Roasted Yellow Tomatoes With Saffron Recipes

ROASTED YELLOW TOMATOES WITH SAFFRON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place the whole tomatoes on a baking sheet. Roast in the oven until the skins blister and split, about 15 minutes. Set aside to cool. Peel off the skins. Core and seed.
• Put the roasted tomatoes in a nonstick skillet. Add the saffron, orange and lemon rinds, orange juice, vinegar, garlic, Tabasco, salt and pepper. Cook slowly over medium-low heat until the tomatoes thicken into a dense paste, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Put the tomato mixture in a bowl. Fold in the yogurt cheese. Garnish with fresh herbs. This dip can be stored in the refrigerator in a closed container for up to 3 days. Serve with nuggets of grilled lobster, shrimp or corn chips.

ROASTED HALIBUT WITH SAFFRON-FENNEL BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine 1 tablespoon butter and the saffron in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave until the butter melts, about 1 minute. Let cool 5 minutes. Place the remaining butter and the fennel seeds in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Add the melted saffron butter, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and continue pulsing until the butter is bright yellow. Transfer to a piece of plastic wrap and form into a 4-inch log; freeze until firm, about 20 minutes. (The saffron butter will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.)
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Toss the sliced fennel, garlic, the juice of 1/2 lemon, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 tablespoons water in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons water and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cover with foil and bake until the fennel is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Toss the tomatoes with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Scatter the tomatoes over the fennel. Set the halibut on top of the vegetables; drizzle with the juice of the remaining 1/2 lemon and season with salt and pepper.
• Bake, uncovered, until the halibut is firm and no longer translucent, about 12 minutes; remove from the oven and top each piece with a thin slice of saffron butter. Return the halibut to the oven and bake until the butter just begins to melt, about 2 more minutes. Serve with fennel fronds.

ROASTED YELLOW PEPPER SOUP AND ROASTED TOMATO SOUP WITH SERRANO CREAM

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, cook the shallots, thyme, and salt and pepper to taste in the butter over moderately low heat, stirring, until the shallots are soft. Add the bell peppers and 1 1/2 cups of the broth, and simmer the mixture, covered, for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the peppers are very soft.
• In a blender, purée the soup in batches until it is very smooth, forcing it as it is puréed through a fine sieve set over the pan, cleaned, and whisk in the cream and enough additional broth to reach the desired consistency. Add the lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the tomatoes, skin side down, in one layer in 2 foil-lined jelly-roll pans. Add the garlic to one of the pans, and bake the tomatoes and garlic for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the tomatoes are very soft and their skin is dark brown. Let the tomatoes and garlic cool in the pans on racks.
• In a heavy saucepan, cook the shallots, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste in the butter over moderately low heat, stirring, until the shallots are soft. Add the tomatoes, garlic (skins discarded), and 1 1/2 cups of the broth, and simmer the mixture, covered, for 15 minutes.
• In a blender, purée the soup in batches until it is very smooth, forcing it as it is puréed through a fine sieve set over the pan, cleaned, and whisk in the cream and additional broth if necessary (both soups should have the same consistency). Add the lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.
• In a blender, blend the chiles, garlic paste, and crème fraîche until the mixture is combined well. (Be careful not to overblend the mixture or the cream may curdle.) Force the mixture through a fine sieve set over a small bowl.
• For each serving, ladle 1/2 cup of each soup into 2 glass measuring cups, then pour the soups simultaneously into a shallow soup bowl from opposite sides of the bowl. Drizzle some of the serrano cream over each serving.
• The SOUP may be made 1 day in advance, kept covered and chilled, and reheated.
• The SERRANO CREAM may be made 1 day in advance, kept covered and chilled, and brought to room temperature before serving.
• Use a long-handled fork to char the PEPPERS over an open flame, turning them, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the skins are blackened. (Or broil the peppers on the rack of a broiler pan under a preheated broiler about 2 inches from the heat. Turn them every 5 minutes, for 15 to 25 minutes, or until the skins are blistered and charred.) Transfer the peppers to a bowl and let them steam, covered, until they are cool enough to handle. Keeping the peppers whole, peel them starting at the blossom end; cut off the tops and discard the seeds and ribs.

ROASTED HALIBUT WITH TOMATOES, SAFFRON, AND CILANTRO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Place all tomatoes in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; toss to combine. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper; place atop tomatoes.
• Whisk oil, vinegar, green onions, chopped cilantro, basil, and saffron in small bowl to blend. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Pour dressing evenly over fish. Let stand 10 minutes.
• Bake until fish is opaque in center, about 10 minutes. Cool slightly. Place 1 fillet on each of 8 plates. Season tomato mixture to taste with salt and pepper. Top fish with tomato mixture, dividing equally. Garnish with cilantro sprigs. Serve warm.