Asian flavors · Fish · Gluten Free

Quick salmon fillet poached in coconut milk

Such a simple, delicate and fragrant way to poach salmon fillets.
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Serves 4

About 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
About 1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tsp grated orange zest
2 tbsp Thai fish sauce
1 to 3 tsp Asian chile sauce, depending on how hot you like it.
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tbsp minced fresh ginger
2 tbsp chopped fresh mint
2 tbsp chopped cilantro sprigs
4 (6 oz) salmon fillets, skinned, pin bones removed

In a saucepan just large enough to hold the fish, combine the coconut milk, orange juice, orange zest, fish sauce, chile sauce, garlic, ginger, mint and cilantro and mix well.
Add the fish and make sure it is submerged. If it is not submerged, add equal amounts of coconut milk and orange.
Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring to a very low simmer. Cover the pan and decrease the heat to low. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes.
If the fish does not flake when prodded with a fork, cover the pan and simmer for 2 minutes more.
(If the fish is not submerged, turn the fish over after 5 minutes of cooking).
Gently remove the fish and place in dinner bowls or plates. Spoon the sauce around the sides and serve at once with some plain steamed rice, steamed snap peas and a wedge of lime.

Fish · Gluten Free · Whole30 compliant

Fresh salmon tartare

I adore any form of “tartare” and usually make them with tuna, so this is a lovely new addition to the repertoire.

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Serves 6
1lb skinless fresh salmon fillet (preferably not farmed)
1/2 lb smoked salmon, thickly sliced
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about 3 to 4 limes)
1/3 cup minced shallots (about 2 big shallots)
2 tbsp good quality olive oil
1/4 cup minced fresh dill (and some more sprigs for garnishing)
3 tbsp drained capers
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp whole-grain mustard
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper

(1 loaf good granary bread, thinly sliced and toasted, for serving) or celery sticks!

Cut the fresh salmon and the smoked salmon in 1/4 inch dice. Place the salmon in a mixing bowl and add the lime juice, shallots, olive oil, dill, capers, two mustards, salt and pepper.
Mix well, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours for the salmon to marinate.
When ready, toast the bread and taste the salmon for seasonings. Serve the tartare with triangles of the toast.

Baking · Chocolate · Dessert · Do-ahead · Gluten Free

Ginger chocolate oat bars

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Anything with ginger is wonderful, but this combination is terrific, besides being very easy to make.
3 1/2 oz butter
3 1/2 oz jumbo oats
3 1/2 oz rolled oats
1 lb 72% dark chocolate
5 fl oz heavy cream
5 1/2 oz dried cranberries
5 1/2 oz dried cherries
5 1/2 oz crystallized ginger, chopped

Melt the butter in a pan. Add both types of oats and cook for three minutes. Transfer to an oven dish that will fit in your fridge.
Place a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Add the chocolate and cream to the bowl and leave to melt for 15 minutes without stirring.
Add the cranberries, cherries and ginger to the oats and stir.
When the chocolate has fully melted, give it a little stir and then pour over the oats and fruit. Fold the chocolate through and then refrigerate for 30 minutes.
When set, break into pieces by hand and serve

 

Asian flavors · Gluten Free · Poultry

Grilled soy – mustard chicken thighs

Another terrific and easy recipe, this time with Asian flavors for either grilled, broiled or even oven roasted chicken thighs. These recipes are so good for crowds with lots of rice to soak up the tasty juices.

 

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Serves 6
12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, (about 1 1/2 lbs)
3 tbsp Japanese soy sauce
3 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp chopped garlic
1 tbsp chopped cilantro
1 tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1 tbsp Chinese or Japanese sesame oil (preferably toasted)
1 tbsp olive oil
2 heaped tsp chopped orange zest
1 heaped tsp chopped fresh ginger

With a sharp knife, trim away all the fat from the thighs. Place the pieces on a plate.
In a blender or small capacity food processor, mix the soy sauce, mustard, garlic, fresh cilantro, parsley, sesame oil, olive oil, orange zest and ginger to make a rough paste.
With a spatula spread this paste evenly over the surface of each chicken thigh.
Cover with plastic wrap, refrigerate and marinate for 2 hours.
A half hour before you are ready to cook the chicken, remove it from the fridge.
Preheat the grill, broiler or oven. (If you’re using an oven set it to 400 F)
If cooking the chicken on the grill or broiler, turn it once until it is brown and fairly firm to the touch, 15 to 20 minutes approximately.
If using the oven, it might take up to 30 to 45 minutes until brown.
Serve at once.

Asian flavors · Gluten Free · Poultry · Whole30 compliant

Easy spicy roasted chicken thighs

This is a recipe adapted from a recipe of Suvir Saran, chef at Devi, Gramercy Tavern in New York.
Chicken thighs tossed with spices, marinated for up to one day and roasted is so easy to make and can be doubled or trebled for as many people as you like.

 

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Serves 4
8 chicken thighs, with skin, pierced all over with a small knife.
5 cloves garlic, peeled
1 x 2-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded, or cayenne pepper to taste
Juice and zest of 1 whole lemon
2 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 tsp salt , or to taste
1 tsp cumin powder ( I use ground roasted cumin seeds as there is more flavor)
1 tsp coriander seeds or ground coriander
Heat the oven to 400 F
Season the chicken thighs well with salt and pepper and put them in a bowl. Mince the garlic, ginger and jalapeno pepper.
Toss with all the remaining ingredients or put in a small food processor and grind to a paste.
(It’s okay if the coriander seeds are not fully pulverized as they will add a bit of crunch)
Rub the mixture thoroughly into the chicken.
* At this point you can cover and refrigerate for up to one day.
Put the thighs, skin side up, in a roasting pan. Roast for 25 to 35 minutes or until done.
Serve with rice or couscous.