Cold for New Year
Description
It works for both holidays and everyday meals. Since the coming year will be the Year of the Green Dragon, such a dish will look symbolic on a festive table! And as everyone knows, Chinese fairy tales also feature water dragons, so a cold dish shaped like a dragon will be very much in demand. The appetizer is ready. Serve immediately.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
Prepare the listed ingredients. Peel the potatoes and rinse them in water. Instead of smoked mackerel, you may use salted herring or mackerel, sprats, etc.
- 2
Step 2
Cut the potatoes into small slices and transfer them to a kazan or pot. Pour in hot water to cover the potatoes and boil for about 20–25 minutes until tender. Drain the liquid into a cup, then mash the potatoes with butter, gradually adding some of the cooking liquid. Let cool for 40 minutes. Remember, the puree should be thick!
- 3
Step 3
Rinse the spinach and place it in a saucepan or pot. Add a little water and simmer for 5–7 minutes until tender. Drain the liquid.
- 4
Step 4
Remove the skin, bones, and backbone from the smoked mackerel, placing the flesh in a container with boiled spinach. Purée everything together. If necessary, add a little filtered water if the mixture is too thick.
- 5
Step 5
Place the aromatic mixture into the mashed potatoes and mix thoroughly.
- 6
Step 6
Shape it into the silhouette of a water dragon on a plate. You can use a wide rectangular dish—this will give you more room for your culinary creativity! Smooth the tail and sides with a small fork.
- 7
Step 7
Slice the salted or pickled cucumbers into thin rounds and arrange them to form dragon scales, remembering the fins on its back.
- 8
Step 8
Decorate the dish by arranging olive eyes, a tongue from a piece of tomato or bell pepper, and whiskers from sliced cucumber or zucchini. Place the appetizer in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, then serve it chilled. Happy New Year to you!