Rick Bayless Grilled Salmon Vera Cruz With Salsa Recipes

RICK BAYLESS' GRILLED SALMON VERA CRUZ WITH LEMON-AND-THYME-SCENTED SALSA

Steps:

• 1. Prepare the sauce: Place oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until just beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Raise the heat to medium-high and add the tomatoes, chopped thyme, lemon zest, and half of the olives, capers, and peppers. Simmer briskly, stirring, for about 5 minutes to evaporate some of the liquid. Reduce the heat to medium-low, stir in 1 cup water and simmer for 15 minutes. Taste and season with salt. Cool.
• 2. Preheat a gas grill to medium-high or light a charcoal fire and let it burn just until the coals are covered with gray ash and very hot. Reduce the heat on one side of the gas grill to medium-low or set up the charcoal grill for indirect cooking by banking all of the coals to one side, leaving the other half of the grill empty. Set the cooking grate in place, cover the grill and let the grate heat for 5 minutes.
• 3. Oil the grill and both sides of each salmon steak; sprinkle fish with salt. Cook the salmon over the hottest part of the grill for about 4 minutes, until nicely browned underneath. Carefully flip over the fish onto the cooler side of the grill; cook 2 to 4 minutes more for medium-rare.
• 4. Spoon the sauce into a deep platter and nestle the fish in it. Let stand at room temperature for about an hour to bring together the flavors of the fish and the sauce.
• 5. To serve, sprinkle the fish with remaining olives, capers, and peppers; garnish with the thyme sprigs. Serve immediately.

RICK BAYLESS' GRILLED SALMON VERA CRUZ WITH SALSA RECIPE

Steps:

• Prepare the sauce: Place oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until just beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Raise the heat to medium-high and add the tomatoes, chopped thyme, lemon zest and half of the olives, capers and peppers. Simmer briskly, stirring, for about 5 minutes to evaporate some of the liquid. Reduce the heat to medium-low, stir in 1 cup water and simmer for 15 minutes. Taste and season with salt. Cool. Preheat a gas grill to medium-high or light a charcoal fire and let it burn just until the coals are covered with gray ash and very hot. Reduce the heat on one side of the gas grill to medium-low or set up the charcoal grill for indirect cooking by banking all of the coals to one side, leaving the other half of the grill empty. Set the cooking grate in place, cover the grill and let the grate heat for 5 minutes. Oil the grill and both sides of each salmon steak; sprinkle fish with salt. Cook the salmon over the hottest part of the grill for about 4 minutes, until nicely browned underneath. Carefully flip over the fish onto the cooler side of the grill; cook 2 to 4 minutes more for medium-rare. Spoon the sauce into a deep platter and nestle the fish in it. Let stand at room temperature for about an hour to bring together the flavors of the fish and the sauce. To serve, sprinkle the fish with remaining olives, capers and peppers; garnish with the thyme sprigs. Serve immediately. This recipe yields 6 servings. Nutritional Analysis Per Serving: 460 calories, 15g carbohydrates, 42g protein, 25g fat, 110mg cholesterol.

SALSA BY RICK BAYLESS

Steps:

• In a food processor put the green chili and the garlic clove and mince.
• Roughly chop two of the tomatoes and add to the food processor along with the cilantro. Pulse 7-8 times.
• I next usually remove the top of the food processor and use a spoon to push down any of the ingredients that have gone up the side of the food processor. Put the top back on and pulse a few more times or until you have the desired consistancy.
• Pour the ingredients into a serving bowl.
• Finely chop the remaining two tomatoes and add the tomatoes and green onions to the serving bowl.
• Add 1-3 teaspoons lime juice or vinegar and a generous amount of salt. Stir until everything is well blended.
• Let the salsa marry in the fridge for about an hour if desired, before serving.
• The cooking time is the chilling time in the fridge.