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Method
A glorious starter with a heady bisque and seaweed butter
Chargrilled Langoustine, Bisque, Buttermilk and Pickled Fennel
SERVES 4
TIME 2 HOUR + PICKLING
DIFFICULTY = MEDIUM
12 langoustines BUY ONLINE
Oil
Salt
Pickled Fennel
1 fennel
100g of white wine
100ml of white wine vinegar
50ml of water
50g of sugar
Thyme
1 tsp salt
Bisque
1 onion, chopped
2 celery sticks, chopped
Fennel
3 garlic cloves
4 sprigs of thyme
1 bay leaf
1 star anise
1 tsp tomato paste
75ml of brandy
250ml of white wine
250g of tomatoes
2l fish stock
Buttermilk
100ml of buttermilk
1 tsp pickled lemon
Salt
Pepper
Seaweed Butter
250g of butter
2 sheets of nori seaweed
To Plate
Sea fennel
Sea purslane
Bronze fennel
Begin by preparing the pickled fennel. Remove and reserve the fennel tops, then thinly slice the bulb using a mandoline. Season with salt and leave to sit for 30 minutes
Meanwhile, make the pickling liquor by combining the white wine, vinegar, sugar, thyme and water together in a pan. Bring to the boil and, once boiling, remove the pan from the heat
Wash the salt from the fennel slices and dry them carefully using kitchen towel. Place into a container or jar and pour over the warm pickling liquor. Cover and leave the slices to steep in a cool place for at least 3 hours
For the langoustine, remove the tails and set to one side, separating the heads, claws and shell for the bisque. Smash the heads, claws and shell into pieces using a rolling pin
Preheat the oven to 180°C
Roast the langoustine pieces in the oven for 20 minutes or until golden. Meanwhile, sweat the onion, celery, fennel and garlic together in a pan, then add the herbs and anise
Add the roasted shell pieces to the pan along with the tomato paste and allow to cook out for 2 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the brandy and white wine, then add the tomatoes and simmer for 10 minutes
Add the stock to the pan and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat slightly and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and leave for 15 minutes to infuse, then pass through a fine chinois into a clean pan
Heat until reduced to a thick sauce-
To make the seaweed butter blitz the nori in a food processor until it forms a fine powder. Beat the butter until whipped, then fold through the seaweed. Set aside in a cool place until ready to serve
For the buttermilk, mix together the milk and lemon juice until well combined. Season to taste and add more lemon juice if required
Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil and blanch the langoustines tails for 10 seconds, then immediately plunge them into iced water to refresh
Place a griddle pan over a high heat until hot, then peel the langoustines and season with salt and a little oil and place into the pan. Cook for 1 minute until caramelised on one side, then remove from the pan and brush with seaweed butter
To serve, smear a little of the buttermilk across each plate and spoon over the bisque. Arrange a generous serving of the pickled fennel across the centre of the plate and top with the grilled langoustine tails. Blanch the sea vegetables and place on top with the fennel and reserved fennel tops
01261 861204
Downies Fish 40 Low Shore Whitehills Aberdeenshire AB45 2NA T : 01261 861204 E : info@downiefish.co.uk