Potato Latkes With Watercress Avocado And Smoked Salmon Recipes

POTATO LATKES WITH SMOKED SALMON, CREME FRAICHE, AND AMERICAN FARMED CAVIAR

Steps:

• Grate potatoes and onion on the large holes of a box grater. Splash with lemon juice and squeeze out excess water.
• Mix flour, milk, egg, baking powder, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Add to the potatoes and then add the melted butter. Season with salt and pepper.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, add enough peanut oil to cover the bottom of the pan. Drop in spoonfuls of batter for form small cakes and fry until golden on 1 side. Flip, and cook the same way on the other side.
• Top each latke with smoked salmon, creme fraiche, and American farmed caviar.

POTATO GALETTES WITH SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes, then cut them lengthwise in long matchsticks, using the finest julienne blade of a mandoline. Spread the potatoes out neatly in one layer on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels, roll the towel up, and squeeze lightly to dry the potatoes without breaking them up. Put the potatoes into a bowl and toss them with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a small (8-inch) omelet pan (a saute pan with sloped sides) over medium heat. Add half of the potatoes to the pan and press lightly with a large metal spatula to make the shreds lie flat. Cook them undisturbed for 5 minutes. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the butter around the edge of the pan and cook the potatoes for another 3 to 5 minutes, until nicely browned on the bottom. Loosen the galette gently around the edge with the metal spatula and flip it over. (Be careful! The oil and butter underneath are very hot!) Add another tablespoon of butter around the edge and cook the galette for 4 to 5 minutes longer, until the second side is nicely browned. With the metal spatula, transfer the galette to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. Repeat with the rest of the potatoes and butter to make a second galette.
• Place the two galettes on a cutting board. Spread each galette with 2 tablespoons of the creme fraiche and a layer of smoked salmon, covering the galette completely. Sprinkle with minced chives and sprinkle lightly with salt. Use a large chef's knife to cut each galette into 6 wedges and serve hot.

POTATO LATKE WITH SMOKED SALMON (CRIQUE STEPHANIOISE)

Steps:

• Put the grated potato in a medium bowl. With a wooden spoon, stir in the egg, chives, parsley and olives. Season with salt and pepper, and stir well to combine.
• To make large criques, warm 1 1/2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a medium nonstick pan over high heat. With your fingers, scoop out one half of the potato mixture, squeeze out the excess liquid between your hands and drop in the center of the pan. Using a fork or spatula, flatten the mixture firmly. Cook the crique over low to medium heat for about 6 to 8 minutes, until golden brown. Flip and cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes, or until the exterior is crisp and golden brown and the interior is tender. Repeat using the remaining olive oil and potato mixture.
• To make small criques, lightly brush the insides of three 3 1/2-inch-diameter ring molds with olive oil. Heat the pan with additional oil, and place the molds into the pan. Squeeze the excess liquid out of the potato mixture between your hands, and place 1 1/2 tablespoons inside each ring. Proceed as above, cooking for 3 to 4 minutes on the first side. Using tongs, remove the molds from the criques and gently press with a spatula. Flip and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, or until the exterior is crisp and golden brown and the interior is tender. Set the criques aside. Repeat until remaining olive oil and potato mixture are used up.
• To serve, sprinkle the criques with salt and top with a dollop of sour cream. Place a small mound of the smoked salmon on top, and drizzle some of the lemon juice over the salmon. Sprinkle with the lemon zest, chives and black olives, and season with pepper. Garnish with parsley, and drizzle some olive oil around the plate. Serve immediately.

POTATO LATKES WITH WATERCRESS, SMOKED SALMON, AND AVOCADO SALAD

Steps:

• For latkes:
• Line colander with kitchen towel. Stir 1 1/2 cups onions, egg, salt, and pepper in large bowl. Place remaining 1/2 cup onions in processor; add potatoes. Blend until potatoes are very finely chopped and some of mixture is pureed; transfer to prepared colander. Wrap towel around potatoes, squeezing out as much liquid as possible. Scrape into bowl with egg mixture. Stir in all purpose flour and baking powder.
• Heat 4 tablespoons vegetable oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Drop potato mixture by scant 1/4 cupfuls into skillet; flatten each latke to 2 1/2-inch round with metal spatula. Reduce heat to medium. Cook until golden, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to large rimmed baking sheet. Repeat, adding more oil to skillet as needed. DO AHEAD: Latkes can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Bake latkes until crisp and deep brown, about 6 minutes per side.
• For salad:
• Whisk oil, vinegar, and dry mustard in small bowl to blend. Season with salt and pepper. Combine watercress, avocado, and salmon in large bowl. Toss with enough dressing to coat.
• Arrange 2 latkes on each plate. Mound salad alongside.
• WHAT TO DRINK:
• Bubbles. Louis Bouillot "Perle d'Aurore" Crémant de Bourgogne Rosé (France, $17) will taste great with the latkes and everything in the salad.