Rosti Potatoes with Sterling Caviar

Preparation & Presentation:

As prepared by Executive Chef Ken Frank, Chef/Owner of La Toque Restaurant in Napa California. “I’m very spoiled, I only use the best, and this Caviar is world class”. - Serves 4

Ingredients


  • ¼cup crème fraîche (see below)
  • juice of ¼ fresh lemon
  • 1 heaping teaspoon chopped fresh chives, or 3 turns freshly ground white pepper
  • 2 medium russet potatoes
  • ½ cup peanut oil
  • 4 ounces Sterling caviar (or more or less to taste or to fit your budget)


Method


  1. Mix together the crème fraîche, lemon juice and chives or pepper in a small bowl. Let rest for 1-2 hours at room temperature to allow crème fraîche to thicken.

  2. Scrub the potatoes – they needn’t be peeled – and grate them on the coarsest side of your cheese grater. Form the shredded potatoes into 4 patties – loosely, don’t press them – about ½ inch thick, the size of a homemade hamburger. Prepare right away, as shredded potatoes will blacken.

  3. Heat 1/8-inch peanut oil in a sauté pan over moderate heat so that a test shred of potato sizzles. Using a spatula, carefully place the 4 patties in the hot oil and fry them – never using more than a moderate flame – until they are golden brown on both sides. It should take 2 to 2½ minutes per side. Remove the patties and blot any excess oil on a paper towel.

  4. Top each potato patty with the crème fraîche, top with caviar and serve immediately.


Making Crème Fraîche


Stir together 1 part fresh buttermilk and 4 parts heavy cream. Let it sit and cure for 8 hours at room temperature, then refrigerate overnight to allow it to thicken. The crème fraîche will keep for 10 days to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Substitutions: If you haven’t time to make crème fraîche, use Devon cream or sour cream.
Recipe courtesy of Sterling white sturgeon caviar