Craig Claibornes Sorrel Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Scrub mussels well to remove dirt and, if necessary, remove beards.
• Place mussels in large saucepan or Dutch oven and add shallots, onions, parsley, salt, pepper, cayenne, wine, butter, bay leaf and thyme. Cover and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer 8 to 10 minutes, or until mussels have opened. Discard any that have not opened.
• Strain liquid through a colander lined with cheesecloth and reserve; this is the base for the soup.
• When cool enough to handle, remove mussels from shells and reserve. Discard shells and aromatics.
• Bring reserved liquid to a low boil in a small saucepan. Add cream and return mixture almost to a boil, then remove from heat. Let cool slightly then add egg yolk and stir to combine. Return saucepan to heat and let thicken slightly. (Do not boil.)
• Taste and adjust seasoning. To serve, arrange mussels in center of large soup dishes and spoon liquid over them. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Steps:

• Pick over the sorrel. Remove and discard any tough stems and blemished leaves. Rinse and pat dry. Pack the leaves closely and cut them crosswise into thin strips. Set aside.
• Heat the butter in a saucepan and add the leeks. Cook, stirring, until wilted. Do not brown.
• Add the potatoes to the saucepan and pour in the broth. Bring to the boil and simmer 10 to 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
• Strain the broth. Transfer the solids to the container of a food processor. Add about one cup of the cooking liquid and blend thoroughly. Pour the mixture into a mixing bowl and add the remaining liquid. Chill thoroughly.
• Add the sorrel to the chilled soup. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the cream and refrigerate until ready to use.

Steps:

• Pick over the sorrel. Discard any tough stems and blemished leaves. Rinse the leaves and pat them dry. Pack the leaves closely and cut them crosswise into very thin strips. This is called a chiffonadeThere should be about two cups or slightly more when loosely packed.
• If there are any bones in the fillets, carefully remove them with pliers. Cut the fillets on the bias into about 14 thin slices.
• Put the reserved fish skin and bones in a small saucepan. Add one tablespoon of the shallots, the wine and chopped tomatoes. Bring to the boil and let simmer five minutes. Add the cream and cook about five minutes. Strain through a fine sieve, pushing the solids with a rubber spatula to extract as much liquid as possible. There should be about one and one-quarter cups.
• Heat one tablespoon of the butter in a saucepan and add the remaining one tablespoon of shallots. Cook briefly and add the sorrel. Cook, stirring, until wilted.
• Add the cream mixture, the cubed tomato flesh, salt and pepper.
• Heat the remaining tablespoon of butter in a stick-proof skillet. Sprinkle the salmon with salt and pepper and place, a few pieces at a time, in one layer in the skillet. Cook one and one-half to two minutes, depending on the thickness of the slices, turning once.
• Pour the sorrel sauce into the center of a warm platter and smooth it over. As the salmon pieces are cooked, arrange them neatly, slightly overlapping, on the sauce. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Clean the squid by removing the insides and the ''pen.'' Cut off the eyes and discard. Reserve the tentacles. Pull or scrape off the outer coating of the squid bodies. Rinse the cleaned squid and pat dry.
• Cut each squid in half and place on a flat surface, skinned side down. Using a sharp knife held at an angle, score the squid on top with a diagonal diamond pattern. Cut the squid into rectangles or squares, about 1 1/2 inches in width or length. Place in cold water and set aside.
• Place the celery on a flat surface. Holding a knife at an angle, cut the celery ribs on the diagonal into thin 1/4-inch slices.
• Combine the vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, coriander, chili oil, ginger, garlic, sugar and pepper in a mixing bowl. Blend thoroughly.
• Bring large quantity of water to a boil and add salt. Add squid and cook 30 seconds, no longer. Drain immediately and run under cold running water until chilled. Drain thoroughly.
• Bring enough water to boil to cover the celery slices when added. Add salt to taste. Add the celery and cook about 30 seconds, no longer. Drain and run under cold running water until chilled. Drain well.
• Put the celery and squid in a bowl. Add the sauce and toss to blend. Refrigerate. When ready to serve toss once more.

Steps:

• Pick over the sorrel. Discard any tough stems and blemished leaves. Rinse the leaves and pat them dry. Pack the leaves closely and cut them crosswise into very thin strips. This is called a chiffonade There should be about two cups or slightly more when loosely packed.
• Bring the broth to the boil and remove it from the heat. Set aside. Do not let the broth cool for an extended period.
• Put the yolks in a saucepan and add the cream, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Beat briskly with a wire whisk and pour in the hot broth, beating constantly.
• Place the saucepan on the stove and heat briefly, stirring with a wooden spoon. Bring the mixture barely to the simmer and remove immediately from the heat. Do not let the mixture boil or it will curdle. Immediately pour the mixture into a mixing bowl to prevent further cooking from retained heat.
• Pour in the buttermilk and stir. Let cool. Chill thoroughly. Add the sorrel. Pour the soup into the container of a food processor or electric blender and blend. Serve.