Best 2 Bouchons Saut Recipes

BOUCHON'S SAUTéED SPINACH WITH GARLIC CONFIT

Steps:

• For the confit.
• Cut off and discard the root ends of the garlic cloves. Place the cloves in a small saucepan, and add enough oil to cover them by about 1 inch. None of the garlic cloves should be poking through the oil.
• Place the saucepan over low heat. The cloves should cook gently: very small bubbles will come up through the oil, but the bubbles should not break the surface.
• Adjust the heat as necessary and move the pan to one side if it is cooking too quickly.
• Cook the garlic for about 40 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or so, until the cloves are completely tender when pierced with the tip of a knife.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the garlic to cool in the oil.
• Refrigerate the garlic, submerged in the oil, for up to a month.
• For the spinach.
• If using large-leaf spinach, remove the thick stems and wash the leaves. Wash the baby spinach.
• Melt the butter in the largest skillet you have over medium-low heat.
• Add the shallots and sauté gently for 1 minute.
• Add the garlic confit and only as much spinach as will fit in the skillet, sprinkle with one-half teaspoons salt and a pinch of pepper, or to taste, and use tongs to turn the spinach in the butter.
• As the spinach wilts, continue to add handfuls of spinach from time to time and season additionally as needed.
• Do not overcook: the spinach is done when it is wilted and tender but still bright green. Serve immediately.

TROUT WITH HARICOTS VERTS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• To pan-dress the trout:
• With scissors, cut away the dorsal fin along the back of each fish. Hold each pectoral fin (the one closest to the head) and cut away and discard the gill plate and pectoral fin. Turn the fish on its back and open it up. Starting at the head, cut away the belly flap on each side, along with the pelvic fin. Remove the tail by cutting across the fish about an inch from the bottom of the tail. Set aside.
• For the haricots verts:
• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Prepare an ice bath. Blanch the haricots verts in the boiling water for 2 to 6 minutes, or until they are barely tender, with a slight bite still left to them. Drain the beans and transfer to the ice bath to chill quickly, then drain again and dry on paper towels.
• To complete:
• Lightly sprinkle both sides of each trout with salt and pepper. If you have them, heat two 12-inch nonstick pans (special oval pans work best for fish) over medium-high heat. If you have only one pan, cook two trout first, cover, and keep them in a warm place while you cook the final two. Coat each pan with a light film of canola oil. Add the trout skin side down and sauté for about 4 minutes on one side only. The fish may still look undercooked at the top of the flesh, but the hot ingredients that will top them will complete the cooking.
• Meanwhile, put the beans in a sauté pan, add 2 tablespoons of the butter and 1/3 cup water, and place over medium heat. Heat, stirring occasionally, until the water has evaporated and the beans are hot and glazed with butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove the pan from the heat and keep warm.
• When the fish are done, cut off the heads and discard, if desired, and place the fish on serving plates. Drain the oil from one of the pans and return the pan to the heat. Add the remaining 8 tablespoons butter and a pinch of salt to the hot pan. When the butter begins to brown, add the almonds, shaking the pan to brown them evenly. When they are a rich golden brown, add the parsley and lemon juice.
• Meanwhile, cover each trout with one-quarter of the beans.
• Spoon the foaming butter and almonds over the haricots verts and around the edges of the plates.