Roasted Mackerel, Dashi Gelée, Roasted Eggplant, Crosnes, Dahlia Bulb, Pickled Nasturtium Berries, Radicchio, and Radishes

Adapted by StarChefs.com
March 2015
Yield: 4 Servings

INGREDIENTS:

Dashi Gelée
4 liters water
Tilefish or fluke carcasses
1 liter small diced mirepoix
4 strips kombu
Smoked hot paprika
10 katakuchi iwashi dried sardines
1 fist full commercial bonito flakes
40 grams thick katsuobushi flakes
10 grams sakura (Japanese cherry blossoms)
12 egg whites
2 tablespoons light miso
agar agar
gelatin
Cured Mackerel
1 Boston mackerel, filleted
12 ounces kosher salt
3/4 cup Demerara sugar
1/2 ounce ground black pepper
1/2 ounce mixed dried herbs
1/2 ounce ground Sichuan peppercorns
1/2 ounce Hu-Kwa smoked tea
To Assemble and Serve
grapeseed oil
1 applegreen eggplant, sliced into 8 batons
8 crosnes
8 leaves radicchio
4 assorted radishes, thinly sliced or shaved
1 dahlia bulb, shaved widthwise, chilled
Pickled nasturtium berries, chilled

METHOD:

Dashi Gelée

In a stock pot, combine water, carcasses, mirepoix, kombu, paprika, and sardines. Bring to boil, lower heat, and simmer until stock is flavorful and aromatic, about 30 minutes. Strain into a pot containing bonito, katsuobushi, and sakura. Cover and steep until stock is rich and aromatic, about 30 minutes, tasting every 10 minutes. Strain into another pot. In a bowl, whisk together egg whites and miso until mixture forms soft, frothy peaks. Whisk mixture into stock. Place pot over medium heat and clarify stock. Strain consommé through chinois lined with cheesecloth. Taste and adjust seasoning. Consommé should be rich and complex. Scale and record weight of consommé; keep warm. Pour a small amount of consommé into a saucepan and bring to boil. Add 1% by weight agar agar. Boil 3 minutes. Pour agar mixture into pot with the consommé. Stir to combine. Add gelatin, stirring to combine. Pour into a nonreactive container and allow to set for at least 4 hours or refrigerate overnight. Slice into batons.

Cured Mackerel

Lay mackerel in a nonreactive container. In a bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Cover mackerel in salt-herb mixture. Cure for 8 hours or overnight, as with gravlox. Gently rinse and drain mackerel.

To Assemble and Serve

In a hot cast iron pan, heat oil, and add mackerel skin-side-down, followed by eggplant, crosnes, radicchio, and radish. Allow mackerel to char on skin side. Transfer mackerel to cutting board. Slice into 4 portions and arrange on serving plates. Garnish with remaining contents of pan and with dahlia bulb and nasturtium berries. Finish with a few batons of Dashi Gelée.