Watercress Aioli Recipes

WATERCRESS AIOLI

Steps:

• Have all the ingredients at room temperture. Combine the egg yolks, mustard, red-wine vinegar, lemon juice and garlic in a bowl and whisk well. Slowly add the olive oil, whisking constantly. Then whisk in the safflower oil until the mayonnaise reaches a desirable consistency (you may not need the safflower oil at all). Should the mayonnaise become too thick, simply whisk in a tablespoon of warm water. Set aside.
• Add the baking soda and salt to a large pot of water. Have a bowl of ice water ready. Bring the pot of water to a rolling boil and toss in the watercress. When the watercress has wilted, drain and immediately plunge it into a bowl of ice water. Drain well, squeezing out all excess water. Puree the watercress in a food processor or blender, using quick on-and-off pulses.
• Whisk the pureed watercress into the prepared aioli. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

COURGETTE & WATERCRESS SALAD WITH GRILLED FISH & HERBED AïOLI

Steps:

• Heat a griddle pan. Rub courgettes in 1 tsp oil, season, then griddle until just soft. Set aside while you make the aïoli. Whizz egg yolks in a processor with the mustard, garlic and plenty of salt. Gradually add the oil until thick, then season with lemon juice. You can make this with a stick blender (see Know-how, above right). It will keep for a day in the fridge.
• Season the fish. Heat a non-stick frying pan until very hot, add 1 tsp oil, then fry the fish, skin-side down, for 3 mins until crisp. Turn and fry the fish for just 30 secs-1 min more until it is cooked all the way through.
• To serve, fold the herbs into the aïoli. Whisk 1 tbsp oil with the lemon juice, season, then use to very lightly dress the courgettes, mint and watercress. Pile onto plates, top with fish plus a dollop of aïoli, then scatter with herbs.

GRILLED PORTOBELLO BURGERS WITH PIQUILLO PEPPER AïOLI AND WATERCRESS

Steps:

• For aioli:
• Puree first 4 ingredients in mini processor. Transfer to small bowl. Whisk in mayonnaise; season with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover; chill.
• For mushrooms:
• Arrange mushroom caps and onion slices on baking sheet; brush both sides with oil, then sprinkle with salt, pepper, and thyme. Turn mushrooms, gill side up, and sprinkle with garlic. Let stand at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Place mushrooms, gill side up, and onion slices on rack. Cook until grill marks appear, about 4 minutes. Turn vegetables over, transferring to cooler part of grill. Cover and cook until mushrooms are very tender and onion slices still retain some texture, about 8 minutes. Turn mushrooms, gill side up; top with cheese. Arrange rolls, cut side down, on grill. Cover; cook until cheese on mushrooms melts and cut sides of rolls are golden, about 1 minute longer.
• Arrange roll bottoms on plates; spread with aioli. Top each with mushroom, onion slice, and watercress. Spread cut side of roll tops with aioli; press onto watercress.

CHICKEN, WATERCRESS, AND AVOCADO SANDWICH WITH TARRAGON AïOLI

Steps:

• Whisk mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons oil, tarragon, vinegar, minced garlic, and lemon juice in small bowl to blend well. Season aioli with salt and pepper.
• Place chicken breasts between sheets of waxed paper. Using rolling pin, flatten chicken to even 1/2-inch thickness; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; sauté until brown and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Cool chicken, then tear into narrow 3-inch strips. Place chicken in bowl. Mix in 3/4 cup aioli; season with salt and pepper (reserve remaining aioli for another use).
• Rub 1 side of each toast slice with cut side of halved garlic. Arrange 4 toasts garlic side up. Top each with 1/4 of watercress, 1 fanned-out avocado half, and 1/4 of chicken. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; top with remaining toasts, garlic side down.