Watercress Topping Recipes

Steps:

• Smear the skin of the cod with the butter and season with sea salt. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a frying pan. When very hot add the cod, skin side down, and fry, without moving the fish, until the skin is crisp and golden. Invert on to a shallow ovenproof dish, ready to finish it off in the oven.
• Put the cherry tomatoes in a separate shallow ovenproof dish and drizzle with another 1 tbsp oil.
• To make the sauce, cook the shallots and wine in a small pan for about 2-3 minutes until the wine has almost gone. Tip into a food processor with the crème fraîche and watercress, season with salt and pepper and blitz. Add a squeeze of lemon juice to taste, return to the pan and set aside. Lightly whip the cream until it just holds its shape. (At this stage the cod, sauce and cream can be kept in the fridge, lightly covered with cling film, for up to 4 hours.)
• About 20 minutes before you are ready to cook, preheat the oven to fan 170C/conventional 190C/gas 5. Roast the cod and tomatoes for 12-15 minutes until just cooked. Meanwhile, gently reheat the sauce, remove from the heat and fold in the cream. Taste and add more seasoning and lemon juice if necessary. Set the cod on warm dinner plates with the cherry tomatoes and spoonfuls of watercress sauce. Garnish with sprigs of parsley or chervil and serve with buttered new potatoes.

Steps:

• Rinse the watercress, holding it in loose bouquets. Coarsely chop: Starting at the top, cut through the bunch about every inch until only stems without leaves are left. Discard the stems.
• In a skillet on medium-low heat, sauté the garlic in the oil until golden. Add the watercress and sauté until wilted and bright green. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm or at room temperature, piled on toasted baguette slices.

Steps:

• Melt butter with oil in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add sea bass to skillet; cook just until opaque in center, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer fish to plate; tent with foil to keep warm. Pour off all but 1 teaspoon drippings from skillet. Add shallots to same skillet; stir 30 seconds. Add Vermouth; bring to boil. Continue to boil 1 minute. Add cream; boil until sauce thickens slightly and coats spoon, about 3 minutes. Add 3/4 cup watercress to sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer fish to plates. Spoon sauce around fish. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup watercress and serve.

Steps:

• Cut 2 inches from the stems of the watercress. In a food processor, combine the watercress, egg yolk, lemon juice and salt and pepper. While processing drizzle in the olive oil. Keep sauce cool until serving. Place a dab of sauce aside each quail. Garnish plates with watercress.