Saffron Fennel Salt Recipes

Steps:

• Combine 1 tablespoon butter and the saffron in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave until the butter melts, about 1 minute. Let cool 5 minutes. Place the remaining butter and the fennel seeds in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Add the melted saffron butter, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and continue pulsing until the butter is bright yellow. Transfer to a piece of plastic wrap and form into a 4-inch log; freeze until firm, about 20 minutes. (The saffron butter will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.)
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Toss the sliced fennel, garlic, the juice of 1/2 lemon, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 tablespoons water in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons water and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cover with foil and bake until the fennel is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Toss the tomatoes with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Scatter the tomatoes over the fennel. Set the halibut on top of the vegetables; drizzle with the juice of the remaining 1/2 lemon and season with salt and pepper.
• Bake, uncovered, until the halibut is firm and no longer translucent, about 12 minutes; remove from the oven and top each piece with a thin slice of saffron butter. Return the halibut to the oven and bake until the butter just begins to melt, about 2 more minutes. Serve with fennel fronds.

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees. Using a small, thick-bottomed rondeau, heat the olive oil and butter over medium high. Season the veal shanks thoroughly with salt and pepper. Coat the veal shanks with flour, shake to remove any excess, and brown well. Remove veal shanks from rondeau.
• Make the sachet:
• Add the vegetables and the sachet to the pan. Stir to coat and place the veal shanks on top. Add the wine, tomato sauce and stock, adjust the seasoning, and bring the mixture to a boil. Cover and cook the veal shanks in the oven for 1 1/2 hours, or until the meat is very tender.
• Make the risotto:
• In a large sauce pot over medium heat, sweat the onion, shallots and garlic in the olive oil.
• When vegetables are soft, add the rice and saffron, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir and continue cooking to toast the rice. When the rice is slightly browned, add the wine, stirring constantly.
• In a separate sauce pot, bring the chicken stock to a boil. Add the hot stock to the rice in three batches, stirring constantly until the liquid is fully absorbed.
• Continue the osso buco: Remove the shanks from the rondeau and reduce the jus to your taste.
• Make the tomato fondu:
• Warm olive oil in a stainless sauce pot over medium heat. Add the onions and simmer for 5-10 minutes until the onions are soft. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chopped garlic and simmer for 1-2 minutes, carefully cooking but not browning the garlic (the oil should stew the vegetables). Add the tomatoes, and continue cooking another 10 minutes, or until the liquid is reduced and slightly thickened.
• Make the gremolata: Combine and reserve.
• Make the salad: Peel an orange down to the flesh. Using a knife, separate each segment from the surrounding membrane and remove. Place segments in a bowl. Squeeze orange halves over bowl to release any remaining juice.
• Using a sturdy Japanese mandolin, shave the fennel, white bulb down at an angle. Place fennel in a mixing bowl, and then shave the onion. Add onion to bowl, and toss. Add the juice of 1/2 lemon, the juice from the orange, salt and pepper to taste, and the olive oil. Toss again. Add the orange segments and chives, tossing once more, and serve.
• Fold the butter and cheese into the risotto, reserve over low heat.
• Pour jus over the shanks, top with gremolata, and serve with saffron risotto.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Place fennel, onion and garlic into an oiled baking dish using the 2 tablespoons oil.
• Combine saffron, chicken broth and white wine and pour over fennel season with salt and pepper. Dot with butter.
• Cover and bake for 25 - 30 minutes. If desired, uncover the baking dish toward the end of the cooking time, to allow any excess liquid to evaporate.
• Garnish with the fennel fronds (feathery greens from the fennel).

Steps:

• Soften saffron in 1 tablespoon hot water and set aside.
• Cook onion in oil in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add orzo and toast, stirring frequently, until fragrant, 2 to 4 minutes.
• Stir in saffron mixture, remaining 2 cups water, and 1 teaspoon salt and simmer, covered, until orzo is just tender and liquid is absorbed, about 12 minutes.
• Sprinkle fennel bulb over orzo and let stand, covered, off heat 5 minutes. Stir fennel bulb into orzo, then serve sprinkled with fennel fronds.

Steps:

• Toast the fennel seeds in a dry skillet until they are fragrant.
• Using a mortar and pestle or spice grinder, finely grind the orange peel and chile. Add the fennel and grind until the seeds are coarsely ground. Blend the fennel mixture with the saffron and salt. Store in an airtight container.