Smoked Trout Salad with Grilled Fingerlings Potatoes and Mustard-Dill Vinaigrette

Ingredients
2 pounds fingerling potatoes, par-cooked in salted water, drained and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, plus 1/4 cup fronds for serving
1 teaspoon smoked paprika, plus more for serving
2 to 3 tablespoons canola oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
1 to 2 teaspoons honey
1/4 cup olive oil
Smoked Trout, recipe follows
1 large bunch watercress, woody stems removed

Directions
Preheat the grill for direct grilling, high heat.

Toss the potatoes with the canola oil, 2 tablespoons chopped dill, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Transfer to a grill basket and grill, tossing occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through, about 10 minutes.

Combine the mayonnaise, cider vinegar, horseradish, mustard, honey, and salt and pepper to taste, and whisk to combine. Slowly whisk in the olive oil.

Drizzle some of the dressing over the bottom of a large serving platter or shallow bowl. Pour the warm potatoes on top. Scatter the Smoked Trout over the potatoes, then the watercress and dill fronds. Dust with more smoked paprika and drizzle a generous amount of dressing over all.

Smoked Trout:
1/2 cup kosher salt
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
8 trout fillets, skin on
Special equipment: Alder wood or applewood chips, soaked in cold water for at least 2 hours
Combine the salt, sugar and 4 cups water in a 4-quart container and stir until the salt has dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the trout, making sure they are submerged. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 3 hours.

Remove the trout from the brine, rinse thoroughly with cold water and pat dry. Place the trout skin-side down onto a rack set in a half sheet pan. Dry in the refrigerator until the skin becomes shiny and somewhat tacky to the touch, 21 to 24 hours.

Prepare the smoker using the alder or applewood chips so that it maintains a temperature of 150 to 160 degrees F.

Place the trout onto the smoking racks, skin-side down, separating them by at least 1/4-inch and place into the smoker. Adjust the heat as needed and cook until the fish has cooked through, darkened in color around the edges and has the desired level of smoke flavor, about 20 minutes. Remove from the smoker and cool. Remove the flesh from the skin and gently break into big chunks.

SOURCE

L.A. Burger

Directions

Bobby's Perfect Patty

Shape 6 ounces of 80 percent lean ground beef chuck into a uniform patty, no more than 3/4 inch thick (don't overwork the meat). Make a depression in the center with your thumb so the burger won't bulge; the indent will rise as the patty cooks. Preheat a grill or cast-iron grill pan to high. Brush the burger with canola oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until golden brown and slightly charred, turning once (7 minutes for medium-rare). Avoid pressing with a spatula! Add cheese for the last minute of cooking.

Cheese

Your pick: Monterey Jack is a California favorite, but Bobby loves this burger with cheddar, too.

Avocado Relish

Avocado is one of Bobby's favorite ingredients. He mixes 2 chopped Hass avocados with 1/2 diced small onion, 1 minced jalapeno,the juice of 1 lime, 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro, and salt and pepper.

Watercress

L.A. doesn't do iceberg lettuce, so Bobby tops off the burger with this peppery green instead.

Tomato

One thick, juicy slice takes the place of ketchup.

Photograph by Steve Giralt

SOURCE

Hamburgers