Salad of Warm Skate with New Potatoes

Recipe by: Simon Hopkinson | from Second Helpings of Roast Chicken

Cookstr

Course: Main Course

Total Time: Under 1 Hour

Skill Level: Moderate

Cost: Moderate

Photo by: Joseph De Leo

The combination of strands of softly cooked skate flesh and slices of waxy potatoes is a deeply pleasing one. No explanation needed here, it simply is; think damp fish and chips, but not explicitly so.

Yield: Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

10½ oz new potatoes, unpeeled

for the dressing

1 tbsp smooth Dijon mustard
1 tbsp sherry vinegar
salt and pepper
a little lukewarm water
½-2/3 cup peanut oil

for the skate

1 onion, sliced
2 sticks celery, washed and sliced
1 bay leaf
3 tbsp white wine vinegar
salt
a few peppercorns
1 large skate wing, if possible, unskinned

1 tbsp finely chopped spring onions chopped parsley

Directions

Put the potatoes in a steamer, salt them, and set the water boiling. When evenly cooked through, drain and leave until you are just able to handle them, then peel. (Peeling potatoes while still hot is easier and they will accept and absorb the dressing more easily.) Put back into the steamer and leave to keep warm in its residual heat.

To make the dressing, put the mustard, vinegar, seasoning, and a couple of tablespoons of the water in a blender or food processor. Process until smooth and then start adding the oil in a thin stream.

When the consistency has become creamy have a taste. If you think it is too thick, add a little more water; the look should be that of thin mayonnaise. Put to one side.

Poach the skate: Put approx. 1 quart water in a large pan and add to the onion, celery, bay leaf, white wine vinegar, salt and peppercorns. Boil together for 20 minutes. Slip in the skate wing and bring to a gentle simmer. Poach for 10 minutes. Lift out with a spatula, drain for a few seconds, and put on a large plate. Using a small knife, deftly remove both the black and the white skin (including any "thorns" that protrude from just beneat the skin) and remove the flesh with a knife, easing it carefully off either side of its flimsy cartilage, in strands. Transfer to a hot plate and loosely cover with foil – or something or other.

Thinly slice the potatoes into a warmed, shallow serving dish, sprinkle over the spring onions, and spoon over just enough dressing to coat them. Stir together.

Distribute the skate strands over the potatoes, lubricate with a little more dressing, and sprinkle with much parsley.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Nutrients per serving (% daily value)

Nutritional information is based on 1/2 cup of the peanut oil in the dressing, 12oz of raw skate, and 1/8 teaspoon of added salt per serving.

Calories 771kcal (39%)

Calcium 81mg (8%)

Vitamin C 22mg (36%)

Vitamin A 28mcg RAE (1%)

Potassium 1489mg

Magnesium 100mg

Protein 36g

Sugar 5g