Octopus and Rice Bean Salad Appetizer
- 16 pieces Japanese Tako (octopus), very thinly sliced
- 6 tablespoons rice or white navy beans, cooked and seasoned with olive oil, thyme, salt and pepper
- 16 to 20 haricots verts, trimmed, cut in half, blanched, and seasoned with olive oil, togarashi, salt and pepper
- 5 cherry or pear tomatoes, cut in half
- 1/2 leek, cut into thin rings and briefly marinated in olive oil and sherry vinegar
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 4 tablespoons saffron emulsion, recipe follows
- 2 small bundles assorted micro greens, dressed with olive oil and lemon
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 pinch saffron
- 1 tablespoons butter
- 1 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon white wine vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning
- 2 eggs
- Pinch of sugar
- For each plate, arrange 8 slices of the octopus in a slightly overlapping fan near the center of the plate, creating a half moon.
- Spoon on some of the white beans on the inside curve of the octopus.
- Place the haricots verts next to the rice beans.
- Scatter the tomato halves around the dish.
- Place a few slices of marinated leeks on top of the octopus.
- Season with a touch of black pepper.
- Drizzle the saffron emulsion around the octopus.
- Garnish with micro greens on top and serve.
- Bring water to a simmer and add the saffron.
- Let simmer until the water amount is reduced by 1/2.
- Let cool and add the butter to the saffron mixture.
- Blend with an immersion blender until the mixture is emulsified.
- Pass the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer.
- Bring the 1-cup of water to a simmer, add the vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
- When at a simmer again, poach the eggs for 1 minute.
- Remove immediately and place directly into a blender.
- Blend the eggs until they are liquefied.
- In a clean saucepan, over very low heat, add the saffron-butter mixture and the liquefied eggs.
- Add the sugar.
- Heat slowly while emulsifying with an immersion blender.
- Sauce should be slightly thick but still pourable.
- Adjust seasoning with salt.
- Yield: 3/4 cup
japanese, rice, haricots verts, cherry, briefly, freshly ground black pepper, saffron emulsion, bundles, water, saffron, butter, water, white wine vinegar, salt, eggs, sugar
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/octopus-and-rice-bean-salad-appetizer-recipe.html (may not work)