This pickled Jerusalem artichoke-topped wild halibut dish from Stuart Ralston is a fantastic wintery seafood starter, served at his restaurant Lyla. The wild halibut is stuffed with a scallop mousse and served with a rich sauce vin blanc and creamy crushed Jerusalem artichokes.
Cure the halibut in a 5% salt brine for 30 mins
While the fish brines, make the pickles. Warm the water, vinegar and sugar together until the sugar has dissolved, and then pour over the Jerusalem artichoke slices. Set aside to cool and pickle
Pat the halibut dry, butterfly the fillet, and then stuff with mousse. Wrap the halibut in cling film, then chill
Once chilled, steam at 50°C for 20 minutes, then re-chill and portion into 50g slices. Alternatively, steam on a very low heat in a regular bamboo steamer
For the vin blanc sauce, sweat off the shallots and mushrooms in a pan until softened, and then deglaze the pan with vin jaune
Add the fish stock and dashi, and then simmer until the broth is reduced by half
Add the cream and bring back to the boil, then remove from the heat and add the katsuobushi. Leave to infuse for 30 minutes
Pass the sauce through a chinois and a muslin cloth
Dissolve the ascorbic acid in 1 litre of water. Place the artichokes in a vacuum bag with acidulated water and steam at 100°C in a steam oven until cooked. Alternatively, simply steam the artichokes until soft – although they may get slightly discoloured
Strain off the liquid from the artichokes and blend (if using a Thermomix at speed 4–5) until crushed
Before serving, place the fish in warm, clarified butter in a 55°C oven until warm
Mix some double cream into the Jerusalem artichoke purée, just enough to loosen it, and reduce slightly on the hob
Dust half the artichoke pickles in kelp powder
To serve, place the crushed artichoke on the bottom of the bowl, then pour vin jaune sauce on top. Place a piece of halibut on top of this, and then shingle on the pickled artichokes. Finish with N25 caviar just before serving
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