3475. POLLOCK with BACON and SEAWEED CONSOMME

serves four 


For bacon & seaweed consommé
2 3"x5" pieces konbu seaweed
6 cups spring water
1/2 lb. applewood smoked slab bacon

For pickled wild mushrooms
1/4 cup sherry vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup wild mushrooms

For turnip purée
1 large turnip
Salt (to taste)
Water (enough to cover turnip in pot)
Butter (to taste)

For pollock
4 5-oz. pollock filets
Salt and pepper
2 cups wondra flour
2 tablespoons olive oil

Prepare bacon & seaweed consommé: Rinse the konbu seaweed in water, then rip it into strips and place it in a pot over medium heat, with enough water to cover it thoroughly. Cut the bacon into approximately 2" squares and add to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and let cook. After 5 minutes, remove konbu from the pot. Let the bacon continue to cook for 30-45 minutes. Remove the bacon from the pot, then put the liquid in the refrigerator for a few hours, or until the fat has solidified. Remove and discard the layer of fat. The remaining liquid is the consommé.

Prepare pickled wild mushrooms: Combine vinegar, water, salt, and sugar in a pot and stir until combined. Bring to a boil. Pour into bowl of mushrooms and let sit for 45 minutes.

Prepare turnip purée: Peel and chop the turnip and place in a pot with salt. Cover with water and bring to a boil, then reduce to a high simmer and cook until the turnips offer little resistance, if any. Drain and mash the turnip (put into a blender for smoother texture) and season with more salt and butter. Serve warm.

Prepare pollock: Sprinkle salt and pepper on pollock filets. Coat skin side of filets with Wondra flour. Add a thin layer of olive oil to hot pan, then place the pollock filet in, flour-side down. Do not touch it; let it sit and cook. Sear the fish for 4-5 minutes in a hot pan, or until it is roughly 80% cooked through.

To Serve: Place a small mound of turnip purée in bowl (or plate with rounded edges that will not let the consommé spill over). Place the cooked fish on top and garnish with the pickled mushrooms. Pour a few tablespoons of warm consommé onto the plate over the fish.





bacon recipe source: Chef Rich Garcia, for Neighborhood Kitchens, WGBH, 1 Guest Street, Boston, MA 02135; Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel, 606 Congress Street, Boston, MA

2828. SAUTEED SHAD ROE with BACON-BUTTER SAUCE and FRISEE

serves four 


4 slices bacon (preferably double-smoked), cut crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick slices
1/2 cup chicken stock
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
fine sea salt and freshly ground white pepper
1 pair shad roe (preferably jumbo)
wondra flour, for dusting
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon chopped garlic
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 head frisee

Make the sauce: Place bacon in a medium skillet, and cook over high heat until bacon is golden and just crisp. Remove 2 tablespoons bacon, and drain on a paper towel-lined plate; set aside. Continue cooking the remaining bacon until very crisp but not blackened. Transfer to a fine sieve; discard bacon fat. Transfer crisp bacon to the jar of a blender.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring chicken stock to a boil over high heat. Add butter, piece by piece, whisking constantly until incorporated. Add the chicken-stock mixture to the blender, and blend on high speed until bacon is pureed. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside in a warm place until ready to serve.

Cook the shad roe: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Using a sharp knife, trim shad roe, and divide into 2 pieces, being careful not to tear the membrane. Pour flour into a shallow bowl, and season with salt and pepper; dust pieces lightly with the flour.

In a medium nonstick ovenproof saute pan, heat grapeseed oil over medium heat. Add shad roe, and cook until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn, and transfer the saute pan to the oven until roe is cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from saute pan, and set aside while preparing salad.

Make the salad: In a large bowl, combine vinegar, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper. Whisk to combine. Slowly add olive oil, whisking constantly, until combined. Add frisee and the reserved bacon; toss to combine.

To serve: Slice the shad roe crosswise on the bias into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Divide among four plates. Spoon the bacon sauce over, and serve immediately with the frisee salad on the side.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Chef Eric Ripert, Le Bernardin, 155 W 51st Street, New York, New York 10019; Martha Stewart Living Television