Tossed Salmon, Edamame, Fennel, and Olives

This is an amazingly perfect dish for a summer night.. Heat a non-stick frying pan on medium high for several minutes before salt and peppering a couple of salmon filets and setting them in skin side up for approximately five minutes. Then flip and cook for another five.

Meanwhile, combine in a small bowl the juice of half an orange, a splash of rice wine or white vinegar, some extra virgin olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Chili flakes are optional but recommended. Then in a large bowl add a thinly sliced fennel bulb, a bag of shelled edamame, a dozen chopped Kalamata olives, a scallion, and a generous handful of either basil or mint.

By this time your salmon should be cooked through. With a spatula place the filets on a side plate being careful to leave the salmon skins in the hot pan. Having removed the filets flip the skins and cook for another minute, they should be crispy but not burnt. To serve break up your salmon and along with the dressing add and toss with the other ingredients, then sprinkle your finely chopped crispy salmon skin over the top. Japanese Bacos…trust me, this is a good one.

Asian Chicken Salad

So great to see those chives in the garden this time of year…perfect for an Asian chicken salad. If you don’t have any chicken leftovers it’s easy enough to poach a couple of breasts, simply cover with water and simmer for ten minutes then turn off the heat and let them sit for another fifteen before cooling and dicing.

In a small bowl stir together until smooth a tablespoon of peanut butter, a tablespoon of rice wine vinegar, a tablespoon of soy sauce, and two tablespoons of mayonnaise. Hot sauce is optional. In a larger bowl add the chicken, a generous handful of chopped chives, a chopped carrot, a chopped stalk of celery, and a half cup of finely chopped salted peanuts. Before serving pour in the mayonnaise mixture, stir together, then salt and pepper to taste. Crunch away.

Carrot Cilantro Lime Salad

I think carrots are often taken for granted, relegated to coleslaw, soups, and stews. But as some of you probably know they can be pretty satisfying as the main ingredient, and not only do they last for a couple of weeks in the fridge but they’re super easy to prepare. Take for example roasted carrots and garlic, simply wash, cut, toss with oil and salt and throw in the oven at 350. Add your chopped garlic after thirty minutes and serve after forty…what could be easier?

 
But with the warmer temps and the perennials popping a cold carrot salad seems more of the way to go these days, and this simple one with lime juice and cilantro is especially refreshing. Julienne your carrots in a mandolin, shred on the coarse side of a box grater, or cut by hand. Sixteenth inch slices are best. Toss with fresh lime juice, chopped cilantro, and coarse salt and pepper to taste. So crunchy and so tasty.

Parmesan Encrusted Cod

Parmesan with anything is good and cod is no exception, nether are tilapia, pollock or haddock which would all be great substitutes.
Start with three shallow bowls, the first one with a cup of flour, the next with three lightly scrambled eggs, and the third with a cup of panko and half a cup of grated parmesan. Pour enough oil into a large frying pan to nearly cover the bottom and heat on medium until hot but not smoking.
Cut your fillets into four inch pieces and season both sides with salt and pepper before dusting with flour, dipping in the egg, and coating with the panko cheese mixture. They should sizzle when you place them in the oil, and depending on the thickness will only take three to four minutes per side. If you’re frying more than one batch heat up your oven to keep the earlier batches hot while you finish the rest.
Serve with some potatoes and lemon, that’s it.