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Category: Seafood

Coconut and Lemongrass Marinade

Coconut and Lemongrass Marinade

Lemongrass contains citrol, the same flavor component that’s in lemon zest, and has a similarly citrus-like flavor and aroma that’s especially prized in Southeast Asian cuisines.

1 stalk lemongrass, ends trimmed, quartered
2 large shallots, peeled
3 red Fresno chiles or red jalapeños, stemmed
2 thick slices fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 can (14 oz.) coconut milk
Juice and zest of 2 limes

Whirl lemongrass in a food processor until finely chopped. Add shallots, chiles, ginger, and garlic and whirl until minced. Put lemongrass mixture in a nonreactive baking dish and whisk in salt, coconut milk, and lime juice and zest. Add seafood and turn to coat.

Salt-Roasted Clams with Garlic Butter

Salt-Roasted Clams with Garlic Butter

Roasting clams on a bed of salt and herbs until they open allows them to develop a rich flavor undiluted by steam or liquid. Once the salt cools and can be comfortably handled, you can spoon it into a glass jar to reuse it for salt roasting in the future. A simple garlic butter enriches the notorious leanness of the clams. Clams number among the best seafood choices for consumers concerned about the environmental impact of their food choices because they’re abundant and can generally be farmed without pollution, as well as wild harvested without seriously impacting the oceanic ecosystem.

4 pounds littleneck clams
Coarse unrefined sea salt, to line the baking dish
2 sprigs rosemary
2 sprigs thyme

2 T. unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 C. white wine
2 T. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tsp. chopped fresh oregano

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Scrub the clams under cold water to remove any grit or other debris adhering to them. Discard any clams that do not close when you tap on them. Line a large baking dish with coarse sea salt to a depth of V2 inch. Scatter the rosemary and thyme over the salt and nestle the clams in a single layer into the bed of salt and herbs. Roast for 10 to 15 minutes, until the clams open, discarding any clams that fail to open after 15 minutes. As the clams bake, make the garlic butter. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. When it foams, stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes and fry’ until the garlic softens, just a few minutes. Pour in the white wine and simmer until it reduces by half, about 6 minutes. Plate the clams in shallow bowls. Pour the butter sauce over the clams, sprinkle with the parsley and oregano, and serve.

Roger’s Scampi

Roger’s Scampi

1 lb. Large prawns
4 tsp. butter
1/4 C. Olive oil
5 Cloves fresh garlic, minced
1/8 tsp. each sweet basil, oregano
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 C. Triple Sec or Cointreau

Shell and devein prawns; rinse and drain. Melt butter in medium skillet; add olive oil, garlic, basil and oregano and lemon juice. Sauté for 1 minute. Add prawns and cook until pink. Add salt and pepper and Triple Sec and cook on high until liquid is reduced by 3/4. Serve over pasta or rice.

Lemon Cod with Sorrel Salsa Verde & Minted New Potatoes

Lemon Cod with Sorrel Salsa Verde & Minted New Potatoes

4 x Fillets Cod
Sea salt & black pepper
Zest of 1 lemon
Juice of 1 lemon
Good glug of olive oil

Sorrel Salsa Verde

1/2 Clove of garlic – Crushed and finely chopped
2 Anchovy fillets – Finely chopped
Small handful of sorrel – Finely chopped
Small handful of parsley leaves – Finely chopped
Large handful of basil leaves – Finely chopped
Generous sprinkle of sea salt
Generous sprinkle of black and white pepper
1 Tsp Dijon mustard
1 Small glug of red wine vinegar
Generous glug of good quality extra virgin olive oil

Start by marinating the cod fillets by evenly covering them with lemon juice, zest, seasoning and oil, cover and place in the fridge for as long as you have. Next combine all salsa verde ingredients together, ensuring you’ve chopped it all as finely as possible (you can use a blender but I prefer it to be hand cut). Make sure you try it and adjust seasoning accordingly. Cover and place in the fridge for the flavours to combine and intensify. Bring to the boil a large pan of water and add in a handful (roughly a third) of the mint leaves plus a sprinkle of salt before adding the potatoes and cooking for 7-10 minutes or until the potatoes become soft. Once the potatoes are cooked drain the water and add in the remaining mint leaves plus the seasoning, a large knob of butter and a glug of oil. Slightly mash with the back of the spoon or fork. Cover to keep warm or let cool and reheat when you’re ready to serve. Once you’ve thoroughly washed the spinach add to a pan over a medium heat along with a small amount of seasoning and cover until the leaves wilt. Drain or squeeze out the excess liquid prior to serving. For the cod fillets, place a large frying pan over a medium to high heat and allow to heat up for a minute or so then place the fillets in the pan skin side down (your marinade should be oily enough to ensure the skin doesn’t stick but if not add a small glug of oil to the skin of the fish along with an extra sprinkle of salt then place face down in the pan). Allow to cook here for around 2-3 minutes until the skin crisps. If the fillets are quite thick transfer to a baking dish and allow to cook on 190 degrees Celsius for a further 3-4 minutes until the fish is cooked through. Once cooked allow to rest under foil for 2-5 minutes before serving.
Plate up by starting with the spinach in the centre of the plate followed by the crushed minted new potatoes on top. Place the fillet of cod on the potatoes and finish by adding a generous dollop (or two) of salsa verde.

Shrimp & Pepper Noodle Bowl

Shrimp & Pepper Noodle Bowl

2 pkg shrimp flavored ramen noodles
8 oz. pkg. cooked medium shrimp
1 C. bell pepper strips
1/4 C. chopped green onions
1 tsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 tsp. tabasco sauce

Bring 4 C. of water to a boil in large saucepan over high heat. Reserve seasoning packets from noodles. Set aside. Break up noodles. Add to water. Add shrimp and bell pepper; cook for 3 minutes. Add seasoning packets, green onions, soy sauce and tabasco sauce; cook 1 minute. Garnish with cilantro. Makes 4 servings.

Sheet Pan Suppers: Honey-Orange Shrimp with Baby Bok Choy

Sheet Pan Suppers: Honey-Orange Shrimp with Baby Bok Choy

Honey-Orange Shrimp With Baby Bok Choy1 ½ pounds 26/30 count raw shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed
1 tsp. grated orange zest
¼ cup plus 3 T. freshly squeezed orange juice
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 T. hot sauce
1 T. Dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic, minced
Cooking spray
2 T. unsalted butter, melted
2 T. honey
1 T. soy sauce
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
1 pound baby bok choy, sliced lengthwise into quarters

Place the shrimp, orange zest, ¼ cup orange juice, olive oil, hot sauce, Dijon mustard and garlic in a medium-size bowl or gallon-size zip-top bag, and toss to combine. (Seal the bag and shake gently.) Cover the bowl and marinate the shrimp in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees with a rack in the center position. Mist a sheet pan with a lip with cooking spray. Whisk together the butter, honey, soy sauce, red pepper flakes and remaining 3 T. orange juice in a small bowl. Place the bok choy on the sheet pan, drizzle with the dressing, and toss to coat. Spread out the bok choy in a single layer. Roast the bok choy, rotating the pan halfway through, until it starts to brown and the sauce has thickened, about 25 minutes. Add the shrimp and its marinade to the pan in a single layer over the bok choy, and roast until the shrimp are bright pink and just cooked through, an additional 8 to 10 minutes. Serve hot.

Ultimate Party Crab Bites

Ultimate Party Crab Bites

2 C. breadcrumbs (plus another cup for coating finished balls)
16oz crabmeat
8oz Monterey jack cheese, shredded
8oz cream cheese, at room temperature
3 large eggs
½ C. mayonnaise
1 medium onion, finely diced
1 red bell pepper, finely diced
¼ C. parsley, chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, finely diced
1 T. Old Bay seasoning
1½ tsp. salt
A few cranks of fresh ground black pepper
Vegetable oil for frying

In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients (except 1 C. of reserved breadcrumbs). Scoop and form into bite sized balls. Roll balls in breadcrumbs. Place on a large platter and chill for a half of an hour. Heat 1″ of oil in a large frying pan until a deep fry thermometer registers at 350º. Fry the crab bites until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and place on a cookie sheet in a 200º oven to keep them warm while you fry the rest of them up. Serve with cocktail sauce, tartar sauce and lemon wedges. (Remoulade?)

Stir-Fried Shrimp with Rice Noodles

Stir-Fried Shrimp with Rice Noodles

1/2 package brown rice noodle (about 7 oz)
2 T. low sodium soy sauce or braggs amino acids
1 T. honey
1 T. cornstarch
1 T. cold water
1 T. canola or vegetable oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp. ginger, minced
1 C. fresh snow peas, chopped
1 pound large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (i used frozen shrimp that I defrosted)
1 C. carrots, grated
1 14-15 oz. can baby corn, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 T. toasted sesame seeds, optional

Take 1/2 package of rice noodles, break in half, and cook according to package directions. In a small bowl stir together the soy sauce, honey, cornstarch, cold water and set aside. Heat a wok or a large sauté pan over medium/high heat with oil and add the garlic, ginger, snow peas and shrimp, and sauté for 2 minutes stirring continuously. Add the carrots and baby corn and cook for another minute stirring continuously or until the shrimp are cooked through and pink. Create a well in the center of the wok or pan and pour in the soy sauce mixture and heat for 20 seconds or until sauce starts to thicken. Add the drained rice noodles to the pan, stir-fry for another minute or until noodles, shrimp and vegetables are coated with the sauce and heated through. Serve.

Clam Pan Roast with Fennel & Sausage

Clam Pan Roast with Fennel & Sausage

Many of the seafood stews of the world— bouillabaisse, cioppino, and caldeirada de peixe (from Portugal), among others— share a common ingredient: fennel, which lends an anise- like taste. Essentially a creamy stew, the shellfish pan roast is most famously made with oysters, but clams are also traditional and often appear in combination with sausage; we include two types, sweet Italian and kielbasa. Pernod and tarragon add more anise flavor.

1 clove garlic, minced
1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
1/4 pound kielbasa, cut into 1/2 -inch cubes
12 small red potatoes, halved
3 small fennel bulbs, trimmed and cut into 1/4 -inch slices
1 small leek, cut into 1/4 -inch rounds and rinsed well
1/4 C. Pernod or other anise-flavored liqueur
1 1/2 C. bottled unsalted clam juice
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2 1/2 pounds littleneck clams, scrubbed
2 large tomatoes, each cut into 8 wedges
1/4 C. fresh tarragon leaves

Cook garlic and Italian sausage in a deep straight- sided skillet or Dutch oven over medium, stirring and breaking up meat with a spoon, until sausage is no longer pink, about 5 minutes; transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon. Drain all but 1 T. fat from skillet. Cook kielbasa, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Add to bowl. Arrange potatoes in skillet, cut-side down; cook until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Flip potatoes; cook until just
tender, about 5 minutes more. Scatter fennel over potatoes. Cook, stirring frequently, until
fennel is tender, about 10 minutes. Add leek, Pernod, and clam juice. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until leek is tender, about 5 minutes. Return sausage mixture to pan; stir to combine. Add clams, cover, and cook 5 minutes. Add tomatoes; cook,
covered, until clams open, about 8 minutes. Discard any unopened clams and remove pan from heat. Stir in tarragon and serve.

Salmon Teriyaki Miso Soup with Udon and Spinach

Salmon Teriyaki Miso Soup with Udon and Spinach

2 clumps of udon noodles
4 C. of dashi
6 shiitake mushrooms (sliced, I used 2 dried soaked in water for 20 minutes)
2 T. white miso
1 C. teriyaki salmon (cooked and flaked)
2 handfuls spinach
2 green onions (chopped)

Bring the dashi and mushrooms to a boil and simmer for a few minutes and turn off the heat. Add the udon noodles and cook as directed (frozen noodles only need ~7 minutes in boiling water). Mix the miso into a ladle full of the dashi and then pour it back into the dashi. Divide the salmon and spinach between 4 bowls and pour the noodles and broth in. Garnish with the green onions.

Linguine with Spicy Shrimp Sauce

Linguine with Spicy Shrimp Sauce

Linguine with Spicy Shrimp Sauce3 T. olive oil
4 garlic cloves
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
2 T. sun dried tomato paste
15 oz. Italian-style canned tomatoes
1 tsp. salt
black pepper to taste
1/4 C. parsley, chopped
1 oz. white wine
1 T. butter (room temperature)
12 oz. bite-size shrimp, peeled and deveined, heads and tails removed
8 oz. whole-grain linguine

Smash the garlic cloves with the back of a knife on a cutting board. Heat a medium size sauté pan over medium heat. Add olive oil and heat for 1 minute. Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Heat the mixture just until the garlic starts to sizzle. Meanwhile cook pasta in boiling salted water according to package directions. Add sun dried tomato paste to garlic oil mixture. Stir to combine. Add chopped tomatoes. Cook over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add wine and cook for 1 minute. Add shrimp; cook just until shrimp turns pink. Remove pan from heat and add butter. Swirl or stir pan to melt butter in sauce. Drain pasta and place in warmed serving dishes. Top with shrimp mixture.

Top of the Hill’s Wild Mushroom Grit Cakes with Shrimp

Top of the Hill’s Wild Mushroom Grit Cakes with Shrimp

Top of the Hill's Wild Mushroom Grit Cakes with Shrimp2 grit cakes (recipe at bottom)
1 T. olive oil
1 C. wild mushrooms, sliced
8 shrimp
2 tsp. garlic, minced
2 T. white wine
1/2 C. heavy cream
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
Tomatoes, diced (use as garnish)
Scallions, sliced (use as garnish)
Cashews, toasted (use as garnish)

Get skillet hot. Add oil, mushrooms, garlic shrimp and seasoning. Saute 2 minutes. Add wine to deglaze. Add cream and simmer until sauce has thickened. Place cakes in bowl. Pour sauce to cover. Garnish with tomatoes, scallions and cashews.

For Grits:
1 qt. boiling water
1 1/2 C. yellow grits
2 T. garlic, minced
1 1/2 T. Kosher salt
2 tsp. black pepper
1 C. Parmesan cheese

Bring water to the boil. Drizzle in grits while whisking. Add garlic, salt and pepper. Let simmer approximately 20 minutes until grits are smooth and creamy. Remove from heat and whisk in cheese. Pour out into a baking dish about 3/4-inch thick. Chill to harden. Cut into desired shape. Dredge in flour, egg wash and bread crumbs for frying.

Linguine with Sardines, Fennel & Tomato

Linguine with Sardines, Fennel & Tomato

The sweet, slightly caramelized fennel and the bright tomatoes and lemon work really well with the rich flavor of the sardines, and the crunchy breadcrumb topping makes for a fun textural contrast. Think you don’t like sardines? This simple pasta dish just might make you change your mind.

Kosher or sea salt
1 tin sardines packed in olive oil (about 4 ¼ oz.)
extra virgin olive oil
2-3 fat cloves of garlic, peeled, smashed, and roughly chopped
1 small or ½ large bulb fennel, fronds reserved
1/4 tsp. red chile flakes, or more to taste
1 C. canned peeled tomatoes with their juice, gently crushed
2 oz. white (dry) vermouth
1 medium lemon, juice and zest
1/3 C. toasted bread crumbs
3/4 pound dry linguine

Bring a very large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Open the sardine tin and drain a T. or so of the oil into a wide skillet (the amount of oil in the tin will vary by brand, so add additional extra virgin olive oil if necessary to make up a T.). Warm the oil over medium-low heat and add the garlic, cooking until fragrant. Trim the fennel and slice the bulb very thinly (a mandoline works great here). Add to the skillet with a sprinkle of salt, raise the heat to medium, and cook until the fennel is soft and beginning to caramelize. Add the chile flakes and let them sizzle for a minute, just until fragrant, then add the tomatoes with their juice. Cook until the liquid is reduced, then add the vermouth and let that reduce slightly. Add the sardines to the skillet with the tomato and fennel mixture, breaking up slightly but leaving some chunks. Zest the lemon and combine a T. or so of zest with the toasted breadcrumbs, then set aside. Juice the lemon and add the juice to the pan. Taste and adjust salt if necessary. Add the linguine to the boiling salted water, cooking it until it is just short of al dente. Using tongs, transfer the linguine to the sauce to finish cooking, adding a little bit of the starchy pasta water and tossing gently to combine. (You’ll want to leave this a little wet, as the breadcrumbs will soak up the sauce and dry the pasta out a bit once you’ve added them.) Transfer the pasta and sauce to a large warmed serving bowl (or individual pasta bowls), add a drizzle of olive oil, sprinkle on the toasted breadcrumb-lemon zest mixture, and garnish with picked small fennel fronds and the remaining lemon zest.

Trout Jerky

Trout Jerky

Any kind of homemade jerky makes a great snack for a hike or a camping trip, as it is nonperishable and provides a good dose of protein. But this trout jerky is the caviar of all jerkies. Made from freshly caught river trout, it is both sweet and salty, and has just the right chewy texture and flavor. The recipe can be made in either a dehydrator or the oven, using low heat.

One 13-oz. trout fillet, skinned
1/4 C. soy sauce
1 tsp. raw honey
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 T. lemon juice
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil, for the oven rack

Cut the fish into i-by-6-inch strips. Make sure the slices are even so they dry at the same rate. Place in a wide shallow bowl. Combine the soy sauce, honey, garlic, lemon juice, and pepper in a small bowl. Pour the mixture over the fish slices, cover, and let marinate for 4 hours in the refrigerator. Drain and discard the liquid. To use a dehydrator, lay the fish slices flat on the dehydrator trays. Don’t let the fish slices touch. Dry at 145°F to 155°F. The jerk}’ is done when the trout is dry and chewy but not crunchy; start checking for doneness after about 4 hours. Once the strips are cooled, store them in airtight containers or vacuum seal them. They will keep for 2 to 3 months in the refrigerator. To use the oven, preheat the oven to the lowest possible setting. Wipe an oven rack with olive oil and place the marinated fish directly on the rack. Set a cookie sheet underneath to catch the drippings. Flip the pieces after about 2 hours. The drying time depends on the thickness of the fish slices; check for doneness after about 3 hours. The jerky is ready when there are no moist spots left.

Tacos Gobernador (Governor’s Tacos: Sautéed Shrimp Tacos)

Tacos Gobernador (Governor’s Tacos: Sautéed Shrimp Tacos)

claudia shrimp tacosIt’s actually named after a governor of the state of Sinaloa who once visited the city of Culiacan. A local chef invented a taco to welcome the governor, and when he asked what the taco was called, the chef named it the “governor taco.” These sautéed shrimp tacos went on to become a crowd favorite across port towns all over Mexico. This recipe calls for a sauce called Salsa Maggi. It’s like a Mexican version of soy sauce, and I use it in several recipes in the book. Start off slow and add as much or as little as you like to suit your taste.

8 (6-inch/15-cm) corn tortillas, homemade (see this page) or store-bought
8 ounces (225 g) Oaxaca cheese or Monterey Jack cheese, pulled or cut into thin strips
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 pound (455 g) small to medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 medium green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and thinly sliced
1/4 cup (60 ml) Maggi sauce

Preheat a griddle or comal (tortilla griddle) over medium-high heat to get it nice and hot. Reduce the heat under the griddle to low, add a couple of tortillas, and heat them for 15 to 30 seconds on each side, until soft and malleable. Add 1 ounce (28 g) of cheese to one side of each tortilla and fold the empty side over the cheese side to form a quesadilla. Press down on the quesadilla with a metal spatula for the first few seconds so the cheese sticks, then cook for 1 to 2 minutes on each side, until the cheese is completely melted and the tortillas start to get crisp. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and cheese. Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the shrimp and season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook until just turning pink on both sides, 2 to 4 minutes, flipping the shrimp halfway through cooking. Remove the shrimp to a bowl. Add the onion and bell pepper to the pan and cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes, stirring often. Return the shrimp to the pan, add the Maggi sauce, and toss quickly until incorporated and the shrimp are fully cooked through. To serve, open up a crispy quesadilla and add some shrimp and vegetables. Fold it back over and serve piping hot.

Agave Chipotle Glazed Salmon with Macadamia Cauliflower Rice

Agave Chipotle Glazed Salmon with Macadamia Cauliflower Rice

Agave Chipotle Glazed Salmon is the best of both worlds – sweet and savory! Tender salmon coated in a homemade sauce of agave, chipotle peppers, garlic and lime and served over low carb Macadamia Cauliflower Rice!

Agave-Chipotle-Glazed-Salmon-with-Macadamia-Cauliflower-Rice-4Glaze:
½ cup agave nectar
2½ tablespoons soy sauce
2 chipotles in adobo
¾ teaspoon chile powder
½ lime, juiced
Salmon:
1½ pound salmon fillet
¾ teaspoon sea salt
¾ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Macadamia Cauliflower Rice
1 large head of cauliflower, chopped
½ cup chopped macadamia nuts
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
Garnish:
Cilantro
Lime Wedges

Glaze: In a small blender, combine the agave nectar, soy sauce, chipotles, chile powder and salt. Blend until smooth and set aside.

Salmon: Spray a baking sheet with non stick cooking spray and place fillet on it. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Pour half of the glaze over the salmon. Preheat broiler on high. Place salmon on bottom rack so it is not too close to the broiler. Broil for 10 – 12 minutes or until flakey and cooked through. (Cooking time may depend on how thick your fillet is.)

Macadamia Cauliflower Rice: In a high powered blender or food processor, add the cauliflower florets and cover with water. Turn blender on medium, until cauliflower looks like rice. Drain and place cauliflower in a towel. Ring out as much water as possible. Place in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 8 minutes, or until the rice is tender. Season with the salt and garlic powder. Toss with macadamia nuts. Divide between 4 bowls.

When salmon is finished cooking, cut salmon into 4 fillets and place on top of cauliflower rice. Drizzle with remaining glaze, and garnish with cilantro and extra lime wedges.

Sautéed Mexican Mussels with Chorizo and Tequila

Sautéed Mexican Mussels with Chorizo and Tequila

Sautéed Mexican Mussels with Chorizo and Tequila4 Tomatoes, diced plus additional for garnishing
3 T. olive oil
8 oz. Mexican chorizo, fresh or store-bought, casings removed
1 T. shallot, minced
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 tsp. fresh jalapeño pepper, finely chopped
1½ cups dry white wine
2 pounds mussels, scrubbed and debearded
1 tsp. salt
â…“ cup fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped
½ cup good quality silver tequila (ex: Herradura Blanco)

Heat the olive oil in a heavy bottom sauté pan over medium high heat. Once the oil is shimmering but not smoking, add the chorizo to the pan and cook for approximately 5 minutes, stirring often, until the sausage is thoroughly cooked through. Remove the chorizo from the pan and pat dry with a paper towel to remove all excess oil. Pour off and discard the excess fat from the pan, leaving approximately 1 T. of chorizo fat in the pan. Add the minced shallot to the sauté pan and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the shallot is soft. Add the sliced garlic and diced jalapeño to the pan and cook an additional 3 minutes, stirring occasionally until both are cooked through. Keep the sauté pan on medium high heat and return the chorizo to the pan. Stir in the wine and tomatoes and then mussels. Sprinkle 1 tsp. salt over the mixture and bring to a boil. Once the mixture has reached a boil, cover the sauté pan with aluminum foil or a heavy lid and cook covered for approximately 8-10 minutes until the majority of the mussels have opened. Remove the pan from the heat and discard any unopened mussels. Spoon the mussels and broth into serving bowls and sprinkle with chopped cilantro and top with 4 oz. of silver tequila. Top with additional diced tomatoes. Serve with crusty bread or fresh corn tortillas.

Mejillones con tequila

Mejillones con tequila

1Mejillones con tequila tsp. vegetable oil
½ red pepper, diced
½ small onion, chopped
½ cup tequila
¼ cup water
juice of 1 lemon
freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 T. chopped jalapeno chilies (optional)
1 kg of fresh mussels, scrubbed and beards
1/3 cup chopped cilantro

In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add the red pepper and onion. Cook for 5 minutes stirring constantly. Add the tequila, water, lemon juice, pepper and jalapenos. Bring to a boil and add the mussels. Sprinkle the cilantro over the mussels and cover well. Let steam cook 3 to 4 minutes until all the mussels have opened (discard any remaining closed).

Rellenos de Camarones y Queso

Rellenos de Camarones y Queso

Rellenos de Camarones y Queso1 red bell pepper, roasted, peeled, and chopped
8 poblano peppers, roasted and peeled
2 T. olive oil
1 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp, chopped
1/2 tsp. salt, divided
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 T. all-purpose flour
¼ tsp. ground red pepper
1/2 cup crema Mexicana or sour cream
3/4 cup fat-free milk, divided
3/4 cup (3 oz.) shredded quesadilla cheese
½ cup queso fresco, crumbled
2 T. chopped fresh cilantro, and sprigs
2 T. fresh lime juice
Pomegranate seeds (optional)

Fire up a comal on the stovetop. Rinse the poblano chiles and bell pepper thoroughly and pierce each with a knife. Place them on the comal and let them roast evenly. You will have to keep an eye on them, making sure to turn them over until all sides are roasted. When done, the skins should be evenly blistered and mostly black. Place roasted chiles and pepper into a plastic bag and close the bag. Cover the plastic bag with a kitchen towel. The steam will help the blackened skin to separate. When cool, rub off the blackened skin, careful to keep the stem intact on the poblano chiles. Using a small sharp knife, carefully slit chiles open along 1 side. Remove seeds, leaving stems attached. Set aside to fill later. Chop the bell pepper and discard stem and seeds.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Sprinkle shrimp with 1/4 tsp. salt. Add shrimp to pan; cook 3 minutes or until done. Remove from pan. Add garlic to pan; sauté 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Sprinkle with flour and ground red pepper; cook 1 minute. Slowly add crema Mexicana, stirring with a whisk. Stir in 1/2 cup milk; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; let stand 2 minutes. Add quesadilla cheese and 1/4 tsp. salt, stirring until smooth.

Place 1/3 cup cheese mixture in a large bowl; reserve remaining cheese mixture. Add bell pepper, shrimp, cilantro, and juice to 1/3 cup cheese mixture in bowl; toss to coat. Stir 1/4 cup fat-free milk into reserved cheese mixture. Spoon 3 T. of cheese sauce on 4 plates. Stuff each poblano chile with 6 T. shrimp mixture. Place 2 stuffed poblanos on cheese mixture and garnish with crumbled queso fresco, cilantro, and pomegranate seeds (optional).

Holiday Dungeness Crab Feast

Holiday Dungeness Crab Feast

Start with garlic-and anchovy-laced bagna cauda for dipping raw veggies and crusty bread, followed by cracked crab and pasta in a homemade tomato sauce redolent of garlic and basil.

Juicy and briny-sweet, Dungeness is celebration food. Any evening that begins with crabcakes instantly feels festive and special. And cracked crab is great to eat with close friends and family or with people you’d like to get to know better ― because it requires rolling up your sleeves and diving in with both hands.

What could be more fun than that? Reach across the table for legs and claws and just a little more dipping sauce, dig out morsels of meat, and go for it.

Cracked Crab with Lemongrass, Black Pepper, and Basil

2 stalks fresh lemongrass, ends trimmed and coarse leave

FS=Randy Mon

s discarded
2 T. chopped fresh ginger
1 T. chopped garlic
1/4 C. honey
1/4 C. reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 1/2 T. freshly ground black pepper
3 fully cooked Dungeness crabs (about 2 lbs. each), cleaned, legs cracked, and bodies quartered
3 T. peanut oil or vegetable oil
1 C. loosely packed cilantro sprigs
1 C. loosely packed Thai basil leaves or small regular basil leaves

 

Chop lemongrass. Put in a food processor with ginger and garlic; whirl until minced. Scrape into a large bowl and stir in honey, soy sauce, and pepper. Add crabs and stir to coat well. Cover, then chill at least 15 minutes or up to 1 hour. Pour oil into a 14-in. wok or a wide 8- to 10-qt. pot over medium-high heat. With a slotted spoon, add crabs (reserve marinade). Cover and cook, stirring often, 5 minutes (omit this cooking time if using fully cooked crabs). Uncover pan, add marinade, and cook, stirring often, until crabs are steaming and meat is opaque, about 5 minutes. Stir in cilantro and basil, then transfer crabs and juices to a serving bowl.

Ultimate Crabcakes

4 ounces sea scallops
2 T. lightly beaten egg
3 T. heavy whipping cream
1 pound (3 cups) shelled cooked crab
2 T. diced (1/4 in.) red bell pepper
2 T. diced (1/4 in.) yellow bell pepper
2 T. finely chopped cilantro
3 T. finely chopped chives, divided
2 tsp. green hot sauce, such as Tabasco
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne
2 T. olive oil
Devil Sauce

In a food processor, pulse scallops and egg just until scallops are chopped. With motor running, pour in cream and whirl until smooth. Scrape scallop mixture into a bowl. Stir in crab, bell peppers, cilantro, 2 tbsp. chives, the hot sauce, salt, and cayenne, breaking up most large chunks of crab. Lay an 18-in. sheet of parchment paper on a work surface. Scoop 6 equal mounds of crab mixture onto parchment. Shape each into an even cake about 1 1/4 in. thick, using your fingers or, for neater sides, a 2 1/2-in.-diameter ring mold. Pour olive oil into a 12-in. nonstick frying pan and heat over medium-low heat. Using a thin, flexible spatula, carefully transfer cakes to pan. Cook, turning once, until nicely browned and no longer wet in center, about 10 minutes total. Divide crabcakes among 6 warm plates, scatter with remaining 1 tbsp. chives, and serve with Devil Sauce.
Devil Sauce

3/4 C. mayonnaise
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
About 1 tsp. red hot sauce, such as Tabasco

In a small bowl, stir together mayonnaise, coriander, and 1 tsp. hot sauce. Taste and add more hot sauce if you like.

Sailor Tacos with Two Chiles Creamy Sauce

Sailor Tacos with Two Chiles Creamy Sauce

Sailor Tacos with Two Chiles Creamy Sauce1 cup sour cream
1 T. lime juice
1 cup seedless Poblano chile, chopped
1 tsp. Serrano chile, with seeds
1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. freshly ground white pepper
2 lb tilapia fillet
1 T. extra virgin olive oil
16 flour tortillas
2 cups purple cabbage, finely chopped

Blend all of the ingredients at medium speed on your blender for the creamy sauce, until everything is well incorporated. Salt to taste and reserve in the fridge until you are ready to serve the tacos.

Add salt and pepper to the fish fillets. In a saucepan, put the oil at medium to high heat and fry the fish fillets. Keep them hot until is time to serve. Warm the tortillas. You can use a comal if you have one, a regular sauce pan or in the microwave for about 1 1/2 minutes. In the center of the tortilla place the fish. Then add a bit of purple cabbage and close it like a taco. Serve immediately and accompany with the creamy sauce of two peppers.

Sauteed Shrimp with Piquillos, Olives and Pork Belly

Sauteed Shrimp with Piquillos, Olives and Pork Belly

Sautéed Shrimp with Piquillos, Olives and Pork BellySalt
4 ounce slice of Pork Belly, about ½ inch thick
3 T. EVOO
12 oz. medium Shrimp, shelled and deveined
2 large cloves Garlic, thinly sliced
½ tsp. Smoked Spanish Paprika
¼ C. sliced Piquillo Peppers
¼ C. coarsely chopped green Spanish Olives
¼ C. dry White Wine, such as Albarino
Crusty Bread, for Serving

Bring medium saucepan of salted water to a boil Add pork belly and boil for 3 minutes. Drain, pat dry, and let cool. Slice pork belly into ¼ inch pieces. In large skillet, heat oil. Add pork belly and cook over medium high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp all over, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Add shrimp, garlic and paprika to the pan. Season with salt and cook over medium high heat, stirring frequently, until shrimp are just pink, about 90 seconds. Add peppers, olives, and wine and simmer until liquid is reduced by half, about a minute longer. Add pork and simmer 1 minute. Serve immediately with crusty bread.

Shrimp Ceviche with Spicy Avocado Aioli

Shrimp Ceviche with Spicy Avocado Aioli

shrimp Ceviche

½ pound cooked prawns, diced
lime juice from 2 large limes
½ T. garlic, minced
1 each yellow onion, diced
½ cup Fresh roma tomatoes, peeled, seeded & diced
1 serrano pepper, seeds and ribs removed, diced
½ bunch cilantro, chopped
½ cup cucumber, diced
2 green onions, chopped

Spicy avocado Aioli

2 avocados
1 tsp. red wine vinegar
2 serrano peppers, small diced
½ bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
½ cup sour cream
2 cloves garlic, small diced
½ tsp. sea salt
juice of one lime

Tortilla Crisp:
flour tortillas, cut into triangles, then fried and lightly salted

Ceviche: In a non reactive bowl, combine the onion, green onion, and lime juice. Marinate for 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Add the shrimp and let sit refrigerated for 15 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and combine well.

Spicy Avocado Aioli: In a blender, combine vinegar, serrano peppers, cilantro, sour cream, garlic, salt and lime juice and puree until smooth. Meanwhile in a food processor, blend avocados. Slowly add in the mixture from the blender into the avocados. Keep chilled on ice or puree will discolor.

Fill mini martini glasses with the spicy avocado aioli and top with the shrimp ceviche. garnish with tortilla chip. Note: if you don’t have mini martini glasses, use Phyllo Cups and skip the tortilla crisp.

Sheet Pan Suppers: Shrimp & Polenta with Crispy Pancetta Tuiles

Sheet Pan Suppers: Shrimp & Polenta with Crispy Pancetta Tuiles

Shrimp & Polenta with Crispy Pancetta Tuiles8-10 very thin slices round unsmoked pancetta
1 tube (18 oz.) precooked polenta, sliced into ½” thick rounds (about 16 slices)
½ pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1.5 T plus 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 T freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 or 2 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp. oregano
½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. chopped fresh chives
1 generous pound 26/30 count raw shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed, blotted dry

Preheat oven to 400F with rack in center position. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Line a plate with paper towels. Arrange pancetta rounds on prepared pan and bake until crisp, 5-7 mins. Remove to the lined plate to cool and drain; set aside. (Keep parchment on the pan.) Place polenta rounds on the used sheet pan on top of the pancetta drippings. In a large bowl, toss together the cherry tomatoes with 1 tsp. olive oil, ¼ tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. pepper. Scatter tomatoes around and over polenta. Bake tomatoes and polenta for about 10 mins.
Meanwhile, whisk together remaining 1.5 T olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, Worcestershire, ¼ tsp. salt, ¼ tsp. pepper and chives in a large bowl. Add shrimp and toss to coat. After polenta and tomatoes have baked for 10 mins, arrange shrimp over the top in a single layer and return pan to the oven. Roast until shrimp are pink and just cooked through, about 8-10 mins. Serve shrimp, tomatoes and polenta warm with pancetta crisps on top. Enjoy!

The recipe above is taken directly from Sheet Pan Suppers. I modified the version pictured here in the following ways:

Subbing pancetta for halloumi cheese: Swap the pancetta rounds for 7-8 oz of thinly sliced halloumi cheese. Arrange the slices on the parchment as you would the pancetta and bake for 10-12 mins, or until crisp and brown on the edges (it’ll still have a bit of that halloumi ‘squeak’ in the middle). Set aside to enjoy with the finished dish.

Seasoning the polenta: Knowing that the brand of prepared polenta I usually buy is quite bland, I opted to liberally season the rounds with salt and pepper before arranging them on the sheet pan and topping them with the tomatoes.

Sheet Pan Supper: Swordfish Cacciatore

Sheet Pan Supper: Swordfish Cacciatore

Swordfish Cacciatore1 Medium Onion, thinly sliced
8 oz. Cremini Mushrooms, sliced ¼-1/2 inch thick
1 Red Bell Pepper, stemmed, seeded, and sliced into ¼” wide strips
3 cloves Garlic, thinly sliced
Salt & Pepper
½ tsp. dried Oregano
¼ C. plus 1 T. EVOO
1 28oz. can Crushed Tomatoes, with their juice
½ C. red or white Wine
4 Swordfish steaks, ¾-1” thick, about 2 ¼ lb. total (Tuna Steams, Halibut, or Mahi Mahi)
¼ C. Capers
2 T. roughly chopped Parsley Leaves, for garnish

Preheat oven to 425 with rack in center position. Combine onion, mushrooms, bell pepper, garlic ½ tsp. each salt and pepper, oregano and 1.4 C. oil on a sheet pan and toss well to coat vegetables. Arrange veggies in a single layer and roast until softened and lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven. Stir together crushed tomatoes and wine in a large bowl and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Pour over roasted vegetables and carefully stir to combine. Pat fish dry with paper towel. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and arrange on top of vegetables. Drizzle fish with remaining T. of oil and scatter capers over fish. Return pan to oven and baked until sauce has thickened slightly and fish is just cooked through, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle fish with parsley and serve, with tomato-vegetable sauce spooned over the top.

Sheet Pan Supper: Cilantro-Lime steamed Halibut and Spicy Coconut Rice

Sheet Pan Supper: Cilantro-Lime steamed Halibut and Spicy Coconut Rice

2 cups frozen precooked white rice (unthawed)Cilantro Lime Steamed Halibut
1 cup canned coconut milk (regular or light)
Juice of 1 lime
½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup frozen shelled edamame (unthawed)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 skinless fillets halibut (each 1 inch thick; about 2 pounds total)
4 tsp. chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 limes, sliced into thin rounds

Preheat the oven to 400°F with a rack in the center position. Stir together the rice, coconut milk, lime juice, red pepper flakes, edamame, and a pinch of salt in a medium-size bowl. Set aside. Cut four sheets of parchment paper, each 18 inches long and 15 inches wide. Fold each piece of parchment in half (short side to short side). Use scissors to cut each folded piece so that when you open the parchment it looks like a big, fat heart (sort of like you’re making a parchment Valentine). Spoon the rice mixture onto one side of each heart, just next to the crease. Lay a halibut fillet on top of each rice pile and sprinkle each fillet with salt, pepper, and 1 tsp. of chopped cilantro. Arrange 3 or 4 overlapping lime slices atop each fillet. Seal the parchment packages: Fold the empty half of each heart over the filling and crimp the edges in overlapping folds as you go, until each package is completely closed up and airtight. Carefully place the closed packets on two sheet pans (two packets per pan), and bake until the fish is opaque, about 20 minutes (feel free to unfold the edge to peek inside one of the packets toward the end to check the fish). Carefully open the packets (watch out for the steam) and slide the rice and fish into bowls, or transfer the packets to plates so each guest can open his or her own at the table. Serve immediately, while the rice and fish are still warm.

Sheet Pan Supper: Cod with Asparagus, Ginger, and Spring Onion in Parchment

Sheet Pan Supper: Cod with Asparagus, Ginger, and Spring Onion in Parchment

sheet pan asparagus and black cod1 cod fillet, cut into two pieces
1 bunch of asparagus, last two inches cut off
2 Spring onions, sliced up to green part
2 T. of basil, cut into a chiffonade
1 tsp. garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp. ginger, sliced or minced
2 T. soy sauce
2 tsp. olive oil
Cracked black pepper (optional)
Parchment paper

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Set two large pieces of parchment paper on a baking tray. Set a piece of cod onto each piece of paper. Place half of the asparagus right on top of each piece of fish. Do the same with the Spring onions. Top each piece with equal amounts of basil, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and olive oil. Crack some black pepper if you like. Close up the parchment paper to make two little packages. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes or until fish is cooked through and asparagus is tender (but not overcooked!). Transfer your fish and some of the sauce to a plate and toss the parchment paper in the garbage.

Sheet Pan Supper: Spicy Orange Roasted Salmon & Bok Choy

Sheet Pan Supper: Spicy Orange Roasted Salmon & Bok Choy

spicy-orange-salmon1050-4-1050x7003 or 4 salmon fillets

Sauce:
1/2 cup orange marmalade (store-bought or homemade)
1 tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. Sriracha
1 tsp. sesame oil
1/2 medium jalapeno, finely diced
1 Tbsp. shredded coconut

3-4 baby bok choy
2 orange slices, cut it half
Olive oil
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 450° F. with rack in centre of oven. Lightly brush a baking sheet with olive oil. Set aside. Dry salmon and place on baking sheet (skin side down, if your salmon has skin on). Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cut bok choy in half lengthwise. Place your bok choy on the baking sheet, cut side down and alternating the direction on every second one (it’s ok if your bok choy overlaps a little, to make it all fit). Brush bok choy with olive oil and season with some salt and pepper. If using, add a couple of orange slices to the baking sheet as well. Place in pre-heated oven and roast for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, combine sauce ingredients in a microwave-proof bowl (or in a small saucepan). Set aside. Test salmon for done-ness (use a fork to see if it flakes). Thicker salmon cuts may need another 3-5 minutes. When salmon is almost done, place sauce in microwave for one minute. Stir to combine. Remove salmon, bok choy and orange slices to a serving platter. Spoon warm sauce over salmon and drizzle a bit on the bok choy as well, if you like.

Sheet Pan Supper: Spicy Roasted Shrimp and Broccoli Rabe

Sheet Pan Supper: Spicy Roasted Shrimp and Broccoli Rabe

Spicy Roasted Shrimp and Broccoli Rabe

¾ pound broccoli rabe, tough bottom stems removed
3 T. extra-virgin olive oil
½ tsp. toasted sesame oil, optional
½ tsp. coarse kosher salt
¼ tsp. crushed red chile flakes, or to taste
¾ pound large shrimp, peeled
1 tsp. orange zest
Orange wedges, for serving

Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, toss broccoli with 2 T. olive oil, the sesame oil if using, 1/4 tsp. salt and 1/8 tsp. chile flakes. In a separate bowl, combine shrimp, remaining 1 T. oil, the orange zest, remaining 1/4 tsp. salt and remaining 1/8 tsp. chile flakes. Spread broccoli and shrimp in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast, tossing once or twice halfway through, until shrimp are just opaque and broccoli is tender and golden around the edges, about 10 minutes. Serve with orange wedges.

Sheet Pan Supper: Pecan “Fried” Fish with Tartar Sauce

Sheet Pan Supper: Pecan “Fried” Fish with Tartar Sauce

Some sliced raw cucumbers sprinkled with salt would be a refreshing side.

pecan fried fish with tartar sauce1 ½ C. Raw Pecan Halves
1 ½ C. Panko
3 T. minced fresh Parsley
Olive Oil Cooking Spray
½ C. Flour
Salt
2 large Eggs
1 ¼ C. Mayonnaise
Pepper
½ tsp. Smoked Paprika
1 1/4 lb. Skinless Cod or other thick white fish such as haddock or sea bass, cut into 4 pieces (about 1 ½” thick)
2 T. Capers
2 T. Sweet Pickle Relish (I don’t like sweet relish; I sub chopped dill pickle)
1 T. Lemon Juice
½ tsp. Worcestershire Sauce

Preheat oven to 350 with a rack in center position. In a blender or food processor, pulse pecans until they look like coarse meal. Transfer to a sheet pan, stir in panko to combine and toast until crumbs are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Allow pecan mixture to cool before transferring to a small bowl. Mix in 2 T. parsley. Place wire rack over the now empty sheet pan and mist with cooking spray. Whisk together flour and 1 tsp. salt in another shallow bowl. In a third, whisk together eggs, ¼ c. mayonnaise, ½ tsp. Pepper and smoked paprika until smooth. Pat fish dry with paper towels. One at a time, dredge a fish piece in flour, then dunk in mayo mixture to coat. Shake off any extra and dip into pecan mixture, pressing to coat all sides fully. Place breaded fish on the wire rack and mist lightly with cooking spray. Repeat for remaining fish. Bake until fish is cooked and flakes apart when gently prodded with a paring knife, 18-23 minutes. Meanwhile, whip up the tartar sauce. Whisk together remaining cup mayo, 1 T. parsley, capers, relish, lemon juice Worcestershire and ½ tsp. pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve fish hot with tartar sauce for dipping.

Crispy Salmon Strips

Crispy Salmon Strips

Olive oil-flavored cooking spray Crispy Salmon Strips
2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
2 tablespoons low-fat (2%) milk
1/2 cup fine dried bread crumbs
1 teaspoon dried dill weed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1 1/2 pounds boned, skinned salmon fillet, rinsed, patted dry, and cut into 2- to 3-inch pieces

Spray a nonstick 10- by 15-inch baking sheet with cooking spray. In a bowl, whisk mayonnaise and milk. In another bowl, mix bread crumbs, dill, salt, and lemon pepper. Dip each piece of salmon into mayonnaise mixture, turning to coat, then roll in bread-crumb mixture, turning to coat. Place pieces slightly apart on baking sheet and spray lightly with cooking spray. Bake on the top rack of a 475° oven until surface is browned and salmon is opaque but still moist-looking in the center (cut to test), 12 to 14 minutes.

Sheet Pan Supper: Roasted Arctic Char & Asparagus With Pistachio Gremolata

Sheet Pan Supper: Roasted Arctic Char & Asparagus With Pistachio Gremolata

This dish is as tasty as it is beautiful. Pink-fleshed Arctic char is closely related to both salmon and lake trout, with a flavor somewhere between the two. If you can’t find any Arctic char, substitute either trout or salmon. Gremolata sounds impressive, but it is just a simple Italian condiment of chopped parsley, garlic and lemon zest. Our version has some chopped pistachios, too, for an extra salty, crunchy bite. It brings a little zing to a straightforward meal of roasted fish and bright asparagus with sweet red onion and concentrated pops of cherry tomato.

from "Sheet Pan Suppers" photo by Jim Franco

1 bunch asparagus (roughly 1 pound total)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 skinless fillets Arctic char, salmon or trout (5 to 6 ounces each)
1/2 medium red onion, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick half-moons
1/2 lemon, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
1/2 cup cherry or grape tomatoes
Grated zest of 1 lemon
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, roughly chopped
1/2 cup roasted, salted, and shelled pistachios, roughly chopped

Heat the oven to 350 with a rack in the center position. Mist a sheet pan with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper. Gently bend one asparagus spear between your fingers and snap off the bottom where it breaks easily. Line up the rest of the bunch and slice off the bottoms at the same distance from the tips. Place the trimmed asparagus on the prepared pan, drizzle with the olive oil, and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon each of the salt and pepper. Toss to coat, and spread the asparagus in an even layer. Place the fish fillets on top of the asparagus, evenly spaced apart, and sprinkle with an extra pinch of salt and pepper. Scatter the onion, lemon slices and cherry tomatoes around and on top of the fish. Bake until the asparagus is crisp-tender and the fish is almost opaque (20 to 30 minutes if using char, other types may vary). While the fish cooks, mix together the lemon zest, garlic, parsley and pistachios in a small bowl — this is your gremolata. Sprinkle the gremolata over the char and asparagus before serving warm.

Rellenos de Camarones (Shrimp Stuffed Poblano Peppers with Green Chile Cream Sauce)

Rellenos de Camarones (Shrimp Stuffed Poblano Peppers with Green Chile Cream Sauce)

Green Chile Cream Sauce

3 Poblano Chiles, dry roasted, stemmed, seeded, and peeled
¼ White Onion, dry roasted
1 clove Garlic, dry roasted
¾ C. Mexican Crema
¾ C. Half & Half
1 tsp. dried Mexican Oregano
½ tsp. Salt

Shrimp

2 T. Olive Oil
2 cloves Garlic, minced
1 Chipotle Chile en Adobo
¼ tsp. dried Mexican Oregano
1 lb. Shrimp, peeled, cleaned, tails removed
2 T. Butter
½ tsp. Salt

4 Poblano Chiles, dry roasted, stemmed, seeded and peeled
½ C. shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
½ C. chopped Cilantro

When ready to make sauce, place all ingredients for green chile cream sauce in blender or food processor and puree for 2 minutes or until very smooth. Heat in a medium saucepan over medium heat until it is warmed through. Do not bring to a boil or simmer.

In blender or food processor, puree oil, garlic, chipotle and oregano until smooth. Place in large bowl; add shrimp, toss to combine and marinate for 20-30 minutes in the refrigerator. Heat butter in large sauté pan until shimmering. Add marinated shrimp, being careful as it will splatter. Cook 3-4 minutes, until shrimp are just beginning to form their C shape. (They do not need to be cooked through, as they will finish in the oven.) Preheat oven to 350. Add ½ C. shrimp inside each chile, top with a spoonful of cheese and gently squeeze chile closed around the filling. Place on baking dish, seam side up, and repeat with remaining chiles. Place in oven and heat 6-8 minutes, until heated through, shrimp is finished cooking and cheese is melted. Serve with warm chile green cream sauce and sprinkled with cilantro.

Halibut with Watercress Pesto

Halibut with Watercress Pesto

halibut with walnut pesto4 ounces watercress (1 qt.)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons pine nuts
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 clove garlic, peeled
Salt and pepper
1 1/2 pounds boned, skinned halibut fillet
1 cup cherry tomatoes
Lemon wedges

Rinse watercress and drain well. Pick tender sprigs from stems and cut into 3- to 4-inch lengths; you should have 1 1/2 to 2 cups sprigs. Coarsely chop remaining watercress and stems; you should have 1/3 to 1/2 cup. In a blender or food processor, whirl chopped watercress, olive oil, pine nuts, lemon peel, and garlic until finely ground. Add salt and pepper to taste. Rinse fish and pat dry. Cut into four equal pieces. Set slightly apart in an oiled 10- by 15-inch baking pan. Reserve 2 tablespoons pesto; spread remaining equally over fish. Bake in a 425° regular or convection oven until fish is barely opaque but still moist-looking in center of thickest part (cut to test), 8 to 12 minutes. Meanwhile, rinse and stem tomatoes; cut each in half. In a bowl, mix watercress sprigs, tomatoes, and reserved pesto. Spoon equally onto four dinner plates. With a wide spatula, transfer fish to plates. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with lemon wedges to squeeze over fish.

Screaming Shrimp N Dirty Grits

Screaming Shrimp N Dirty Grits

Screaming Shrimp N Dirty Grits1 C. Instant Grits
3 C. water
½ C. buttermilk
½ stick butter
½ C. grated cheddar cheese
6 slices bacon, diced
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

In a large sauté pan, cook the diced bacon until slightly crispy. Transfer bacon with its grease into small bowl. In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil, and add grits. Reduce heat to medium-high and whisk until the grits thicken, about 5 minutes. Add the bacon with its grease, and the remaining ingredients, and continue to whisk, intermittently, while you prepare the Screaming Shrimp, and until the grits are glorious and DIRTY GOOD!”

1 pound shrimp (16/20) count) peeled, cleaned and butterflied
½ stick butter
2 T. canola oil
1 T. Cajun seasoning
¼ C. chopped garlic
4-6 Roma tomatoes, seeded and coarsely chopped
¼ C. fresh basil chiffonade
¼ C. lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

In the same pan used to cook the bacon, and over high heat, add oil and butter. Add the shrimp and cook for about 2 minutes, until the shrimp start to turn pink and curl slightly. Add the Cajun seasoning and garlic and continue cooking for about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes and basil, and the lemon juice, and sauté for another 30 seconds. Turn off the heat. Spoon the grits into serving bowls and apportion the Screaming Shrimp over the top of the grits.

Sheet Pan Suppers: Shrimp & Polenta

Sheet Pan Suppers: Shrimp & Polenta

shrimppol8-10 very thin slices round unsmoked pancetta
1 tube (18 ounces) precooked polenta, sliced into ½” thick rounds (about 16 slices)
½ pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1.5 T plus 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 T freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 or 2 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp oregano
½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp chopped fresh chives
1 generous pound 26/30 count raw shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed, blotted dry

Preheat oven to 400F with rack in center position. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Line a plate with paper towels. Arrange pancetta rounds on prepared pan and bake until crisp, 5-7 mins. Remove to the lined plate to cool and drain; set aside. (Keep parchment on the pan.) Place polenta rounds on the used sheet pan on top of the pancetta drippings. In a large bowl, toss together the cherry tomatoes with 1 tsp olive oil, ¼ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper. Scatter tomatoes around and over polenta. Bake tomatoes and polenta for about 10 mins.
Meanwhile, whisk together remaining 1.5 T olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, Worcestershire, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper and chives in a large bowl. Add shrimp and toss to coat. After polenta and tomatoes have baked for 10 mins, arrange shrimp over the top in a single layer and return pan to the oven. Roast until shrimp are pink and just cooked through, about 8-10 mins. Serve shrimp, tomatoes and polenta warm with pancetta crisps on top.

The recipe above is taken directly from Sheet Pan Suppers. I modified the version pictured here in the following ways:

Subbing pancetta for halloumi cheese:
Swap the pancetta rounds for 7-8 oz of thinly sliced halloumi cheese. Arrange the slices on the parchment as you would the pancetta and bake for 10-12 mins, or until crisp and brown on the edges (it’ll still have a bit of that halloumi ‘squeak’ in the middle). Set aside to enjoy with the finished dish.

Seasoning the polenta:
Knowing that the brand of prepared polenta I usually buy is quite bland, I opted to liberally season the rounds with salt and pepper before arranging them on the sheet pan and topping them with the tomatoes.

Sheet Pan Suppers: Shellfish and Sausage Bake

Sheet Pan Suppers: Shellfish and Sausage Bake

8 ounces spicy smoked sausage (such as andouille or fresh chorizo), cut chorinto 2-inch pieces
1 pound small Yukon gold or new potatoes
2 pounds mussels, scrubbed
½ pound jumbo shrimp (raw), peeled and deveined
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick), cut into small pieces
1 teaspoon seafood seasoning (such as Old Bay), plus more for serving
2 pounds littleneck clams, scrubbed
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for serving

Preheat oven to 450° F with the racks in the upper and lower thirds. Roast the sausage and potatoes on a large rimmed baking sheet on the bottom rack until the sausage is cooked through and the potatoes are nearly tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Add the mussels, shrimp, butter, and 1 teaspoon of the seafood seasoning to the baking sheet and toss to combine. Roast until all the mussels have opened and the shrimp are opaque, 12 to 15 minutes more. Meanwhile, roast the clams on a separate large rimmed baking sheet on the top rack until opened, 10 to 15 minutes. (Discard any mussels or clams that do not open after 15 minutes.) Toss the clams with the sausage, potatoes, mussels, and shrimp and sprinkle with the parsley. Serve with extra seafood seasoning on the side.

Sheet Pan Suppers: Coconut Shrimp with Spicy Orange Dipping Sauce

Sheet Pan Suppers: Coconut Shrimp with Spicy Orange Dipping Sauce

1;4 C. Panko Breadcrumbs
½ C. Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
Olive Oil Cooking Spray
Grated Zest of one Orange
¼ C. Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
1 tsp. Curry Powder
Pinch Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
½ tsp. Garlic Powder
1 T. Rice Vinegar
1 T. Honey
2 lg. Egg Whites
2 T. Flour
½ tsp. Pepper
1 lb. 21/25 Shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails on

Preheat oven to 425 with rack in the center position. Line a sheet pan with parchment or foil. Spread breadcrumbs and coconut evenly on the prepared pan; its fine if they mix; mist lightly with cooking spray and toast in the oven, stirring occasionally, until lightly golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove pan from oven and allow to cool. Transfer to a bowl and set it aside. To make dipping sauce, whisk together zest, juice, curry powder, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, vinegar and honey in a small bowl. Pour sauce into an oven proof ramekin and place on the prepared pan. Whisk egg whites until frothy. Add flour, salt and pepper to the breadcrumb mixture and whisk gently until evenly combined. Pat shrimp dry. Dip in egg white, then in breadcrumbs, pressing to coast all over. Place on sheet pan. Repeat with remaining shrimp, arranging them around the sauce. Mist shrimp generously with cooking spray. Bake until coating on shrimp is deeply golden and shrimp are cooked through (they will feel firm when pressed), about 10 minutes. Serve hot with the sauce on the side.

Sheet Pan Suppers: Salmon with Fennel, Bell Pepper, and Olives

Sheet Pan Suppers: Salmon with Fennel, Bell Pepper, and Olives

sam1 navel orange
1 large bulb fennel, cored and sliced ¼” thick, 1/4 cup fronds reserved
1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced (any color is fine)
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 skinless salmon fillets (4 to 6 ounces each)
Salt and pepper
1/3 cup pitted black olives, quartered

Heat broiler, with rack 8 inches from heat. Grate 1 tablespoon orange zest, then cut orange into wedges. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss together orange zest and wedges, fennel, bell pepper, and oil and arrange in an even layer. Add salmon and season vegetables and salmon with salt and pepper. Broil until vegetables are browned in spots and salmon is opaque throughout, 8 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with olives and fennel fronds to serve.

Sheet Pan Suppers: Roasted Cod with Potatoes and Olives

Sheet Pan Suppers: Roasted Cod with Potatoes and Olives

cod2 pounds red new potatoes, scrubbed and quartered
4 cloves garlic, halved lengthwise
1/2 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
Coarse salt and ground pepper
4 cod fillets (6 to 8 ounces each)
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, whole or halved
1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives
Lemon wedges, for serving (optional)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss potatoes with garlic, rosemary, and 1 tablespoon oil; season generously with salt and pepper. Arrange potatoes in a single layer, cut side down. Bake, tossing potatoes once, until beginning to brown, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, rub fillets with remaining teaspoon oil; season all sides with salt and pepper. Remove baking sheet from oven. Add tomatoes and olives to potatoes; stir to combine. Push vegetable mixture to one side; place fillets flat on baking sheet, next to vegetables. Return to oven, and roast until fish is cooked through and potatoes are brown and tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer fish and vegetables to serving platter. Serve immediately, with lemon wedges if desired.