Brushy Mountain Caviar Recipes

FARMER'S CAVIAR

Steps:

• Boil the purple hull peas in salted water until tender, then drain and cool. Meanwhile, boil the lima beans in salted water until tender, then drain and cool.
• Combine the corn, purple hull peas, lima beans, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, red onion, jalapeño and cilantro in a large bowl. Add the Dressing and toss together. Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary. If time allows, marinate the caviar in the fridge for an hour.
• Whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lime juice, sugar, garlic salt, oregano, olive oil and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl.

COWBOY CAVIAR

Steps:

• Mix beans, peas, tomatoes, corn, onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno peppers in a large bowl. Season with garlic salt. Add dressing and cilantro; toss to coat. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until ready to serve.

TEXAS CAVIAR

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl. Chill in the refrigerator for 24 hours, stirring occasionally. Stir again before serving.

AUBERGINE CAVIAR

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Halve the eggplant lengthwise, lightly brush the bottoms with olive oil so it won't stick to the pan. Lay, cut-side down on a baking sheet, and bake until completely soft, about 25 minutes.
• When the eggplant is done, scoop the flesh out into a bowl and beat smooth with a fork. Add the garlic and cumin, to taste. Then stir through the confetti of red pepper and the fresh mint leaves. Stir in the remaining olive oil. Serve the mixture spooned onto crackers or thin croutes.

VICHYSSOISE OF KUMUMOTO OYSTERS AND ROYAL STERLING CAVIAR

Steps:

• Pry open the oysters and separate the juice from the meat, reserving both in the fridge. Clean the bottom shells very well and reserve them for later.;
• To make the vichyssoise base: Heat the butter and leeks in a small saucepan over low heat and cook until the leeks are softened but not browned. Add the potatoes and water and simmer until the potatoes are tender. Chill and season with salt. Pour into a blender and puree with the cream and blanched spinach to get a light mint green color. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
• To make the mousse: Whisk the creme fraiche to soft peaks in a mixer. Heat 1/2 cup of the vichyssoise base in a medium saucepan. Add the bloomed gelatin to the base. Fold in the whipped creme fraiche and 1/2 cup more of vichyssoise base.
• To make the oyster glaze: Bring 3 tablespoons of the reserved oyster juices to a boil in a small saucepan. Strain through a coffee filter. Add the bloomed gelatin to the liquid. Let cool but not enough to set.
• To finish: Fill the 8 reserved oyster shells about 3/4 full with the vichyssoise mousse and set an oyster on top. Keep cool and brush with the still-liquid oyster glaze. Repeat the brushing until the whole oyster has a shine to it. Garnish with a quenelle of caviar, chive blossom, and dill.

EGGPLANT CAVIAR

Steps:

• Drizzle the eggplant quarters with olive oil and roast in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Let cool to room temperature and then remove the skin. Put eggplant into food processor with the garlic and cilantro and pulse to puree. Add olive oil and puree until smooth. Season with salt.

HIZIKI CAVIAR WITH CORNMEAL BLINI

Steps:

• Place hiziki in a bowl and rinse once with lukewarm water. Cover with apple juice, shoyu, water, and soak 30 minutes. Heat sesame oil in a skillet. Add the onion and then garlic; add sea salt and saute for 5 minutes. Add hiziki and soaking liquid, cover and cook 10 minutes. Grate ginger and add it to the skillet along with the lemon juice. Cook the mixture covered for 10 minutes. Uncover and cook over medium heat until liquid is absorbed. Allow hiziki mixture to cool slightly and pulse in food processor for a few seconds. Serve chilled but not icy cold.
• Sift cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt in a medium bowl. In a small bowl beat together corn oil, maple syrup, soymilk, water and vinegar. Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Stir in parsley. Heat a skillet and add a 1/2 teaspoon corn oil. Drop batter by scant tablespoons onto heated skillet. Carefully turn blini after about a minute. Lower heat and flip blini to cook only about 45 seconds on that side.
• To serve blini with hiziki caviar: Place a teaspoon of caviar on top of each blini and garnish with chives or parsley.

CARDAMOM BLOOD ORANGE MOJITOS WITH SWEET BASIL CAVIAR

Steps:

• For the infused vodka: Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Throw in the cardamom and toast until slightly golden and fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from the heat. Add the cardamom to the vodka along with the orange zest and vanilla bean. Stir to combine, then cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
• For the basil caviar: Combine 1 cup water and the raw sugar in a small pot over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. When it starts to simmer, remove the pot from the heat and stir in the basil. Pour the mixture into a blender and puree until smooth (be careful when blending hot liquids). Strain into a bowl and add the sodium alginate. Whisk for 1 minute, until thick. Whisk the bottled water and calcium lactate in a bowl. Suck the basil syrup into a syringe and squeeze small balls into the calcium bath. Let them soak for no more than 1 minute. Scoop out the basil caviar using a slotted spoon and rinse in a bowl of fresh water.
• For the mojitos: For each drink, muddle slices from 1 orange, 3 to 4 basil leaves and 1 tablespoon maple syrup in a glass. Throw in some ice cubes, 1 shot infused vodka, 1/2 cup orange juice and 1/4 cup sparkling water and top with 1 tablespoon basil caviar.
• Photo reprinted with permission from Nadia G.'s Bitchin' Kitchen: Cookin' For Trouble by Nadia G., copyright (c) 2011. Published by Ballantine Books.