Summer Vinaigrettes

Recipes below for vinaigrettes by David Hirsch, from The
Moosewood Restaurant Kitchen Garden.

Combine all the ingredients in a tightly sealed bottle or jar and
shake well before using. Vinaigrettes will keep refrigerated.

Basil-Shallot Vinaigrette
Wonderful on sliced ripe tomatoes.

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup minced shallots or scallions
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.

Dill-Red Onion Vinaigrette
Perfect for cucumber salads and great as a marinade for potato
and other cooked vegetable salads.

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 red wine vinegar
1/4 cup minced red onions
1 1/2 Tablespoons chopped fresh dill
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Pan-Cooked Bass with Dill and Cucumber

Ruth Cousineau as printed in Gourmet, June 2006

(Makes 4 servings)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 (5 to 7-oz) black sea bass or striped bass fillets
(1/2 to 3/4 inch thick) with skin - available at the Grand Army Plaza Farmer’s Market
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill
1 cucumber, halved lengthwise, seeded and very thinly sliced

Melt butter in a 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet, then remove from heat and cool. Put fillets, flesh sides down, in butter, then turn over so skin sides are down. Sprinkle fish with salt (1/2 teaspoon), pepper (1/4 teaspoon), and 1 tablespoon dill. Arrange cucumber slices overlapping on fish (like scales) and season with salt and pepper. Cover fish directly with a piece of buttered parchment paper (buttered side down) large enough to cover it, then tightly cover skillet with lid or foil.

Cook fish over moderately high heat until just cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes, depending on thickness of fish. Remove parchment and sprinkle fish with remaining 1/2 tablespoon dill and drizzle with some pan juices.