Lake Superior Whitefish Provençal Recipes

FRESH FAVA BEANS AND WILD MOREL RAGOUT WITH LAKE SUPERIOR WHITEFISH

Steps:

• Shell the fava beans from the large long pods in which they are encased. This will reveal the beans in their thin skin from which they must also be removed. Do this by bringing a pot of water to a boil, add the beans to the pot and blanchcook for 2 to 3 minutes before straining the favas and shocking in an ice bath of cold water. The thin skin can now be peeled entirely off by hand to reveal the sweet fava bean. It is now ready to be added to any dish and only requires a few moments of additional cooking time.
• Clean the morels carefully and trim off the bottom of the stem. Remove all dirt and debris by soaking them in several changes of clean cold water. Next, lay the morels out on paper towels to absorb the excess moisture and air dry. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.
• In a saute pan, heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat. Add the morels and saute 3 to 4 minutes. Add the shallots and cook for 3 additional minutes. Add the fish stock and braise the morels for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the fava beans and white wine to the morels and continue to cook another 3 minutes. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper and add the fresh thyme leaves. Swirl in the cold butter to allow the butter, which adds a creamy texture to the dish, to melt but not separate. Remove promptly from the heat and place the morels and fava beans on a warm serving platter. While the morels and fava beans are cooking begin to cook the whitefish by seasoning the fish with salt and pepper. Heat the remaining olive oil in a second saute pan. Add the fish fillets to the hot oil, skin side down and cook the fillets 2 1/2 to 3 minutes on each side, before removing and placing on the serving platter with the morels and favas.

SEARED LAKE SUPERIOR WHITEFISH WITH A MOUSSELINE MUSTARD SAUCE OVER A BED OF SPINACH AND MUSHROOMS SERVED WITH SAFFRON POTATOES

Steps:

• Heat a deep fryer to 350 degrees F.
• Saute mushrooms in a skillet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil until soft. Keep warm in pan.
• Saute spinach in pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil until soft. Keep warm in pan.
• Peel potatoes. Cut off sides of potatoes. Add potatoes to a pot of boiling water with saffron, for color and taste. Boil until tender. Drain.
• Season the fish with white pepper and salt on both sides. Heat a non-stick skillet over high heat. Brush fish on both sides with olive oil. Add fish to skillet and sear on both sides, 3 minutes each side.
• Using only the white part of the leek, halve lengthwise. Take each half and julienne thinly. Wash and dry. Deep fry in hot oil for 1 to 2 minutes until crisp. Drain on paper towels.
• Put spinach in center of plate. Put mushrooms on spinach. Put whitefish on top of mushrooms. Cover fish with Mousseline Mustard Sauce. Put 2 potatoes on side of plate. Put a small heap of leeks on top of fish.
• Combine in a saucepan, shallots, white wine, vinegar, salt and pepper. Reduce to 10 percent of its original volume. When reduced, add heavy cream. Slowly whisk in soft butter, spoon by spoon. Fold in mustard. Adjust seasoning, to taste.