Tilting at Windmills

This is my first entry in the Royal Foodie Joust contest, and underwent a bunch of last-minute changes due to weather and whim. The required ingredients were some form of seafood, citrus (lemon or lime) and coconut. Initially I wanted to make ceviche with scallops and coconut ice cream, but figured ceviche was too obvious. Plus it’s still cold here, so cold food didn’t seem right. I did want to make the ice cream, though, so I modified it and bought some nice tuna instead of scallops. The coconut had been sitting on the counter patiently awaiting its fate. (Which was to have holes drilled in it, then get bashed apart with a hammer on the kitchen floor.)

To begin, I marinated the fish in kimchi juice and coconut water. I made the coconut-saffron-preserved lemon ice cream by simmering coconut milk, coconut water, and grated coconut meat along with our last preserved lemon (minced) and some saffron threads plus agave nectar and a bit of curry powder. While it was churning, I made a mango salsa with lime juice, togarashi, fish sauce, and a pinch of brown sugar. I also caramelized shiitakes with garlic and ginger until they were all crispy, and I floured, egged, and rolled the tuna in a mixture of panko and grated coconut. Once the ice cream was nearly ready, the fish went into a bit of hot oil to brown.

I intended to finish the dish with grated smoked coconut, but the rain precluded getting the smoker going, so I used a little more of the fresh. All the flavors worked pretty well together, and the ice cream melted into the salsa forming a wonderfully unctuous sort of tropical paella sauce that contrasted nicely with the crunchy warm fish and mushrooms. There was a good balance between sweet, savory, and spicy, as well as warm and cold. Not bad at all for what were essentially really fancy fish sticks.

If you want to vote for this entry, please go here. At least I already have a coat of arms.

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8 Comments

  1. We Are Never Full
    March 31, 2008

    whoa. i’m going over to vote for you now because this seems like a hell of a good job! Marinating in kimchi… whoa, that sounds good all alone.

    amy @ http://www.weareneverfull.com

  2. genevelyn
    April 1, 2008

    Peter, I would love to vote for your dish but voting in this joust promulgates the word “foodie”. No can do man.

  3. Bellini Valli
    April 1, 2008

    Good luck in the Joust Peter:D…who knows you might be wearing an apron soon:D

  4. JennDZ - The Leftover Queen
    April 1, 2008

    Great job, Peter! I think your entry is so creative and you really put a lot into this! Best of luck! 🙂

  5. peter
    April 1, 2008

    A: The kimchi juice is a perfect marinade- salt, acid, and lots of flavor. I make a crock every couple of weeks, so there’s always lots of juice to spare.

    G: I know, I know. The ingredients kind of spoke to me. In the interest of linguistic parity, do you want to start “Genevelyn’s Regal Wino Gargle” or “Throat of Steele” or maybe “Loads of Wine?”

    I’m just spitballing. You get the idea.

    Plus, I need an apron.

    V: Thanks- did I mention that I really need an apron?

  6. peter
    April 1, 2008

    J: Thanks. I did put a lot into it. (Coconut, that is.) It tasted good.

  7. genevelyn
    April 2, 2008

    “Loads of Wine” pure poetry!!! Thanks, Peter

  8. peter
    April 2, 2008

    Any time.

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