Broiled Salmon With Mediterranean Lentils Recipes

SALMON WITH LENTILS

Steps:

• Place the lentils in a heat-proof bowl and cover with boiling water. Set aside for 15 minutes, then drain.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a saute pan, add the onions, leeks, thyme, salt, and pepper and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 2 more minutes. Add the drained lentils, celery, carrots, chicken stock, and tomato paste. Cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, until the lentils are tender. Add the vinegar and season, to taste.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• For the salmon, heat a dry oven-proof saute pan over high heat for 4 minutes. Meanwhile, rub both sides of the salmon fillets with olive oil and season the tops very liberally with salt and pepper. When the pan is very hot, place the salmon fillets seasoning-sides down in the pan and cook over medium heat without moving them for 2 minutes, until very browned. Turn the fillets and place the pan in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes, until the salmon is cooked rare. Spoon a mound of lentils on each plate and place a salmon fillet on top. Serve hot.
• Place the chickens, onions, carrots, celery, parsnips, parsley, thyme, dill, garlic, salt, and peppercorns in a 16 to 20-quart stockpot with 7 quarts of water and bring to a boil. Skim the surface, as needed. Simmer uncovered for 4 hours. Strain the entire contents of the pot through a colander, discarding the chicken and vegetables, and chill. Discard the hardened fat, and then pack the broth in quart containers.

BROILED SALMON OVER LENTIL SALAD

Steps:

• For the honey vinaigrette: Add the rice wine vinegar, Dijon, honey, salt, pepper and garlic to a food processor or blender and pulse. Slowly blend while adding the oil in a steady stream. Remove 1/4 cup of the dressing for the salmon, reserving the rest for the salad.
• For the salmon: Preheat the broiler to high and adjust the oven rack 6 inches from the broiler. Drizzle the salmon with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the salmon skin-side down on a foil-lined sheet tray. Broil the salmon 6 inches from the heat 10 to 12 minutes, then brush with the reserved dressing.
• For the lentil salad: Toss together the cooked lentils, pecans, sugar snap peas, scallions, avocados, lemon juice and red pepper. Dress the salad just before serving.
• Serve the broiled salmon over the lentil salad.

CRISP ATLANTIC SALMON ON LENTILS WITH MOROCCAN SPICED TOMATO SAUCE WITH HARISSA, SERVED WITH TZATZIKI AND GRILLED NAN BREAD

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Pre-heat grill.
• Heat the olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat, add the shallots and garlic, and season. Saute until the vegetables are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the harissa and stir. Cook for 3-5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and 4 tablespoons of the spice blend, or to taste.
• Toast the above in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for five minutes (or on the stove over medium heat). Grind the mixture in a spice or coffee grinder.
• Coat the salmon.
• Finish the Sauce:
• Working in batches, puree the mixture in a food processor, until the liquid is smooth. Set aside until ready to use. Makes enough for at least twelve fillets.
• Heat saute pan, add stock and lentils and simmer until liquid almost evaporates. Stir in butter, season and serve.
• Bring two saute pans to high heat, add the olive oil, and when hot, add salmon fillets, skin-side down (do not crowd pan). Shake pans to be sure the fillets are not sticking. Add the butter little bits at a time, shaking the pan to incorporate the butter into the oil. Place pan in oven for 4-5 minutes to roast.
• Make the tzatziki: 32 ounces yogurt 2 English cucumbers, peeled, seeded and diced 4 cloves of garlic, minced 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped 1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice Salt and pepper to taste
• Place yogurt in cheese cloth, tie the end closed with kitchen string and hang it on a rack, above a bowl, in the refrigerator. Allow to drain for two hours or overnight. Discard the liquid in the bowl, and blend the yogurt with the remaining ingredients.
• Combine oil, garlic and salt. Using a pastry brush, coat the bread lightly with the oil and place on grill. Cook to mark bread, turn to mark other side and serve.
• To serve:
• Mound lentils in center of plate. Place salmon fillet on top, skin side up. Surround with sauce. Present with side dishes of tzatziki and nan bread.

MOROCCAN SPICED SALMON OVER LENTILS

Steps:

• Spice Mixture: Combine all the ingredients for the spice mix then set aside to be used later.
• Place the lentils in a medium saucepan & cover with 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer. Cook until the lentils are tender, about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain any remaining water then season with salt and pepper and set aside, covered.
• While the lentils are cooking, warm olive oil over medium-low heat in a medium-sized saucepan. Cook the garlic and onions in the oil until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the harissa and 1 tablespoon of the spice mixture and continue to cook until fragrant, about 3 minutes.
• Increase the heat to medium then add the tomatoes and their juices. Simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally, until the flavors are well blended, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray a baking pan with cooking spray & set aside. Season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper then coat them on both sides with the remaining spice mixture.
• Heat the canola oil & the butter in a large skillet. When the oil is very hot, add 2 salmon fillets to the pan, skin side down. Saute the salmon fillets for 3 minutes (do not turn over). Repeat with the other 2 fillets.
• Carefully transfer the fillets to the baking sheet & roast the salmon for about 6-10 minutes, or until the skin is very crisp and the fish is just cooked through.
• Spoon the lentils into the center of warmed dinner plates and set the salmon fillets on top, skin side down. Spoon the tomato sauce around the lentils and serve at once.

PAN SEARED SALMON WITH BRAISED LENTILS

Steps:

• Melt 1 T butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chard stems and onion and cook until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes, Stir in the garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Stir in 1-3/4 cup of the broth, lentils and lemon juice. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the lentils are tender, taste, transfer to a bowl and cover to keep warm.
• Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Wipe out the skillet with paper towels, and add the oil, and return to medium high heat until just smoking. Carefully lay the fillets in the skillet, skinned side up, and cook until well browned on the first side, about 5 minutes. Flip the fillets and continue to cook until the sides are opaque, about 3 - 5 minutes longer. Transfer the fillets to a plate, tent loosley with foil, and let rest while finishing the lentils.
• In the skillet, add the lentils and remaining 1/4 cup broth and cook until hot, about 1 minute. Stir in the chard leaves and remaining 1 T butter and cook, stirring constantly, until the chard is wilted, 2 - 3 minues.
• To serve: lay the lentils on the plate and top with the salmon. Sprinkle with lemon wedges.