Dinner Tonight: Salmon Papillotes and Absurdly Addictive Asparagus
Inspiration for tonights' dinner: life, rebirth, beauty! Are you tired of hearing about hearing us yammer on about spring yet? Of course not! Because it's fleeting, thrilling vibrancy is just about as addictive as this asparagus. Here at Dinner Tonight HQ, we're still in full on, wide-eyed, springy bliss. That's what this dinner is all about.
As always, this meal will come together in under an hour and will be accompanied by much applause and deserved laudatory words and behaviors. (Or, at least our virtual ones.)
Looking for more quick & easy ideas for dinner tonight? Or perhaps some delicious salmon recipes? Come join our community of talented home cooks at food52.com and let's get cooking!
The Menu
Salmon Papillotes with Red Peppercorns, Lime and Fresh Ginger by Babette's Feast
Serves 4
4 fillets of fresh salmon (about 4-6 ounces each)
2 inch of fresh ginger, peeled and grated
3 tablespoons red peppercorns
1 1/2 limes - freshly juiced
Sichuan Pepper
salt
1 1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
5 sprigs fresh dill
5 teaspoons thick cream
Fleur de Sel
1 tablespoon fresh chives cut in small pieces
1. Take 2 large pieces of aluminium foil (or parchment paper) the same length and put one on top of the other, both shiny sides outside. Roll together on the length the aluminium foil together to make a seam and tighten it. Roll this seam 2 more times and press on it so the 2 pieces of aluminium foil are tight together. Gently open the aluminium foil. Press on the seam which is now in the middle and you have a double width aluminium piece of foil that can take all the pieces inside. Turn the aluminium so the seam is perpendicular to you and you have a wide aluminium piece. Fold it in half and lightly press so you know where the middle is.
2. Clean the salmon fillets of all bones and if you prefer take the skin. Otherwise when putting the fish on the aluminium put it skin down. Season the salmon fillets with a pinch of salt, freshly ground Sichuan pepper, lime juice and grated ginger.
3. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
4. Place the aluminium foil on a baking tray so that the bottom half is sitting on the tray. Drizzle the olive oil on the aluminium half nearer to you, place the salmon with the seasoning and add the red peppercorns that you lightly crush with your hands. Place the dill on top of each salmon fillet and fold the top half of the aluminium towards you. Go round the aluminium folding together the 2 foils (top and bottom) 2 or 3 times so you completely seal all around.
5. Bake in the oven around 10 minutes, depending how thick the fish fillets are. The papillote, if closed tightly, should blow up with the steam that the water in the fish let's out.
6. Discard the dill, serve one fillet per person on a bed of sautéed vegetables for example spinach. Place on top of each salmon fillet 1 teaspoon of thick cream, sprinkle with some chopped chives and a little Fleur de Sel.
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The Grocery List
1 lb asparagus
1 large leek
4 ounces pancetta
2 tablespoons pine nuts
4 salmon filets (4-6 ounces each)
fresh ginger
fresh dill
fresh chives
heavy cream (optional)
We're assuming you have salt, pepper, pink peppercorns, garlic, an orange, a lemon, a lime, butter, and extra virigin olive oil. If you don't have these things, well for goodness sakes add them to the list! If you already have all of this and more in your pantry and fridge, you rule!
The Plan
1. Prep everything (zest, chop, make foil / parchment packets) for both dishes.
2. Preheat the oven and pop the salmon into the packets.
3. Pop the salmon in the oven. You now have 10 minutes to throw together the asparagus.
4. Throw the asparagus together!
5. Pull the salmon from the oven and tuck in! Dinner is served!
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