Salsify in Red Wine and Shallots

Name: Salsify in Red Wine and Shallots
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4-6
Ingredients: 500grams salsify ,washed and peeled then cut into 5/6 cm batons; Place these in ice cold water with a little lemon juice to stop discolouring; 2 x banana shallots finely diced,1 crushed garlic clove; 10milliliters red wine vinegar; 10 x peppercorns; 1 x bay leaf; 1 x sprig thyme; 2tbsp sugar; 300milliliters full bodied red wine 200milliliters rich chicken stock or vegetable stock; 1 tbsp cornflour mixed with cold water to double cream consistency; 25grams unsalted butter; Salt to taste

25 mins
25 mins
medium
4-6

Recipe by

Jeff Baker

Ingredients

500grams salsify ,washed and peeled then cut into 5/6 cm batons
Place these in ice cold water with a little lemon juice to stop discolouring
2 x banana shallots finely diced,1 crushed garlic clove
10milliliters red wine vinegar
10 x peppercorns
1 x bay leaf
1 x sprig thyme
2tbsp sugar
300milliliters full bodied red wine 200milliliters rich chicken stock or vegetable stock
1 tbsp cornflour mixed with cold water to double cream consistency
25grams unsalted butter
Salt to taste

Introduction

This wonderful root vegetable is great with fillets of Dover sole ,equally good with poultry with roast Jerusalem artichokes. Perfect with a simple poached egg and thick buttered toast.

Method

First take a heavy bottomed saucepan,add 5grams butter ,shallots sugar,garlic ,herbs and spice then soften shallot without colour on low heat.
Add vinegar and boil down to syrup.
Add 1/2 the wine and boil again to syrup.
Add remainder of wine and reduce by 1/2.
Whisk cornflour into simmering liquid to thicken slightly.
Add stock then salsify and poach gently till tender when pierced with a pointed knife.
Take out salsify and boil sauce to a rich glaze whisking in the butter at the end then pour sauce over salsify discarding the peppercorns ,bay and thyme.
This can be prepared in advance, just omit the butter till ready to serve.

Source: My collection - Jeff Baker - J Bakers Bistro Moderne