Fillet of Pollock

Eric Snaith

Eric Snaith

3rd September 2013
Eric Snaith

Fillet of Pollock

Fillet of Pollock, Mussel Chowder, Alsace BaconPollock works really well for this dish but nearly all white fish would work well as a substitute.serves 4from Eric Snaith

Ingredients

  • For the vegetables;
  • Celeriac, 20 x 1cm cubed
  • Carrot, 20 x 1 cm cubed
  • Potato, 20 x 1cm cubed
  • Kohlrabi, 20 x 1 cm cubed
  • 10 wild leeks, cut into 3 inch pieces
  • 6 Sprigs of fresh thyme
  • For the crumb;
  • 4 Slices of thick white bread
  • 50g butter
  • 50g Alsace bacon lardons
  • 2 x banana shallots, thinly sliced
  • 1lt vegetable oil
  • For the sauce;
  • 50g Alsace bacon trim (skin etc)
  • 2 x banana shallots, thinly sliced
  • 500ml chicken stock
  • 200ml white wine
  • 800ml double cream
  • Juice of ½ a lemon
  • Mussel cooking stock (see below)
  • For the Mussels;
  • 200g Mussels, washed and de-bearded
  • For the Pollock;
  • 4 x 200g middle-cut Pollock fillets
  • 1 Tablespoon of rapeseed oil
  • Maldon Salt

Method

For the vegetables, individually vacuum pack each vegetable with extra virgin rapeseed oil, thyme and Maldon salt, cook at 85?c in a water bath until soft enough to crush a cube by squeezing it between two fingers. Alternatively you can cook them on a low heat in seasoned water if sous-vide is not an option.
For the crumb, butter the bread and bake at 180c until golden brown, allow it to cool. When cool, process it in a blender to achieve coarse breadcrumbs.
Pan fry the bacon on a very low heat, stirring often. When very crisp, strain and rest on some kitchen towel. In a large saucepan, heat the vegetable oil up to 180c, fry the shallots until golden brown, take care as the oil will double in volume when the shallots are added, drain the shallots on kitchen towel and when all are cool, combine everything for the crumb.
For the mussels, vacuum pack on full compression and cook them for 6 minutes in boiling water, refresh in an ice bath, carefully remove the meat and discard the shells, strain the mussel stock to use for the sauce.
To complete the sauce, reduce to a ¼ the wine, chicken stock and mussel stock with the shallots and bacon, then add the cream and simmer for 5 minutes, strain through a fine mesh sieve and season with the lemon juice.
For the Pollock, heat a non-stick frying pan, add a teaspoon of rapeseed oil and when the oil is nearly smoking add the fish, skin side down and cook for 3-4 minutes until skin is golden, turn the Pollock over and cook for a further 2 minutes, season with Maldon salt and allow to rest in a warm place for 2-3 minutes.
To serve, bring the vegetables and mussels up to the boil in seasoned water and butter, place a spoonful of crumb in the centre of the plate and place the drained vegetables and mussels around one half of the plate, place the fish on top of the crumb and sauce over the vegetables.

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