No. 19—FISH FRICASSEE FROM PICKEREL OR WHITEFISH.
Quantity for 6 Persons.
- 1 pickerel or whitefish, 3½ lbs.
- ⅛ lb. of bacon for larding
- ¼ lb. of butter
- 1 cup of cream
For the Fricassee.
- 18 crabs
- 2½ qts. of salt water
- 1½ lbs. veal sweetbreads
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Salt, pepper
- ⅛ lb. of butter
- 20 champignons
- 10 peeled truffles
- 2 tbsps. of butter
- 1 tbsp. of lemon juice
Preparation: The fish is dressed, washed, dried, the skin taken off the back and this larded with bacon. Then it is sprinkled with salt and put into a pan in a swimming position with ¼ lb. of butter and 1 cup of cream and fried slowly for 1 hour to a golden yellow color. During this time simmer the 18 crawfish or crabs in salt water for 45 minutes. They should not boil, but simmer. From eight crabs take out the meat and leave the other ten whole.
The veal sweetbreads are scalded, the membrane removed, salted and peppered, the lemon juice dripped on, then dredged with flour and fried in ⅛ lb. of butter to a nice brown color. The sweetbreads are cut into nice pieces. The champignons are heated in 1 tablespoonful of butter; lemon juice, salt, pepper, 2 tablespoonfuls of cream are added. The truffles are peeled and sliced and stewed with ½ tablespoonful of butter, 3 tablespoonfuls of bouillon, 1 pinch of salt. The crab meat from the 8 crabs is chopped fine and stirred with 1 tablespoonful of butter and 1½ tablespoonfuls of flour; add a little cream and boil. The lemon juice, salt, pepper and 1 yolk of egg are stirred in and set to cool. Small dumplings are formed from this mixture and fried in hot lard. The batter for the dumplings must be thick; try one first and if it does not hold together, add more flour. These small dishes must be prepared while the fish is cooking. That which is done must be kept hot in hot water. The fish, when done, is served on a hot platter in a swimming position, three crabs are placed on the fish’s back, the other seven along its sides. The pieces of sweetbread are also arranged neatly around the fish and the champignons and truffles, as well as the fish dumplings. All must be very hot and kept so until the gravy is done.
The Gravy: Into the butter in which the sweetbreads were fried stir some flour and add bouillon or water, pour it into the pan in which the fish was fried and cook for 2 minutes, taste and strain. It must be smooth and be served with the fish.
Remarks: This is a fine dish for parties. Potato balls and green lettuce are served with it.
No. 20—PICKEREL WITH TOMATO SAUCE.