Caviar Mousse Recipe
- 2 ounces whole almonds
- 2 cups plus 3 tablespoons corn oil
- One ½-pound Idaho potato, boiled in its skin, peeled, and chilled
- ¼ medium yellow onion
- ¼ pound tarama (carp roe)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup lemon juice concentrate
- 4 to 6 tablespoons seltzer water
- Warm pita bread triangles for serving
- Place the almonds in a heatproof bowl with boiling water to cover. Let stand until the water is tepid. Drain well and, using your fingertips, pop off and discard the skins.
- Line a small tray or baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Place the peeled almonds on the prepared tray and refrigerate for about 8 hours or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 200°F.
- Remove the almonds from the refrigerator and place on a small baking pan. Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes, just to dry slightly. Do not roast.
- Pour about 1 teaspoon of the corn oil into a medium mixing bowl and, using your fingertips, rub the oil around the interior of the bowl to coat lightly.
- Combine the almonds with the potato and onion in the oiled bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil and toss to coat, mashing the potato slightly and pulling the onion apart.
- Working with about one third of the almond mixture at a time, pass it through an electric mixer fitted with the fine grinder attachment or through a stand-alone meat grinder into the oiled bowl, allowing the food to pass through the grinder completely before adding the next third. This will prevent clogging. The consistency should be of a coarse meal.
- When all of the mixture has been ground, remove the grinder attachment from the mixer and fit the mixer with the bowl and paddle.
- Place the tarama in the mixer bowl and, with the mixer on low speed, begin beating the tarama, adding the remaining corn oil in a slow, steady stream. Then add the extra virgin olive oil in a slow, steady stream. When well blended, remove the paddle attachment and change to the wire whip. Continuing to mix on medium speed, add the lemon juice in a slow, steady stream.
- . When well blended, stop the motor, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the almond mixture. With the mixer on low speed, slowly combine the mixtures.
- . When well combined, begin adding the seltzer, an ounce at a time, until the taramasalata is as light and airy as light, fluffy mashed potatoes.
- . Transfer to a nonreactive storage container, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving with warm pita triangles.