La Poutargue ... New Years Day 2014

Or 'boutargue' in the ancient Provençal language. La poutargue is the caviar of Provence and is the roe, or eggs, of the gray mullet (mulet cabon). The egg sacs are removed, being careful not to pierce the thin membrane covering them.

They are then salted, pressed, and covered with a thin layer of wax.

They will now keep for at least a year refrigerated.......BUT, they never last that long with me around.

So what to do with it?!

Sliced on a baguette with a slab of butter.

Shown here with  foie gras....What a combo!

OR

Spaghetti and Poutargue

The poutargue is actually grated for the pasta....sauté shallots, garlic, fennel...add cream....reduce with white wine....you know the routine....finish with the grated poutargue and parsley....season....garnish with slices of poutargue!

OR

A spoonful of grated poutargue on a slice of baguette with a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon.

Poutargue is not inexpensive.  This last purchase was 160 Euros per kilo but who purchases that much at once.  Our 200 gram piece was about $45.

If you are interested in seeing the whole process from 'fisherman to table', French celebrity chef, Cyril Lignac, shows you HERE.  Yes, it is in French but the video is all you need to understand.  Enjoy.

Bacon Brittle

8 SLICES BACON (NOT thick slice)
2/3 CUP SUGAR
2 TABLESPOONS SESAME SEEDS

Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a non-stick pan liner.  Set aside.

Slice cold bacon crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces. In a cast iron or heavy skillet, cook bacon until almost done.  Remove from pan, draining all but 2 tablespoons of the fat.  Add sugar, sesame seeds and drained bacon.  With a heat proof spatula, stir continuously.  Sugar will melt. Continue stirring until it is a rich chocolate color and you see a small wisp of smoke.  Immediately and quickly pour onto prepared pan.  Spread around as thin as possible.  Let cool. Blot to remove any extra bacon fat.  Break and store in a tin.

NOTE:  Have everything ready before beginning the recipe....it goes fast and there is a very limited window of opportunity for spreading the hot brittle.