In a previous recipe on how to make halibut ceviche, we talked about our serving mechanism that we use at Stella, which is a freshly fried, miniature chalupa shell. Chalupa shells are different from tortillas in that they aren't pressed as thin and are fried instead of griddled.
Aioli differs from mayonnaise by the addition of raw garlic, lemon juice and olive oil. However, aioli in recent years has become synonymous with a flavored mayonnaise. Here is a base recipe for aioli which can be used as is or doctored with your own choice of flavorings.
Flavor infused oils are a great way to add colorful contrasts and interesting tastes to a dish, especially as a last minute garnish. When making your own oils infused with the essence of a fresh green herb, you'll be walking a fine line between extracting the most flavor and color, and completely breaking down the chlorophyll molecules which will give an off taste and appearance.
This video demonstrates the prep process for making oil poached and pressed potatoes. Fingerling potatoes are first slowly poached in flavored oil until tender, slightly cooled and then pressed with the skin still on. These potatoes can then be fried in olive oil or clarified butter until the exterior is crispy, finished with fresh herbs and sea salt and served as is or as an accompaniment to a meat course.
The video above will take you through the process of creating and plating our ahi sashimi dish that we are currently serving at Stella. If you've already watched the video and just need a quick refresher, you can refer to the step by step pictures below. For more information on acquiring specific ingredients or supporting recipes, please see the notes section at the bottom of this post.
