Among the abundance of second courses there is a certain variety, known not to everyone. It bears the funny name “brace”, the recipe is simple and somehow resembles a familiar stew. However, there are cardinal differences that make it possible to distinguish this dish in a completely separate category. It is still not known exactly who is the "author" of the dish; mostly inclined to the fact that the Russians, but some sin on the neighbors, Ukrainians. In connection with the fact that it is preferable to still use seafood in brackets that are absent or little used on the other side of the border, perhaps the first ones are right.
What is a brace and what does it eat with
Often there is a second name for this dish - “brace”. What causes such names is unclear. If stroganin is meat that needs to be cut specifically, then when preparing the variety in question, nothing is necessary to scrape the stew. But let's get to the point.
When a brace is prepared, the recipe explicitly provides for the use of several varieties of meat. Moreover, it is desirable that seafood (or fish) is combined with something terrestrial, in particular - with pork. This is the first condition that guarantees you that you get exactly what you wanted.
The second, no less mandatory rule is that any meat that you intend to add to your brackets must be frozen. We never found a rationale: maybe it is cut so beautifully? However, this requirement is found in all recipes.
And the third: you can put almost any vegetables in your dish - according to season or to taste. But mushrooms must be sure! Otherwise, this is not a brace. A miserable likeness or disguise for her.
Favorite option
In those places where you do not need to explain to others what a brace is, the recipe necessarily includes an ingredient such as trepangi. They boil, and for quite some time, three hours. Yes, and water must be periodically changed. There is a pressure cooker - time will be reduced to 20 minutes. Then the finished seafood should be finely chopped and mixed with pre-fried and cut into strips pork. After that, fresh tomatoes and sweet peppers, fried mushrooms (preferably forest, incredibly aromatic, but in extreme cases mushrooms), chopped greens and onions are added. We can say that this is a traditional brace. The recipe, however, is disputed by many, as its manufacturers believe that trepangs with mushrooms are not very combined. Therefore, if desired, you can do without them.
Another marine fantasy
No less interesting is the brace, the recipe of which includes cucumaria. If someone does not know, this is such a marine animal, also called a sea cucumber. In the middle latitudes you can find it only in large supermarkets, and even then not in all, but in the north, most residents have long appreciated the taste of cucumaria. Squishy with her is simply amazing, and there are hardly any dishes comparable to her.
To prepare this dish, sea cucumber and some other meat (to choose from) are taken in equal proportions. Experts say that the combination with chicken or beef is especially successful. So, we will proceed from the fact that we have half a kilogram of seafood and chicken. Of the additional ingredients you will need: onion (not very small), a spoonful of tomato paste, flour and soy sauce and three cloves of garlic.
To get a high-quality bracken from cucumaria, the recipe offers to cook all the ingredients separately. So, meat cut into strips is fried and stewed until cooked, and a marine inhabitant (also chopped into strips) is fried along with onions. Then flour, pasta and sugar are added to this pan (very little, and only if the tomato is sour). The contents are extinguished for about three minutes.
The contents of two pans are laid out in a pan, the broth is added, everything boils for another three minutes. Then add pepper, seasonings and soy sauce, squeeze the garlic. The fire is extinguished, and all the goodies are infused for half an hour under a tightly closed lid.
Extra bonuses
Whatever seafood you choose for your brace, be sure that you will not be mistaken - it will still turn out delicious and healthy. It has long been proved by both doctors and centuries-old folk experience (for example, in particular, Japan) that the inhabitants of the deep sea maintain the human body's efficiency at a very high level. Cucumaria in this respect is completely unique: in addition to the well-publicized beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, a unique complex of trace elements, an irreplaceable effect on the thyroid gland, the sea cucumber is also characterized by an antitumor effect! So such a dish must be introduced into your diet. Well, or at least occasionally pamper yourself with such yummy.
Fishermen and fish
Some people do not like meat. And someone is fasting. In those days when it is not too strict, a fish brace will be very appropriate. An exception is even made for this variety of dish - the presence of other meat in it is not necessary. Classic requires the use of salmon, but practice has shown that you can not spend money on such an expensive product, any fish is quite suitable.
So, 150 g of mushrooms will go for a quarter kilo of fish fillet (and here it will still be forest), one onion, a clove of garlic, 2 or 3 potatoes, cheese (and preferably curd and with herbs; it will not work out - you will have to add greens separately) , well, and, as usual, salt and pepper.
It is noteworthy that the potatoes are cooked separately and in their uniforms. To get a real fish brace, the recipe advises cutting potatoes that have already cooled down and into circles. Then the sauce is prepared: heat 100 ml of milk, pour in shabby cheese and stir until smooth over low heat. At the end, add crushed garlic.
Mushrooms are cut as you like, but for beauty it is better to chop them with plates. Then they are fried with onions, salted and mixed with a couple of spoons of sauce. The fish at this time is cut into medium slices, sprinkled with lemon and sprinkled with the rest of the sauce.
We put fish, potatoes and mushrooms in a deep pan. All this stuff is baked for about 20 minutes at 190 degrees. Delicate, juicy and delicious.
Beef is also appropriate
If you want something dietary, low-fat, but the fish does not appeal to you, let us recall the rather lean meat - beef or veal.
As in the fish version, it is better to take forest mushrooms, although champignons are not prohibited. To make a successful beef brace, the recipe advises adding a spoonful of flour and the same amount of cream or sour cream when frying onions with mushrooms. Otherwise, the cooking method is not very different from the rest. By the way! Beef allows variety. Do you want - bring to mind in the oven. No - simmer until cooked on the stove. The potato in the original version does not participate at all, but it is tastier (and more satisfying!) With it.
Choose what you like and cook the brace for your pleasure. Enjoy your meal!