Here's the first look at Jimchi Trout. Couldn't wait for the proper bloom, but this will give you the idea. As I worked on the components, it was clear that my idea was going to be an appetizer. I'll follow up with recipes over the next couple of days - but I can tell you it was very, very good! Had two of them for dinner today. I'm not a food photographer, so I did what I could with what I had. Neither am I good at presentation, but this is okay. Here's the snap with some info below the picture.
Three layers - home canned trout with mayo on top. Kimchi 2nd layer, consisting of white or very light colored vegetables (cabbage hearts, rutabaga, daikon raddish, sui-choi stalks, 2 cloves of garlic, and a few other odds and ends.) These were salted with Celtic sea salt, infused with honey, fish sauce, and sesame oil. 1 tbsp of dried parsley (the Great Canadian Tobacco stretcher), and a touch of Korean cayenne. I kept it fairly mild as the chopped tobacco leaves, in the foreground just to the right of the Macademia nuts is meant to be eaten, as are the blossoms, with the trout and Jimchi. The slightly bitter herb flavour of the tobacco goes really well with the Jimchi and the trout - win win here. Ditto the nuts. I used steamed beansprouts as a palate cleanser, but didn't include them on the plate, just in a small container to the side. Worked.
The bottom laryer consisted of two commercial corn cakes, spread on the inside with a toucn of coconut oil with a hint of honey - dual purpose to keep the bottom layer crisp (the vegetable layer will soften the cakes if the appetizer is not eaten soon) - the jimchi layer must be a little moist to hang together. And the coconut oil (which is solid like butter below 78 F ) adds a nice subtle flavour to the mix. A touch of honey was also added in between the two corn crackers. There is no reason rye or rice crisps wouldn't work in the same recipe, but I preferred the corn. I ate the big tobacco leaves as well after finishing the dish and got the idea of making a rice stuffed dolmado type of concoction for next culinary project. I'll put the recipes up for the Jimchi Trout over the next few days - busy as everybody else is right now. Had to scramble to get this together.
So regards to all and especially to Jimi! who is not only a tobacco guru, but a culinary inspiration as well, hence this idea. Learned a lot here from all of you in this forum. Be back in a day or two.
Regards,
Gord