Hello dear friends
The cookery clubs autumn feast was hosted by Linda this year. Everyone with the exception of "moi" had their courses all planned and I think in the case of the starter made. I hadn't even thought what I would do, but as the starter, soup and desert had been spoken for, that in all reality only left me with the fish. I wracked my brains all the way up from Rheda to Kiel (370km) and decided to visit CITTI when I made better time than I thought, they have everything that a cook would want but I still couldn't get any inspiration.
When I got in Linda was just preparing (from the freezer) a nice stew, she had asked me to get some Turnip and a few other odds and sods, so she made a nice spud and tammy mash and peas to go with it. Real hearty grub, washed down with a bottle of Burgundy.
We watched Jamie and a few other programmes, poured some red wine over the boar that had been dry marinating in game spices for a few days and went to bed, but I couldn't sleep, it was bugging me what to do for the fish dish! So I got up and took out the Rick Stein Mediterranean Escapes, The river cottage fish book, and a Good Food fish book. I thumbed through them and got lots of ideas and then it dawned, why not do a medley of various small fish dishes from varying parts of the world.
I had seen crab claws at CITTI so was sure there would be plenty at the market the next day. So Ma' Smiths crab fish cakes where on the menu. I found a nice raw marinated fish dish in HFWs so that was another.
I had seen a Pad Thai recipe in The Good Food so with a bit of shaping that could be part of another.
So I read on through Ricks, flicking back and forth and suddenly it opened at the page with the deep fried mozzarella, prosciutto and anchovy sandwiches. I fell asleep on the couch only to be awakened by Linda asking me if I was all right, I replied that I was looking for fish dishes, she went back to bed shaking her head.
Next morning up bright and early and off to the local DIY shop as Linda wanted a three piece wall papering table. (she is doing the lounge later in the spring and it would double up as the dining table). Next was off to the local Asia laden (they sell all manner of wonderful delicacies at rock bottom prices). Bought some small spring roll skins, mungo bean shoots, fresh coriander, chopped bamboo hearts and a couple of limes. Now it was a short drive to the market to buy the fish, Linda also wanted some stuff to go with the boar (the wild one not me).
Walking along the stalls, I saw yes they had raw crabs claws, I bought 8 large ones, I wanted some firm fleshed fish and what better than monk fish, so 2 thick slices of that would do the trick. I fancied some of those nice looking oysters as well so half a dozen went into the bag, just then the scallop meat caught my eye so 6 of those went the way of the oysters, we paid and the fish chappie put in a couple of gigantic tiger prawns just for good measure.
Shopping done off we went home. So my fish menu now looked like this:
Pad Thai spring rolls
Ma' Smiths crab cakes
Latin American Ceviche
Oysters how you want them!
Scallops wrapped in Tiroler Speck
Pad Thai Spring rolls
Ingredients
2 large tiger prawns, shelled, deveined and sliced
1 packet of spring roll skins small
Handful of mungo bean sprouts
1 carrot cut into match sticks
1 shallot thinly sliced into match sticks
1 red chilli seeds removed thinly sliced
3 pieces of light green leek leaf sliced very thin into strips about 1mm
1 tin of ready chopped bamboo hearts
good splash of fish sauce
very good splash or 2 of light soy sauce
2 table spoons of wok oil
Dipping sauce
A good glug sweet chilli sauce
1 table spoon oyster sauce
3 table spoons dark soy sauce
1 crushed clove of garlic
2 tea spoons soft brown sugar
Juice and zest of 1/2 lime.
1 thinly sliced red chilli
1 tea spoon of sesame oil
chopped coriander to taste
Method
Heat oil in a wok (or frying pan), fry onion, add prawn, leek, carrot, next add the chilli, bamboo shoots, fish sauce and soy sauce, fry quickly and add the bean shoots and mix well. The mixture should not take longer than a couple of minutes on a high heat. All the vegetables should still be crunchy add the coriander at this stage and set aside, allow to cool.
Peel off the thin spring roll skins one at a time, lay out on a board with a point near you (in a sort of diamond) and place a spoonful of the mixture about 2/3 up along the centre line. Fold over the top point and turn the side points (wings) in towards the centre line, next roll the parcel towards you quite firmly you should have a spring roll ready for frying. As you make more you will get better and quicker.
Place these on a board covered with damp paper towel covered with a tea towel (this will stop them drying out).
Next make the dipping sauce.
fry the garlic in a little oil, add the chilli and sugar, then all of the wet ingredients, stir them all together, the sauce should be back of spoon consistency.
Next fry the spring rolls.
Heat a little neutral oil in a frying pan and fry them until golden brown and crispy. Serve together with the dipping sauce.
Ma' Smiths crab cakes
Ingredients
8 large crab claws (gave about 500g of white meat)
250g floury potatoes
Bunch of parsley
Squeeze of lemon juice
S&P to taste
Flour
2 Eggs
Panko bread crumbs
To serve
Crushed minted peas
Method
I used crab claws, as that way you get only white meat, it is much quicker than using whole crab and pound for pound it is a lot cheaper.
Set a large pan of water on to boil, added some root vegetable off cuts (leek, celeriac and carrot) along with an onion, parsley stalks and marigold stock.
In went the crab claws and boiled for about 12 minutes. Removed and allowed to cool.
In another pan, I boiled the floury potatoes in their skins, when soft, ran under cold water, peeled and roughly mashed, added the cram meat, and chopped parsley. Mixed well, added the lemon juice and seasoned with Salt and Pepper. Formed mixture in chefs rings and allowed to cool. When ready to fry, lay out 3 soup plates in 1 add seasoned flour, another beaten egg and in the third the bread crumbs (I used Panko as they are very crisp when fried, but any crumbs will do).
Next heat 1cm neutral oil in a frying pan, fry the cakes until golden brown then turn and fry the other side serve warm with the dressing below.
Heat 300g of frozen garden peas in microwave add either fresh chopped mint or a couple of dollops of ready made mint sauce, crush with the back of a fork and serve as along with the crab cakes.
Ceviche
This is a type of food that I had many years ago when I was in New Zealand, it was called lemon fish by the locals and I next met it again at a Mess BBQ many years later when a Kiwi attached himself to the Royal Engineers in Berlin. I thought then, it was a virtual make itself food, tasty, refreshing and sharp.
I came across it once again in HFW River Cottage fish book so I adapted it to this.
Ingredients
2 thick slices of monk fish tail, second skin removed (that grey slimy membrane)
2 limes
2 lemons ( I had to my horror run out so used Hitchcock)
1 orange
1/2 tea spoon soft brown sugar
1 shallot sliced paper thin
A 1cm piece of celeriac thinly shaved and finely chopped (you can use a couple of stalks of celery)
1 red chilli (choose what type a according to how much heat you want)
A handful of coriander leaves and stales chopped
A pinch of salt
Pinch of hot Cayenne
1/2 a tea spoon of sweet paprika powder
Method:
Remove that slimy grey second skin from the fish, take the flesh off the middle cartilage bone. You will have 4 meaty pieces. Slice each of these paper thin, place these on a flat tray or plate. Next slice the chilli, shallot and celeriac, sprinkle these over the fish, grate the zest of the limes over this then the juice of the limes, lemons and orange. Next the sugar, salt, cayenne and paprika powder.
Cover with cling film and leave for a few hours (I made this at 3 to eat at 8, which turned out about right as it happened. When ready to serve mix up all together and taste, it may need a bit more sugar, or any of the other spices the choice is yours.
Place into individual bowls, sprinkle with the chopped coriander and serve (mine was part of the medley of fish so I didn't have any of the normal accompaniments)
Oyster anyway you want them
Nothing is easier than oysters, unless some want them steamed with various sauces, but even then it isnt, rocket science.
I had made a shallot red wine vinegar dressing with a hint of chilli and a few drops of Worcester sauce for those that wished. In the end two wanted them steamed, two took the dressing and two ate aux natural.
Scallops in Tyroler speck
6 Scallops
6 slices of Tyroler speck
freshly ground pepper
Method
Roll the scallops in pepper, wrap a slice of speck around them, fixing with a tooth pick (unused if its for other people).
Sear the scallops on both sides turning when golden.
As I had made a dipping sauce for the spring rolls those that wished could use this.
And that was my fish course, I shall be doing the other courses and putting pictures to words later.
Now that you know what the fish course was, I shall tell you about the rest of the meal!
The meal consisted of:
Mine and Rick's Amuse Bouch and Linda's Champagne cocktail
Martin's Foie gras with chocolate and orange
Kalle's Pumpkin and chilli soup
My fish medley
Linda's roasted leg of wild boar
with bread dumplings
Braised red cabbage
Sautéed mushrooms
Game sauce
Caroline's Hazelnut dessert
The Amuse Bouch
The evening was started off when the guests arrived, with a small amuse bouch, I had made a rather simple and nice little thing, the recipe was taken from Rick Steins Mediterranean Escapes.
6 thin slices of fresh white bread
softened butter
3 anchovy fillet's cut in half
1 packet of mozzarella (real buffalo) cut with a pastry cutter then sliced very thin into 6 slices
3 slices of paper thin Parma or St Daniel ham
1 beaten egg
Bread crumbs
Oil for frying
I used a 3cm round pastry cutter and cut rounds out of the bread slices (12), these where buttered, then a round of ham, then a round of mozzarella, then another round of ham topped with a piece of anchovy fillet and the finished with a round of bread. when ready to serve, heat the oil dip the bread in the egg, roll in bread crumbs (make sure that the edges are well covered and fry in the oil until golden brown. Serve immediately with Champagne cocktail
The starter
Foie gras with chocolate and orange
This is a recipe taken from a nice little recipe book (I know as Martin and Marianna gave it to me as a birthday present), with lots of fascinating starters presented in glasses, small cups etc. The recipe book is called food and glass.
Ingredients
300g of fois gras mi-cruit de canard (lightly poached duck fois gras)
50g of dark chocolate
150g of full milk chocolate
1 dessert spoon of peanut oil
1 small Glass of orange juice (blood orange if you can get it)
1 orange filleted (again blood orange is preferable)
3 leaves of white gelatin
1 tea spoon of caster sugar
Method
You require 6 small glasses
Break both of the chocolates into small pieces and melt over a water bath together with the peanut oil.Place a sheet of baking paper or a silicon sheet on a work surface or chopping board. Spoon small discs that will just fit inside of the glass onto the surface, this is best done with the back of a warmed spoon. Allow to set.
Now make the orange jelly, soak the gelatin in cold water. Now heat the juice, fillets and sugar in a pan, add the gelatin and by a low temperature melt all together, remove from the heat and allow to cool.
Next cut the fois gras into discs (either use the rim of the glass or a pastry cutter) place alternative layers of fois gras, orange jelly (place the glass in the fridge to set between the layers) , chocolate disc, finishing off with a chocolate disc. Place all in the fridge and serve well cooled.
This is a fantastic starter that can be made well in advance, it is very, very rich, but also very, very special.
The Soup
Kalle's pumkin and chilli soup
This is also a one that can be made well in advance and kept cool until required, then reheated. It is also a one that it doesn't matter if you make too much as it freezes well.
Ingredients
1 Pumpkin or squash
Main course
Linda's boaring leg
Ingredients
1 boars leg
game spices (enough to give the leg a good covering)
2 carrots chopped
1 piece of celeriac chopped
1 leek (white and light green only) sliced and diced
1 onion roughly chopped
3 garlic cloves (crushed)
diced smoked bacon (geraucherte bauch speck)
oil for browning
1 bottle of red wine
1/2 litre of stock (game if possible, but a good vegetable if not,marigold is excellent)
S&P to taste
Method
Rub the boar leg all over with the game spices (Linda used them out of a packet, I make my OWN nah nah na nah na), wrap in cling film and put in a cool place for at least 3 days. You can now go about doing other things like working and earning money towards my pension.
24 hours prior to it being cooked, remove the cling film, salt and pepper the beast and put in a roasting tin with a bottle of red wine (remove the wine from the bottle as the bottle adds nothing to tha flavour). Add a couple of cloves and a few juniper berries. If the leg is not covered turn it half way through the marinading time, but it is better to try and get it submerged for the whole time.
About 5 hours before serving (this does depend on the size of the leg, this was massive and so required quite a bit of cooking) Another thing, I believe that for a piece of meat this size a thermometer is indispensable.
Heat oil in the roasting tin and brown the leg all over. Remove and set aside.
Put the root veg etc into the bottom of the roasting dish, mix the stock and marinade and add to the roasting tin (about 1.5cm) along with the fried speck and crushed garlic.
Place a trivet over the veg and place the leg on this, cover with foil, push the thermometer through the thickest part but not touching the bone. Place in the preheated oven at 120°C for 20 mins, reduce to 180°C keeping an eye on the inner temperature, if it is climbing to quick, lower the temperature a bit more (we ended up at150°C) keep topping up with the marinade/stock mixture the meat is cooked to perfection when the inner temperature reaches 70°C, this means that everyone can have the meat how they like it. The outer crisp, the inner juicy, succulent and just how I like it.
Braised spiced red cabbage
1/2 a large cabbage shredded
3 table spoons of goose fat
1 onion sliced
2 shot glasses of raspberry vinegar
diced bacon
1 apple grated
1 desert spoon of soft brown sugar
1 teaspoon of ground mixed spices
Method
Melt the goose fat in a large pan, add the onion and soften, add the cabbage and the apple, sautée, now add the raspberry vinegar, sugar and mixed spices. In another pan fry the diced bacon until crispy. Keep stirring the cabbage until it starts to soften but still has a bit of crunch, add the bacon stir well in and adjust seasoning.
Sautéed Mushrooms in game sauce
250g of cream mushrooms quartered
250g of brown mushrooms quartered
1 large shallot diced
100g of diced bacon
S&P to taste
oil for frying
Bunch of parsley chopped
Pan juices from the roasting tin and any remaining marinade (pushed through a strainer)
Method
In a large frying pan fry the shallot and speck over a moderate heat until the speck releases its fat and the shallot turns translucent, add the mushrooms, when they have started to give off their juices add the marinade. Transfer to a serving bowl.
Bread Dumplings
The bread dumplings where bought from CITTI and only needed cooking in a pan of rolling boiling salted water.
Carolin's pud, I shall get the recipe off her and post it later
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