scorzenera

[shivvy]

I get a weekly box of locally grown organic veg delivered weekly. This week I got scorzenera which I had never heard of or seen before. They have included info on how to cook it and I have read on the internet that it tastes like artichoke/celeriac. I am not a huge fan of either of those so to give it an opportunity to win me over, has anyone got an idea for a recipe to show it off to its best?!
Thanks

[BBWCHATT]

Shivvy I had never heard of it either - but I looked on the internet and it is also called black salsify - so I guess you could substitute it in any salsify recipe - I have never even tasted that either. This is the only recipe I could find for you - maybe you can adapt it to one you will like - I will have to put it in 2 or 3 posts because it is too long to fit in one:

Part One:
SAUTEED LANGOUSTINE WITH CHARDONNAY REDUCTION

Laurent Gras, the chef at New York City's Peacock Alley restaurant, says the mild flavor of the langoustine meat and the crunchy texture of the broccoli sprouts make a wonderful combination. Note: this recipe requires advanced skills, but if you're feeling adventurous, give it a shot.

For langoustines
20 langoustines (about 4 pounds) (You may substitute with king prawn, Australian Crayfish or large 2 to 3 oz.-shrimp with heads)
1 oz. shellfish butter (see below)
pepper
sea salt ("fleur de sel")

For shellfish butter
5 shellfish heads
6 oz. unsalted butter
12 oz. water

For langoustine broth
15 langoustine (shellfish) heads
2 cups chicken stock
1 1/2 oz. shellfish butter

For Chardonnay reduction
3 oz. red onion (3 small pieces)
4 oz. quince
10 oz. Chardonnay
10 oz. langoustine broth
3 grapefruit peelings (use a vegetable peeler)
20 peppercorns (preferably Indonesian)
1/4 vanilla bean
3 oz. unsalted butter
1/4 dry chili
1 mint leaf
pepper

For salsify
1 lb. salsify
1/4 oz. olive oil
1/2 oz. duck fat
1 oz. butter
1 1/2 cup chicken stock
sea salt (fleur de sel)
black pepper

For truffle dressing
2 oz. olive oil
1/2 oz. truffle juice
1 oz. lemon juice
salt
white pepper
3 basil leaves

[BBWCHATT]

Part Two:

For langoustines:
Separate the head from the tail and reserve the heads. Using kitchen shears, carefully cut the shell on the underside of the tail up to the last section before the "fins". You want to leave this on because it will protect the thinner part of the tail meat from over cooking. Discard the shell fragments and wrap and refrigerate the cleaned tails immediately.

For shellfish butter:
Preheat oven to 300�F. Put the heads in a roasting pan. Slowly roast at 300�F until dry (about 15 minutes). Add butter, let it melt until it has foamed, but before the milk solids begin to brown (noisette) and add water. Let cook for 2 hours at 200�F. Strain in a bowl, let it congeal in the refrigerator and separate the butter from the water. Discard the remaining water. Melt the butter and strain through cheese cloth. Yields about 3 oz.
For langoustine broth:
In a saut� pan over medium heat, slowly saut� the langoustine heads with the shellfish butter. Pour the chicken stock, cook slowly. Skim the surface of the broth. Let cook for about an hour. Strain the broth through cheesecloth. Yields about 1 1/2 cups.

For the Chardonnay reduction:
Cut the onions in quarters, dice the quince, and simmer slowly in a pot with 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter. The vegetables shouldn't take on any color. Add the grapefruit zest, vanilla seed and pepper. Pour the wine and the langoustine broth; reduce quickly on the stove. When the liquid has been halved, add the remaining butter. Continue until the sauce reaches a desired consistency (about 15 minutes). Add the chili and mint; let them infuse for a few minutes and strain the sauce. Reserve for final assembly of the dish.

[BBWCHATT]

Part Three:

For the salsify:
Peel the salsify and slice into two inch pieces on the bias. Season with salt and olive oil. In a saut� pan, add half the duck fat; pan fry the salsify, add the chicken stock and butter. Cook quickly on the stove. Reduce the stock completely and remove the salsify. Heat a clean frying pan until it�s very warm, pour the remaining duck fat, and roast the salsify until it has a golden color. Season with pepper and "fleur de sel." Reserve on the side until you are ready to plate the dish.

For the truffle dressing:
Mix all the ingredients together; macerate the basil (whole leaves) in the vinaigrette. Season the broccoli sprouts with the truffle vinaigrette right before serving.

Final assembly:
All of the ingredients are served warm with the exception of the broccoli sprouts. Make sure that you have all of the components of the dish ready for plating before you cook the shellfish � salsify and sauce are warm and broccoli sprouts are dressed with the vinaigrette. When you are ready to serve, heat a saut
 pan, add the remaining shellfish butter and place the seasoned shellfish in the pan. After about 1 minute, turn the shellfish over and finish cooking (2 to 3 minutes).

Presentation:
Arrange the salsify around the plate. Put the langoustine tails on top (tail out) and the dressed broccoli sprouts in the center of the plate. Spoon Chardonnay reduction over langoustine tails and serve immediately.

Serves 4.

Peacock Alley Restaurant
January 1998
Laurent Gras

[shivvy]

WOW!!!!!!!
I think I can safely say that I have never received such a prompt, lengthy, specific and detailed answer to a question on answerbank!!
Thankyou so much BBWCHATT.
Would it be rude for me to tell you that I don't like langoustine?!! Only joking!
Thanks
Shivvy

[BBWCHATT]

Synonyms---Purple Goat's Beard.

Vegetable Oyster.

(French) Salsifis des pr�s.
---Part Used---Root.

Recipes on these website -
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/s/sals af08.html

http://www.cookitsimply.com/recipe-0011-011774 x.html

http://www.allbritishfood.com/Salsify%20and%20 Scorzenera/salsifyandscorzenerahome.php

[BBWCHATT]

lol Shivvy I don't either!!! The only seafood I like is fish!!! But after I found out all the other things it is called I found you some easier better recipes:)