Salmon Sashimi with Jalapeno

You probably haven’t considered serving salmon sashimi, but you should. It makes any gathering a bit more special, and it comes together very quickly. The key is obviously to buy the freshest salmon you can find, and you want a piece that’s closer to the belly end of the fillet then the tail. Also, have your fishmonger take the skin off for you, a quarter pound will be plenty for two to three people.

With a long sharp knife, slice the entire piece in half along the spine, then into 1/8” to ¼” thick slices. For the jalapeno, slice the thinnest slices possible from the center of the pepper. I also like to serve them with a little sauce, either puddled on the plate or on the side. For that, simple stir some freshly grated ginger into some soy sauce.

To serve, gently place a single slice of jalapeno on each piece of salmon. If you’re adverse to jalapeno, you can also layer the salmon in a small dish with a splash of your very best extra virgin olive oil and some flakey salt. No need for soy sauce in this case.

Happy 2019!

Shrimp and Prosciutto

Prosciutto wrapped shrimp is one of those things I think of as a wedding or catered party appetizer. But why bother to wrap them, it’s a pain in the butt. And, while it’s a great combination, especially for the holidays, when you cook them wrapped neither the prosciutto or the shrimp comes out perfect. Let’s do it the easy way, cook them right, and make it the main course.

Tear the prosciutto slices into bite sized pieces and sauté over medium heat with a little bit of olive oil. If you like them crispy, let them go longer, if not, pull them after a couple of minutes and set aside. Add some more olive oil to the pan and stir in some chopped scallions and peeled shrimp.

Toss frequently until the shrimp are nearly cooked through, then stir in the cooked prosciutto and a minced garlic clove. Leave on the heat for another minute, hit it with a healthy squeeze of fresh lemon juice, then slide onto a serving dish. Garnish with some grated parmesan, chopped basil, and serve immediately.

Applesauce

It’s world latke week, and what’s a latke without applesauce and sour cream. So, as long as you’re making the effort to grate all those potatoes and onions, you might as well throw a few apples in a pot to make your own applesauce.

In keeping with my philosophy of less time at the stove and more time at the table, as far as I can tell, there’s no need to peel the apples. Simply cube four apples, any variety works fine, and combine in a small pot with a half a cup of apple cider, a half a teaspoon of cinnamon, and the juice from a third of a lemon. No need for any added sugar, the cider does it all.

Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for twenty minutes stirring occasionally. Add more cider if necessary. Happy Latkes!

Garlic Arugula Bean Dip

Friends dropping by in twenty minutes? No worries, your food processor will do all the work. Peel a couple of garlic cloves and process until minced along with a dash or two of salt. Add a can of drained white beans and a large handful of arugula, then pulse until smooth with enough extra virgin olive oil to reach the desired consistency.

If you don’t have any arugula, substitute a few anchovy fillets, or some kalamata olives. Smoked paprika, rosemary, or hot sauce would also make for a tasty dip. And if you have more than twenty minutes, serve with some grilled slices of a local baguette.

Cod in Ginger Broth

After Thanksgiving, and before the holiday party season starts, give this delicate poached cod a try for a bit of a cleanse. Heat some vegetable oil in a small pot or straight sided sauté pan over medium heat, add a finely chopped onion and cook for a few minutes. Turn the heat to low and add a couple of teaspoons of freshly grated ginger, and a minced garlic clove.

After a couple of minutes, add three cups of miso or vegetable stock and a splash of soy sauce. Once it starts to simmer, add some thinly sliced shitake mushrooms, chopped spinach or bok choy, and scallion. After a couple of minutes, carefully lower the cod fillets into the broth, cover, and cook until the fish is cooked through, seven to ten minutes depending on their thickness.