Fennel Vichyssoise With Smoked Salmon Recipes

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons butter with 2 tablespoons olive oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add sliced fennel and onions. Cover and cook until fennel is tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Add potatoes and chicken stock; increase heat and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until potatoes are very tender, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in Pernod. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Working in batches, puree soup in blender. Transfer soup to large bowl. Mix in 2 cups half and half. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. Cool slightly. Chill soup uncovered until cold, then cover and refrigerate. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.)

Steps:

• Trim the fennel. Halve the fennel top to bottom, then use a paring knife to cut out the thick core in the center. Remove the tough outer layer. Using a mandoline or sharp knife, slice the fennel horizontally as thinly as possible. You should have about 3 to 3 1/2 cups.
• Grate 1 1/2 teaspoon zest from the lemon, then squeeze out 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice, keeping zest and juice separate.
• In a mixing bowl, toss together fennel slices, lemon juice, olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a pinch of black pepper. Let sit for 20 minutes to soften fennel.
• Meanwhile, heat oven to 425 degrees, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In another medium mixing bowl, use a rubber spatula to mix together the mascarpone, herbs, egg, lemon zest, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until well combined.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the puff pastry out to form a 13-by-11-inch rectangle, about 1/8-inch thick. Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet. With a sharp knife, lightly score a 1/2-inch border around the edges of the puff pastry.
• Spread mascarpone mixture evenly inside the scored border. Drain the excess liquid from the fennel and arrange the slices in an even layer on top of the mascarpone.
• Bake until the pastry is puffed and golden, 22 to 28 minutes. Let tart cool on its baking sheet on a rack for at least 15 minutes before serving (or up to 4 hours).
• To serve, cut tart into pieces. Drape each with a slice of smoked salmon, sprinkle with a little lemon juice, and garnish with capers, dill and black pepper.

Steps:

• Melt butter in a heavy pot.
• Add fennel, leek and fennel seeds until softened, about 8 minutes.
• Add potatoes and 5 cups stock.
• Bring to boil, lower to simmer and cook 12-15 minutes.
• Remove from heat and use an immersion blender to blend everything. (Alternately, you can add the soup to a blender in batches and return to the pot).
• Thin with extra stock if needed.
• Pour into bowls, garnish with smoked salmon and fennel fronds.