La Tartine Gourmande
December 28, 2006

Why I Am Not a Weaver — La raison pour laquelle je ne suis pas tisserand

As soon as I poured the oil in the pot and switched on the heat, I paused for a second and wondered: how was I going to do with this project? I had not touched a bath of deep frying oil in at least more than a year, and even then, I do not often deep fry food. I do not think about it and rarely crave it. Expect for one food on occasions: les frites. If I am craving French fries, I eat them at Central Kitchen in Central Square in Cambridge, where I order moules/frites (mussels/French fries) most of the time. I am very predictable this way. Their long thin crispy fries are just too good, not to mention that it is simply too rare to find this favorite dish of mine on menus around here.

They gave me an idea.

Known as a grande amatrice of amuse-bouches, you know, these delicious tiny gulf-down-quickly finger foods, I got all excited and caught up in the idea of making amuse-bouches that would involve preparing deep-fried potato nests. I borrowed the idea on the how-to from Working the Plate (the art of food presentation), Christopher Styler’s ideas on how to plate, which I bought a while ago. The realization sounded easy enough: julienne potatoes, then prepare small potato nests that are deep-fried. I decided to use them as the basis for a fun finger food: the potato nests would be topped with an avocado garnish, smoked salmon threads and pomegranate seeds, adding crunchiness, color and a tart twist. I could imagine the tastes blend together wonderfully. I was thrilled to try something that I rarely do.

The How-To to Make Potato Nests

Preparation Steps

    1 — Julienne the potatoes
    2 — Blanch the shoestring potatoes for a few mns
    3 — Shape the blanched julienned potatoes into small nests
    4 — Fry them

To make these little nests of potatoes, I used two small mesh strainers that I typically use for my Asian fondue set. I pressed the cooled blanched shoestring potatoes down in one and placed the second strainer on top to act as a weight. I dipped them together in the hot frying oil bath (heated at 360 F). The tricky part was actually making sure to properly “create” the nests, and to keep the shape. As my mesh strainers are small and have large holes, I sooner or later realized that the potato shoestrings might get stuck. And they did, once in a while. I managed to get them right after a few attempts, which in the end was not as big a catastrophe as I initially thought — oh yes, they made me mad indeed — since I happily gulped down each failed nest. Vengeance ! Crispy pieces of potatoes are just too good to ignore! What else? Once cooked, I placed the nests on paper towels to absorb some of the oil and started preparing my avocado garnish — which I recommend to prepare only very close to the time when you are about to eat. Needless to say that these amuse-bouches were very rapidly eaten. Always way much faster to eat than to prepare! Do you get the logic there?

I know why I would be terrible working as a weaver or knitter.

Potato Nests with Avocado and Smoked Salmon

(for about 15 pieces)

You need:

  • 3 large potatoes
  • 2 spring onions, chopped
  • 2 avocados
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 to 3 Tbsp lime juice
  • Pomegranate seeds
  • 1 to 2 slices of smoked Salmon
  • Chives
  • Dash of Espelette pepper
  • Salt
  • Frying Oil

Steps:

  • To make the potato nests, start by cutting the potatoes with a mandolin into a julienne and blanch them for 2 mns in boiling salted water. Place them on paper towels to absorb the excess water and let cool.
  • Heat vegetable oil in a pot (fill it to about 3 inches high) and take one small mesh strainer. Line it with shoestring potatoes. Press down with another small strainer to give it the shape of a nest. When the oil is hot enough to fry (360 F), dip the two strainers together in the hot oil. Keep pressing the top one down, to make sure the nest stays in place. Cook until brown. Place it on a paper towel and remove the potato nest carefully. Some pieces might get stuck, so push gently with a knife or bamboo skewer to release it. Repeat until you have no potatoes left.
  • To prepare the avocado filling, mash the avocado with a fork, and add the chopped spring onion, lime juice, a dash of salt and Espelette pepper.
  • Place the avocado in the potato nest, with a decoration bag if you like.
  • Add tiny pieces of smoked salmon.
  • Decorate with pomegranate and chopped chives.

Note: Do not prepare the avocado garnish too long in advance as it might turn dark too quickly, even with lime juice. Do this step at the last minute (very quick to do).

Le coin francais
Nids de pommes de terre, avocat et saumon fumé

(Pour environ 15 pièces)

Ingrédients :

  • 3 grosses pommes de terre
  • 2 oignons tiges
  • 3 avocats
  • Sel
  • Pincée de piment d’Espelette
  • 2 à 3 cas de jus de citron vert
  • Graines de grenade
  • 1 à 2 tranches de saumon fumé
  • Ciboulette
  • Huile de friture

Étapes :

  • Pour réaliser les nids de pommes de terre, commencez par couper vos pommes de terre en julienne fine avec une mandoline. Blanchissez-les pendant 2 mns dans de l’eau bouillante salée. Placez-les sur des feuilles de sopalin pour absorber l’excès d’eau.
  • Faites chauffer votre huile (remplissez une casserole d’huile à 8 cm de hauteur). Prenez la première petite épuisette et placez les pommes de terre au fond. Pressez avec la seconde pour former votre nid. Sans retirer la deuxième épuisette, plongez-les dans le bain d’huile chaud (à 180 C), et faites frire jusqu’à ce que les pommes de terre soient dorées. Retirez-les et démouler délicatement les nids de pommes de terre. Il se peut que des bouts de pommes de terre restent coincés dans l’épuisette. Poussez doucement avec la pointe d’un couteau pour les retirer. Répétez l’opération pour le reste de pommes de terre.
  • Pour préparer la garniture à l’avocat, écrasez la chair d’avocat à l’aide d’une fourchette et ajoutez l’oignon tige haché, le jus de citron vert, une pincée de sel et de piment d’Espelette.
  • Garnissez les nids de pommes de terre avec cette purée, avec une poche à douille si vous en utilisez une.
  • Ajoutez des petits morceaux de saumon fumé.
  • Décorez avec des graines de grenade et de la ciboulette hachée.

Remarque : ne préparez pas la purée d’avocat trop longtemps à l’avance car elle risque de s’oxyder, même si vous y avez ajouté du citron vert. Faites cette étape à la dernière minute (très rapide).

Tagged as: Appetizer , Fish , French Inspired , Gluten Free
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28 Comments »

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  1. This definitely is a beautiful dish to tickle the palate. Very artistic!

    Comment by Veron — On December, 28th, 2006 at 11:07 pm

  2. Beautiful potato nests. I could really use this recipe for my upcoming party. :)

    Comment by Rasa Malaysia — On December, 28th, 2006 at 11:49 pm

  3. I would not be that disappointed either, gulping down the little “failures” :-)

    Beautiful presentation! They look so delicious!

    -L

    Comment by L — On December, 29th, 2006 at 1:15 am

  4. Yummy good looking potato nests!
    I wouldn’t mind having the chance to wolf them down even if they’re deep fried;)

    Comment by valentinA — On December, 29th, 2006 at 1:31 am

  5. waouh, c’est superbe, tout en finesse et avec de jolies couleurs… du grand art!

    Comment by loukoum°°° — On December, 29th, 2006 at 1:59 am

  6. J’adore ton titre et tes photos, superbes comme toujours. Alors cette fois c’est la dernière ligne droite avant 2007 !

    Amitiés
    Claude

    Comment by Claude-Olivier — On December, 29th, 2006 at 3:29 am

  7. Tu as eu le temps de prendre une photo quand meme, avant de tout manger. Ils sont vraiment particulierement reussis.

    Comment by Gracianne — On December, 29th, 2006 at 4:46 am

  8. Absolutely amazing to look at, and I love the way that they were created! When I first saw the pictures on Flickr I sat and pondered how on earth you could make the baskets, but now I see it’s not *too* difficult ;) well done!

    Comment by Ellie — On December, 29th, 2006 at 4:51 am

  9. these little nests look and sound wonderful!

    Comment by Kat — On December, 29th, 2006 at 5:50 am

  10. A perfect recipe to try for New Year’s Eve! And as always, your photos are luscious.

    Happy 2007!

    Comment by Lydia — On December, 29th, 2006 at 6:21 am

  11. Brillaint and tasty idea. We were going to use traditional canape shells on Sunday, but I think we should try this as well–so pretty and festive!

    Comment by Lisa (Homesick Texan) — On December, 29th, 2006 at 8:39 am

  12. Those are some classy fries! I don’t think my knitting skills would help me making them though…

    Comment by Brilynn — On December, 29th, 2006 at 11:24 am

  13. Très joli, la photo est magnifique!

    Comment by lory — On December, 29th, 2006 at 11:34 am

  14. Dear Bea,
    I’m very happy to visit your foodblog!!!
    It’s always amazing, delicious and so pretty!!!
    Great great pics,as usual!!!
    Bye and have an happy,lovely and georgeous new year!!!
    Ciao!
    Baci
    Sandra

    Comment by Gourmet — On December, 29th, 2006 at 12:40 pm

  15. Wow! That’s some really gorgeous appetizers or arguably amuse bouche I’ve ever seen. This would be a great idea for a New Year’s Eve party.

    Comment by Tina — On December, 29th, 2006 at 12:56 pm

  16. Béa, I think they look just wonderful! I love all the colours in this appetizer.

    Comment by Ivonne — On December, 29th, 2006 at 1:38 pm

  17. Il me semblait bien reconnaitre de la grenade … Excellentes fêtes de fin d’année !

    Comment by Fabienne — On December, 29th, 2006 at 2:06 pm

  18. Bea, tu n’es pas tisserande parce que ton truc c’est la cuisine et la photo. Est-ce que je gagne quelque chose poiur avoir trouvé les réponses (LOL)?

    Happy new year!

    Comment by tarzile — On December, 29th, 2006 at 2:12 pm

  19. Those look amazing. I would love to have those at a party.

    Comment by peabody — On December, 29th, 2006 at 2:45 pm

  20. J’aime beaucoup cette idée originale pour l’apéro, c’est de plus super esthétique, je retient.

    Comment by sylvieaa — On December, 29th, 2006 at 4:46 pm

  21. superbe idee d’apero le croquant le fondant et puis ces photos…j’adore j’adore …bises

    Comment by veronica — On December, 30th, 2006 at 6:23 am

  22. I happily gulped down each failed nest. Vengeance ! I would so love to have vengeance…I would so love to cook little potato nests in your kitchen. I would so love to eat one of these. They do look so wonderful. And I do so love potatoes!
    Looking for all good things in the new year for you.

    Comment by Tanna — On December, 30th, 2006 at 5:07 pm

  23. That is just impossibly gorgeous! It would be so hard to eat it because it’s so pretty……..OK, honestly, I would admire it for about 10 seconds, then I would eat it and demand more!!!!!

    Comment by sher — On December, 30th, 2006 at 7:43 pm

  24. A fried potato in any form is art, but yours is divine. Congrats on your nominations!

    Comment by Tammy — On January, 4th, 2007 at 11:58 am

  25. Tes photos sont sublimes

    Comment by bonheursdesophie — On January, 8th, 2007 at 5:02 pm

  26. [...] 2) Food that looks so scrumptious that I MUST try the dish in my immediate future. A swift flick of my wrist, a click on the del.icio.us button and the recipe is safely tucked away for fu.tur.e re.fere.nce, like this, this, this and this. [...]

    Pingback by Coconut Frozen Yogurt « Jaden’s Steamy Kitchen — On June, 7th, 2007 at 2:51 am

  27. [...] 2) Food that looks so scrumptious that I MUST try the dish in my immediate future. A swift flick of my wrist, a click on the del.icio.us button and the recipe is safely tucked away for fu.tur.e re.fere.nce, like this, this, this and this. [...]

    Pingback by Coconut Frozen Yogurt (Co-Co Fro-Yo by a Fo-Blo) | Jaden's Steamy Kitchen — On October, 7th, 2007 at 1:08 pm

  28. the pic looks amazing , plz forwrd me some more ideas like this
    thanks and lot

    culinary regards
    JP

    Comment by JP — On June, 1st, 2008 at 10:23 am

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