Porcini Rubbed Fillet and Potato Wrapped Sea Bass from Certified Steak and Seafood

Here is a meal sure to please the one you love. This porcini rubbed fillet and potato wrapped sea bass  were served last week for Valentines Day. I’ve been working with Certified Steak and Seafood recently and love trying to amp up basic fillet and sea bass with creativity. Like here.


When another shipment arrived, I wanted something quick, but elegant. Being winter ,tons of potatoes arrive  in my organic delivery. In order to use them up,I’ve been playing with potato galettes and other dishes.Is there anything more elegant than a paper thin slice  from a mandolin? I knew sheer potato slices  would be perfect for the fish. For the beef fillet, I pulverized dried porcini mushrooms into a fine dust and seasoned with salt and pepper.

This meal didn’t take long, and within 45 minutes to an hour, I had dinner on the table for two. The key is preparation. You want to slice your potatoes quickly and season, and wrap. The recipe I used for inspiration for the sea bass can be found here. I skipped the chilling part, and dealt with unraveling potatoes , which I saved. So I suggest you chill your fish. I used the wine sauce as a bed for both the fish and steak served with roasted vegetables.

Porcini Rubbed Fillet
 
Recipe type: Entree
Ingredients
  • 1 pint dried Porcini Mushrooms
  • 2 Fillets of Beef
  • sea salt and ground black pepper
  • olive oil
Instructions
  1. In a food processor or spice meal, grind the dried porcinis to a fine powder.
  2. Toss the fillets in the Porcini powder to coat.
  3. Heat non stick skillet to med high with olive oil. You will have to adjust heat if too high, etc.
  4. Add fillets to pan and season with salt and pepper.
  5. Sear each side 8 min on each side for rare, Increase time to desired level of doneness.
  6. Let sit/rest for a few minutes and serve.



Certified Steak and Seafood is offering you $25 off your entire order. I think you will pleased with the high quality of their products.

 This sponsorship is brought to you by Certified Steak & Seafood Company who we have partnered with for this promotion.

 

Green and Blacks Toffee Milk Chocolate and Pretzel Cookies aka Victoria and Albert’s

The vision of crushed pretzels  in some sort of sweet pastry raced through my mind as I sat in a seminar recently. As my colleagues jockeyed for attention and notice in those forced group games, I kept dreaming of pretzels. I had a big box of them sitting on my kitchen table. What to do? I then saw my Green and Blacks Milk Chocolate Toffee bar, and this cookie was born. I’ve seen other variations of a pretzel cookies on the internet, but ,mine is different as I incorporate the ground pretzels into the cookie dough, not just plunking some pretzel on top. The rich toffee and chocolate merge excellently with the salty, crunchy pretzel. When I think of toffee I think of England, and when I think of pretzels I think of Germany. So thus, I christened these cookies Victoria and Albert’s, the greatest Anglo/ Deutsche pairing ever. Yes. I’m a nerd who watches too much British Drama.


Green and Blacks Toffee Milk Chocolate and Pretzel Cookies aka Victoria and Albert's
 
Recipe type: cookie
Serves: 24
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups of ground pretzel sticks ( reserve ¼ cup for topping)
  • 1½ sticks of unsalted butter room temp
  • 1½ cups dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 Green and Blacks Toffee Bar chopped
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Line Cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  3. In a blender grid the pretzel sticks. The texture should be medium coarse. Set aside.
  4. In a bowl of stand mixture, cream the butter and brown sugar for 3 minutes with a paddle attachment.
  5. Add the eggs, cinnamon and vanilla extract and continue to mix.
  6. Scrape down mixture for sides to thoroughly blend.
  7. Add the flour, 1¼ cups of pretzel crumbs and baking soda. Beat with paddle another 2 minutes, scraping down sides as necessary.
  8. Add the chocolate and mix lightly in mixture.
  9. Make rounded spoons of dough, no larger than a walnut . Carefully pick up up dough and dip top in the remaining ¼ cup of ground pretzels.
  10. Place on baking sheet. spaced apart. 12 to sheet.
  11. Bake until cookie spreads,crisp around edges and golden, approx 8 min ( varies by oven). Do not overcook.

 

Smørrebrød and Smörgås…Scandinavian Open Faced Sandwiches

New Year brings new ideas, styles, way of doing things.With all the innovation and tends in food , sometimes we just need to look back at a simpler ,less complex time . A question on my mind with all the holiday catering, was how to deliver the most , for less, without sacrificing taste or quality. I was thumbing through my Catering trade magazine and saw Smørrebrød ( those famous beautiful open faced sandwiches from Denmark) listed as a trend to watch. It seems everyone is on the Nordic bandwagon. I knew after my first visit to Sweden in 2004, there was something special about Scandinavian food. Clean, pure, simple taste. Sparse , yet elegant. No overkill there with their food, and you are completely satisfied.

Smørrebrød can be sweet or savory. They are served for celebrations, lunch, dinners, late night bar/ club snacks.So you see they are very versatile. They can be savory or sweet. So the imagination can run wild with how to compose cheese, fruits, condiments, vegetables, meat and seafood. Like wines or beers, a full menu of Smørrebrød is progressive , starting with fish,meat or poultry, and then dessert. A thick smear of butter on the base of hearty rye , pumpernickel , or white bread, insures the bread doesn’t get soggy, as well as enhances flavor. Because of this seal of fat, they can be premade and refrigerated before serving.

I thumbed through some of my favorite Scandinavian Cookbooks for inspiration. A good one to consider is Scandinavian Cooking by Beatrice A. Ojakangas and The Scandinavian Cookbook by Trina Hahneman.

The trick to beautiful Smørrebrød or Smörgås ( Swedish) is an organized mise en place.It’s about structure and balance, so you will want your ingredients prepped and laid out. You needn’t spend a fortune. I found a great  dense European style bread at Aldi for pumpernickel and rye. The shrimp and smoked salmon will be a bit more expensive, but many things you will have on hand.

Butter ,Lettuce,Poached chicken , marinated cucumber with dill, sugar vinegar, tomato wedge and bacon

Butter, Lettuce,Mayonnaise,Small Shrimp, Dill, Lemon, Tomato.

Butter,Raw Honey, Crumbled Blue Cheese, Sliced Pear brushed with Lemon, Bacon

See  how easy these sandwiches can be?  The carnivores, pescatarians, vegetarians, and picky eaters will be happy. Mix cheese , nuts and fruits.Try to make your own compound butters, cream cheese, or may blends. Fuse cultures, the possibilities are endless and it wont break the bank.

 

Miso Glazed Sea Bass Wrapped in Seaweed and Rice Paper & Fillet with Wasabi Butter from Certified Steak and Seafood




I think this meal of Miso Glazed Sea Bass Wrapped in Seaweed and Rice Paper & Filet with Wasabi Butter from Certified Steak and Seafood, would be awesome for a special New Years Eve Dinner or Réveillon. Certified Steak and Seafood, via my partnership with Foodie Blogroll, were kind enough to send me two Prime Certified Angus Beef Fillets and two Chilean Sea Bass pieces, to create with. Knowing me, I decided to get creative. For a few weeks in the Restaurant Depot, while shopping for clients, I’ve been seeing these curious sea vegetables from Asia called Salty Fingers. They are crunchy, salty, and slightly bitter. I knew they would pair well with my sea bass.

Taking even further cues from the diversity of Asia, I started piecing together more ingredients that are staples in my pantry. Miso , Seaweed, Sesame Oil, etc. I know it’s a cliche, but who doesn’t like some sort of surf and turf? I pan roasted my Sea Bass with a Miso Glaze, and then wrapped in super thin rice paper with a strip of Seaweed. The Fillet I just seared for a few minutes on each side and topped with salted butter blended with wasabi powder.Fresh grated Wasabi would be even better if you can find it. The salad is lightly sauteed oyster mushrooms tossed with Pea Shots, salty fingers, diced pickled garlic, shaved shallots, and dressing of Sesame Oil, Rice Vinegar, Ponzu Soy Sauce ,minced garlic ,salt and pepper. This served as a nice medium with steamed white rice between the fish and beef. This meal may seem complicated , but it’s not . If you set it all up, it should be ready in approximately  thirty minutes cooking/ grilling time.

 

Certified Steak and Seafood is offering you a coupon code (FBR125D) to get a $25 discount off their order.

Miso Glazed Sea Bass Wrapped in Seaweed and Rice Paper & Fillet with Wasabi Butter and Pea Shot and Salty Finger Salad
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Recipe type: Entree
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 2 Chilean Sea Bass Steaks
  • 2 Angus Beef Filet Mignon
  • Miso Glaze
  • 3 tablespoons White Miso
  • 2 Tablespoons Ponzu Soy Sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons Mirin
  • 1 Tablespoons vegetable oil ( any light neutral tasting oil)
  • Super Thin Rice Paper
  • 1 sheet seaweed
  • Wasabi Butter
  • 1 teaspoon Wasabi Powder
  • 2 tablespoons softened Salted Butter
  • Sea Salt or Himalayan Salt
  • Coarse Black Pepper
  • Pea Shot Salad
  • 3 cups Washed Pea Shots
  • ½ cup Salty Fingers ( Specialty Produce Stores)
  • Several Cloves Pickled garlic ( Available in Korean Stores)
  • 1 shallot shaved thin
  • ⅓ cup sesame oil
  • 3 tablespoons olive or pomace oil
  • ⅓ cup rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Ponzu Soy Sauce
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 2 cups Oyster Mushrooms
  • Oil
Instructions
  1. In a small bowl whisk together, Miso,brown sugar, Ponzu soy, oil, and Mirin.
  2. Add Sea Bass to Miso Glaze and let marinate.
  3. Line a roasting pan with parchment and preheat oven to 525.
  4. In a skillet lightly saute the oyster mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
  5. Wash and Prep your pea shots and salty fingers.Add pickled garlic and shallots to mix.
  6. Mix your dressing of sesame oil, ponzu soy, rice vinegar, oil, , garlic,etc and whisk until emulsified.
  7. Mix Wasabi powder and softened butter and keep cool.
  8. Heat your grill pan or indoor grilling device to searing temp ( over 425 F).
  9. Place Sea Bass on pan lined with parchment with Miso Glaze and roast for 10 -15 minutes until glaze starts to caramelize. Check temp and lower if necessary so glaze doesn't burn.
  10. Once done, carefully remove sea bass and place on a sheet of dampened rice paper with a seaweed strip. Roll sea bass and tuck in ends of paper so fish is encased.
  11. Season Beef Fillets with salt and pepper and grill for a minutes on each side to desired doneness. Approximately 5 minuted each side for rare to med rare.
  12. Remove from grill and top with a pat of Wasbi Butter.
  13. Toss Pea Shot Salad with dressing and sauteed warm mushrooms and serve with steamed white rice and the sea bass and fillet.

After a rough week for Certain Someone and I , this was a great dinner for the end of the work week. He was both impressed with the quality of meat and fish , in addition to my creative spin. I wont mention where he orders his frozen fillets from, but I definitely think this was a more superior product  from Certified Steak and Seafood.


 

 

 

I wish all of you safe , happy , and warm holidays filled with warmth and cheer. Thanks for following me on my journey with Coco Cooks.

Disclosure:

This is a sponsored  post , but the opinions remain my own. This sponsorship is brought to you by Certified Steak & Seafood Company who we have partnered with for this promotion.

Our commitment to our customers is simple: Offer the highest quality products at the best price and back it with a 100% guarantee. We source directly with no ‘middle man’ making our supply chain the shortest in the industry. This allows us to maintain the highest quality standards all the way to your plate. On top of this, we sample all products at the moment of final packaging and have a world-renowned laboratory test for various types of adulteration or contamination. This ensures that the food you purchase from us is pure and safe.

Certified Steak and Seafood Company was formed by the three Frisch boys, Mark, Adam, and Steven; all of whom thought that everyone should be able to buy the highest quality steaks and seafood direct. The brothers experience comes from a three generation family owned wholesale company that is one of the largest seafood importers in America.

They have vast experience in sourcing and selling high quality seafood and meat products to the commercial trade — and bring you the same grade of products fine restaurants, resorts, hotels, and high-end retail stores demand – and at a direct price that gives you tremendous value for every purchase.

 

Green and Black’s Spiced Chili Pot Roast…Chocolate as Savory

A  few weeks back, I was invited to a fun local event hosted by Green and Black’s to launch their latest bar, Spiced Chili. What I took away from the evening was lots of creative ideas and inspiration to incorporate chocolate into intriguing savory dishes. Not only were delicious desserts on hand, and information on pairing chocolates with alcohol, but Chef Jill Houk challenged and inspired us to think out of the box when cooking.

Believe it or not with the holidays approaching, I’m not really feeling tons of desserts now. I’m coming down off a very hectic two months of catering and work commitments, and all I seek is savory comfort in my kitchen.  So what did I decide to do? I took my inspiration from Mexico and used a grated  bar of Green and Black’s Spiced Chili  , which is seasoned with star anise,pink peppercorn, cloves,juniper and ginger , to make a mole like braise for an inexpensive cut of beef. All you need is a good grater or micro plane, a cast iron pan or dutch oven, and time to make this fantastic meal, which will leave you saying Holy Mole ( pardon the pun).


Green and Blacks Spiced Chili Pot Roast...Chocolate as Savory
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A braised pot roast using Green and Blacks Spiced Chocolate as a savory ingredient.
Recipe type: Entree
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
  • 3.5-4 lb pot roast
  • ½ bar Green and Blacks Spiced Chili Bar ( approx 50 grams)
  • 5-6 garlic cloves
  • 1 jalapeno pepper seeded and minced
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon coriander
  • 1 tablespoon Kosher Salt or Pink Himalayan Salt.
  • 1 lime juiced
  • ½ cup Tequila Reposado
  • 1½ large onion sliced
  • 2 carrots peeled and chopped into slices.
  • 2 cups water.
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. Using a grater grate the chocolate and garlic into a small bowl.
  3. Add the dry spices and minced jalapeno.
  4. Mix well and rub onto the pot roast. Place in a cast iron pan or dutch oven.
  5. Add lime juice, tequila, and water to pan.
  6. Add carrots and onion slices.
  7. Cover with foil or lid, and roast for 3 hours until tender.
  8. Remove the foil or lid and roast for another ½ hour until tender and liquid reduces some more.