bowl and microwave for a few minutes to release the essential oils. The lemon will be hot coming from the microwave, so set aside until it is just cool enough to handle. Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a medium saute pan, and saute the red, yellow and green bell peppers. Add the red onion and the chili flakes and saute until they begin to soften. In a blender, puree stewed tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and hot sauce. Leaving the blender running squeeze the lemon juice from the micro-waved lemon (after removing seeds) through the feed opening. Transfer this mixture to the pan of peppers and onion and cook over medium heat, allowing to reduce by half. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
• Heat the oil in the deep-fryer to 375 degrees F, or as directed in the manufacturer's instructions for similar foods. Combine flour, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder and dredge the snapper and grouper fillets in this mixture, shaking off any excess. Deep-fry the fish until golden brown, and remove to paper towels to drain.
• Arrange the fish along each side of a long platter and spoon the escabeche down the middle. Garnish with scallions.

HALIBUT IN ESCABECHE

Steps:

• Cut the fish into 2-inch wide strips and pat them dry. Season the flour with salt and pepper, dredge the fish in it, and pat off any excess flour. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute the fish until it is lightly browned on both sides, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels and then put the fish in one layer into a shallow glass dish.
• Drain the oil from the skillet, return it to medium heat, and add 3 tablespoons fresh olive oil. Add the onions, bell peppers, and scotch bonnet, if using, and cook until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme, bay leaves, peppercorns, and allspice and cook for another 2 minutes. Pour in the vinegar and water and bring it to a boil. Spoon the vegetables and herbs over the fish and then add the vinegar sauce. Serve hot or let it cool to room temperature and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

BRANDADE

Steps:

• Soak cod, skin removed, in water, covered and refrigerated, for 3 days (change water twice daily). Drain, and cut into small pieces. Simmer milk, cream, garlic, and potatoes until potatoes are fork-tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Add salt cod, and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Reserving 1 cup liquid, transfer mixture to a large bowl. Add olive oil in a slow, steady stream, stirring until mixture is almost smooth, and adding liquid if needed. Season with salt to taste, and drizzle with oil, if desired. Serve with warm bread.

BRANDADE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking dish and set dish on a baking sheet.
• Rinse salt cod under cold water, transfer to a sealable container and cover with several inches of cold water. Soak cod in the refrigerator, changing the water every few hours, for 24 to 36 hours. Remove cod from water and cut into evenly-sized pieces.
• Stir cod, milk, thyme, bay leaves, and cayenne pepper together in a pot over medium-high heat. Cook until fish begins to flake; 7 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and strain; reserve cooking liquid and transfer fish to a bowl.
• Place potatoes and garlic in a large pot and cover with water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain.
• Mash cod, a few splashes reserved cooking liquid, and lemon zest together in a bowl. Pour in remaining reserved cooking liquid and potatoes; mash until desired consistency is reached. Stir in 1/2 of the olive oil, lemon juice, and black pepper until smooth. Add remaining olive oil and blend until smooth. Season with salt. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Spread creme fraiche over the top and score the top with a spoon to create a crisscross surface.
• Bake in the preheated oven until browned and bubbling, about 20 minutes