Распечатать
E-mail
 |
Ингредиенты
- 1/2 large head cauliflower, chopped into florets
- 2 medium floury potatoes, peeled and cut into inch cubes
- abundant boiling water
- 1lb salmon (or trout or arctic char) fillets
- 1 large bunch purple basil, stalks removed
- handful of pine nuts
- 1/4 cup best olive oil
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar
- salt and black pepper
- 2-4oz unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup whole milk
View Full Recipe at We Are Never Full
%20and%20%E2%80%9CFint,%20takk%20fyrir!%E2%80%9D%20(Fine,%20thanks%20very%20much!%E2%80%9D)%20well%20enough%20that%20everyone%20still%20responded%20in%20English.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%C3%9Eingvellir,%20the%20site%20of%20two%20seismic%20events%20%E2%80%93%20the%20separation%20of%20the%20European%20and%20North%20American%20tectonic%20plates%20that%20gave%20birth%20to%20this%20geologically-active%20nation,%20and%20the%20creation%20of%20Europe%E2%80%99s%20first%20parliament,%20here%20in%20the%208th%20century%20%E2%80%93%20had%20been%20a%20fascinating%20day%20trip%20out%20of%20the%20capital,%20as%20had%20the%20midnight%20motorcycle%20rallies%20in%20the%20northern%20city%20of%20Akureyri,%20and%20the%20appropriately%20itchy%20excursion%20to%20Myvattn%20(Mosquito%20Lake).%20And,%20if%20it%20hadn%E2%80%99t%20been%20exactly%20a%20highlight,%20then%20the%20three%20excruciating%20hours%20spent%20drinking%20tea%20laced%20with%20brenniv%C3%ADn%20as%20a%20guest%20of%20my%20hosts%20relatives%20in%20the%20beautifully%20desolate%20fish-processing%20town%20of%20Isafjor%C3%B0ur%20was%20certainly%20a%20testament%20to%20the%20legendary%20Icelandic%20capacity%20for%20self-punishment.%20A%20quality%20that%20has%20seen%20them%20achieve%20fame%20in%20strong-man%20competitions%20and%20notoriety%20in%20gastronomic%20spheres.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ENot%20only%20have%20Icelanders%20traditionally%20had%20to%20make%20do%20with%20boiled%20sheep%20face%20and%20gasp-inducing,%20ammonial,%20buried%20basking%20shark%20as%20festive%20dishes%20during%20the%20endless,%20pitch%20black%20winters,%20but%20that%20they%20had%20to%20manage%20it,%20until%20the%20early%201990s,%20without%20beer.%20Even%20when%20blind-drunk,%20the%20tiniest%20bite%20of%20the%20shark,%20tasted%20under%20peer%20pressure%20at%20%C3%9Eorrablot,%20the%20traditional%20midwinter%20festival,%20had%20nearly%20brought%20me%20to%20tears%20some%20months%20earlier.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EOn%20my%20final,%20gorgeously%20sunny%20evening,%20with%20the%20light%20dancing%20off%20the%20twinkling%20wake,%20I%20took%20a%20boat%20across%20Reykjavik%20harbor%20to%20dinner%20on%20the%20island%20of%20Vi%C3%B0ey%20with%20a%20consequent%20degree%20of%20pessimism%20about%20my%20prospects%20for%20a%20decent%20meal.%20The%20summer%20though,%20is%20an%20inversion%20of%20everything%20that%20is%20awful%20about%20Icelandic%20winters,%20from%20the%20weather%20to%20the%20cuisine,%20and%20I%20was%20delighted%20by%20everything%20on%20offer,%20that%20is,%20until%20the%20arrival%20of%20the%20almost%20preposterously%20enormous%20bill.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EOn%20my%20plate%20that%20night%20was%20a%20gloriously%20simple%20pan-fried%20arctic%20char%20of%20the%20most%20luminous%20orange%20over%20a%20cauliflower%20mousse%20that%20the%20chef%20had%20sculpted%20to%20resemble%20a%20ski-jump,%20surrounded%20by%20some%20tiny,%20inky-hued%20Siberian%20tomatoes,%20greenhoused%20locally.%20The%20combination%20of%20fish,%20snow%20and%20black%20boulders%20felt%20like%20a%20distillate%20of%20the%20country%20itself,%20in%20microcosm.%20Perhaps%20only%20a%20sprinkling%20of%20pixie%20dust%20was%20missing.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ERecreating%20that%20dish%20some%20years%20later,%20I%20opted%20for%20salmon%20over%20char,%20cauliflower%20mash%20over%20mousse,%20and%20a%20purple%20basil%20pesto%20in%20place%20of%20the%20dusky%20tomatoes.%20As%20we%20edge%20into%20fall,%20all%20these%20vegetables%20are%20at%20their%20peak,%20and%20the%20contrasts%20they%20offer%20are%20as%20interesting%20texturally%20and%20aromatically%20as%20much%20as%20they%20are%20visually.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EPan-Seared%20Salmon,%20Cauliflower%20Mash%20and%20Purple%20Basil%20Pesto%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIngredients:%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ERecipe%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIn%20a%20large%20pot,%20boil%20potatoes%20and%20cauliflower%20until%20very%20tender,%2010-12%20minutes.%20Drain%20and%20return%20to%20pot.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAdd%20milk,%20butter,%20salt%20and%20pepper,%20and%20mash%20until%20smooth.%20Then%20beat%20with%20a%20spoon%20until%20it%20has%20a%20whipped%20texture.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIn%20a%20blender,%20pulverize%20basil%20leaves%20with%20olive%20oil%20and%20a%20pinch%20of%20salt%20until%20you%20have%20a%20lovely%20purple%20puree.%20Add%20pine%20nuts%20and%20blend%20until%20smooth.%20Add%20lemon%20juice%20and%20correct%20seasoning.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EHeat%20a%20large%20saute%20pan%20to%20medium%20high,%20add%201-2%20tablespoons%20neutral%20flavored%20oil%20like%20grapeseed.%20Season%20salmon%20fillets%20on%20both%20sides.%20Cook%20skin%20side%20down%20first%20for%203-4%20minutes,%20or%20until%20skin%20releases%20from%20pan%20and%20you%20can%20turn%20them%20without%20tearing%20it.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ECook%20for%20another%201-2%20minutes%20on%20flesh%20side%20or%20until%20medium%20inside.%20Remove%20from%20pan%20and%20allow%20to%20rest.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAssemble%20all%20on%20a%20plate,%20marvel%20at%20the%20color%20contrast%20and%20enjoy%20with%20a%20minerally%20sauvignon%20blanc%20or%20chablis.%3C/p%3E){kind=link}