Smoked-Sable Tartare with Beets and Watercress |
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Prep Time: 40 Minutes Cook Time: 95 Minutes |
Ready In: 135 Minutes Servings: 8 |
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Smoked sable is as moist as smoked salmon, but with a voluptuous silkiness all its own. To balance its sea-saltiness, top it with earthy roasted beets and fresh watercress. This festive salad makes a wonderfully light start to a lavish Thanksgiving feast. Ingredients:
3 medium beets (about 1 1/2 pound with greens) |
1/4 cup finely chopped shallots |
2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar |
2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, or to taste |
1/4 teaspoon sugar |
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil |
1/2 pound sliced smoked sablefish (black cod), chopped (about 1 1/3 cups) |
2 bunches watercress, torn into small sprigs (6 cups) |
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450°F with rack in middle.
2. Trim beets, discarding stems and greens (or reserve for another use), then wrap together in foil and roast until tender, about 1 1/4 hours. Let beets stand in foil at least 15 minutes, then remove from foil and cool. Remove skins and cut beets into 1/3-inch dice.
3. Whisk together shallots, vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, then whisk in oil. Reserve 2 tablespoon vinaigrette for watercress and toss remainder with beets. Let marinate at room temperature 30 minutes.
4. To serve: Drain beets in a sieve set over a bowl and set beet vinaigrette aside.
5. Put pastry ring in center of a salad plate and gently press about 2 1/2 tablespoons fish into bottom of ring, then put about 1/4 cup beets over fish. Repeat on 7 more plates.
6. Toss watercress with reserved 2 tablespoons vinaigrette and mound over beets (a small handful per plate). Drizzle a little beet vinaigrette around each plate.
7. Cooks' notes: Beets can be roasted and tossed with vinaigrette 1 day ahead, then chilled. Chill reserved vinaigrette separately. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Watercress sprigs can be prepared (but not tossed with vinaigrette) 1 day ahead and chilled, wrapped in dampened paper towels in a large sealable bag.
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