JEAN-GEORGES'S CURRANT CUMIN POTATO CAKES

Jean-Georges's Currant Cumin Potato Cakes image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Yield Makes 18 cakes

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 1/3 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
Top of 1 fennel bulb
2 tablespoons curry powder
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
11 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for shaping cakes
1 cup dried currants
1 large egg, well beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin seeds
4 tablespoons clarified unsalted butter

Steps:

Peel and wash potatoes. Place potatoes and the fennel top in a large saucepan, and cover with water. Add 1 tablespoon curry powder and a pinch of salt, and cook until tender, about 25 minutes.
Drain potatoes well, and pass through a food mill into a large bowl. Add 8 tablespoons butter and the flour, stirring to incorporate. Add remaining tablespoon curry powder and the currants. Season with salt and pepper.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using an ice-cream scoop, scoop potato mixture into 2-inch balls. With lightly floured hands, form balls into 3-by-1/2-inch cakes. Melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter, and brush cakes with it. Once the cakes have absorbed the butter, brush with egg. Sprinkle each cake with 1/8 teaspoon cumin seeds, and gently press seeds into each cake to adhere.
Heat 1 tablespoon clarified butter in a saute pan set over medium heat. Place 3 cakes in saute pan, cumin-seed side down, and cook until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn cakes, and transfer to a baking sheet. Repeat with remaining cakes. Transfer baking sheet to oven, and bake until the cakes are heated through, about 3 minutes.