Kona Kampachi, Pickled White Cherries, Smoked Peanuts, Thai Chile-Hibiscus Jam, Bonito Tuile, African Purple Basil, and Micro Cilantro

Adapted by StarChefs.com
February 2015
Yield: 5 servings

INGREDIENTS:

Pickled White Cherries
2 tablespoons finely chopped palm sugar
1 quart water
¼ cup sake
¼ cup rice wine vinegar
5 lime leaves
2 tablespoons coriander seeds
1 small piece ginger, peeled
1 Thai chile, slits cut down sides
salt
1 pound white cherries, pitted
Smoked Peanuts
1 cup shelled peanuts
Thai Chile-Hibiscus Jam
½ cup boiling water
2 tablespoons dry hibiscus leaves
½ cup finely chopped palm sugar
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon finely chopped Thai chile
Zest and juice of 1 orange
Bonito Tuile
1 cup rice
¼ cup bonito flakes
½ teaspoon togarashi
salt
To Assemble and Serve
5 thin slices Kona Kampachi
African purple basil blossoms
Fresh Origins micro cilantro

METHOD:

Pickled White Cherries

In a saucepan, combine sugar, water, sake, vinegar, lime leaves, coriander, ginger, and chile and season with salt. Bring to simmer, remove from heat, and chill. Add cherries and pickle 3 to 4 hours.

Smoked Peanuts

Place peanuts in a pot and cover with cold water. Bring to boil, remove from heat, and drain peanuts. Prepare a smoker with cherry wood and heat to 176°F. Smoke peanuts 45 minutes. Remove from smoker and cool completely. In a food processor, coarsely chop peanuts.

Thai Chile-Hibiscus Jam

In a bowl, combine water and hibiscus. Steep 5 minutes. Strain through a chinois into another bowl. Add sugar, salt, and chile and stir until sugar and salt are dissolved. Add zest and juice and stir to combine. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, bring mixture to boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 90 minutes. Remove from heat and chill. Store in an airtight container or glass jar and refrigerate up to 1 week.

Bonito Tuile

Heat oven to 250°F. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook rice until mushy; drain thoroughly. In a bowl, combine rice with remaining ingredients. Spread in a thin, even layer on a silicone mat. Bake until crisp, let cool, and break into pieces. Store in airtight container.

To Assemble and Serve

Plate the Kona Kampachi and finish with Smoked Peanuts, Pickled White Cherries, Thai Chile-Hibiscus Jam, Pickled White Cherries, and Bonito Tuile. Garnish with basil blossoms and micro cilantro.