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Lenie’s Spicy Salmon

Well it’s 2016 and after all that fancy festive cooking, I was thinking, what better way to start the year than by preparing a simple but slightly exotic dish with a bit of heat that’s fast and simple to make from the most common ingredients?

This recipe comes courtesy of my good friend Lenie, who served it as part of a meal I had in Lincoln, Massachusetts with her family over the New Year’s Eve weekend and it’s a really great way to cook salmon: Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall!

Ingredients (serves up to 4)

Simple ingredients for a subtly spicy dish

Simple ingredients for a subtly spicy dish

  • 1.5 lbs of salmon loin (skin on or off, it doesn’t matter)
  • 3 x jalapeno peppers / or regular green chili peppers sliced lengthwise
  • 1/4 cup of olive oil
  • 1 tsp of paprika
  • A handful of fresh cilantro / coriander to garnish
  • Salt and pepper to season

Method

Salmon + Jalapeno peppers + oil + seasoning

Salmon + Jalapeno peppers + oil + seasoning

  • Pour the olive oil into a baking dish
  • Cut the salmon horizontally into equal pieces
  • Lay the salmon in the oil flesh side up and place the jalapeno peppers seed side up alongside each salmon slice
  • Then sprinkle each piece of fish with the paprika, salt and pepper and turn them over in the oil once, in one motion, so the seasoned side is dipped in the oil and returned to original flesh side up
  • Season again with a pinch more salt and pepper and let the dish stand for around 15 minutes for the flavors to percolate into the oil
  • Then cook the uncovered fish dish at 350 f / 150 c for between 25 – 30 minutes, depending on the thickness of the salmon

Garnish with the cilantro and serve immediately !

Fisherman's Pils a perfect accompaniment to Spicy Salmon

Fisherman’s Pils a perfect accompaniment to Spicy Salmon

This dish with its subtle spicy flavor washes down well with a nice cold fresh tasting medium beer. I had mine with the very pleasant Fisherman’s Pils from Cape Ann Brewing Co. of Cape Ann, Massachusetts. With its dry citrus notes and a very slightly peppery after taste, it worked perfectly with the fish

 

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Hot Toddy for Hogmanay

My co-blogger likes Mulled Wine  but I prefer something a wee bit stronger, after a cold evening outside watching the New Years Eve / Scottish Hogmanay festivities. What better drink can there be after freezing ones fingers off in the wee hours, than a traditional steaming Hot Toddy  combining whisky, exotic spices, a little tea, honey and lemon?

This evening I decided to brew up my Hot Toddy with an English twist. Massive apologies Scottish readers! I was recently given a very unsual bottle of “Chapter 15” Single Malt Whisky distilled by The English Whisky Company of Roudham Norfolk in the East Coast of England, with a pungent and smokey nose, which I thought was just perfect for this  winter drink if you’ve not got a bottle of Islay Malt Whisky to hand

Ingredients

My Hot Toddy Ingredients

My Hot Toddy Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp Whisky (smokey whisky works best)
  • 1 tbsp Earl Grey tea leaves
  • 1 tbsp Honey (I used Mexican Mesquite)
  • Juice of 1/4 of a lemon
  • 1/2 slice of a lemon
  • 1 small Cinnamon stick
  • 2-3 whole Cloves
  • A couple of Juniper berries (crushed)

Method

  • Brew the tea
  • Warm a heat proof glass with boiled water
  • Add the honey, whisky, cloves, cinnamon stick and the berries to the glass
  • Pour the tea into the cup (it should be just off the  boil)
  • Stir and add a lemon slice

Sip it slowly and feel the cockles of your heart reviving as the honey sweetness, combines with the acid lemon and strong flavors of the whisky and spices.  Happy New Year All!

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Mulled Wine – a Lovely Winter Warmer for New Year

It is finally feeling more like Winter in New York,  and also due to be zero degrees C (32F) in London tonight. I wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year and share a great drink perfect to warm you before you go outside to watch the fireworks.

Ingredients

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 1 bottle fruity red wine
  • 4 clementines, juiced
  • 2 clementines, peel and juice
  • 1 lemon -peel only
  • 80-100g (2.8-3.5 oz) demerara sugar
  • 1 large cinnamon stick
  • 2 star anise
  • 3 cardamon pods, cracked
  • large pinch powdered ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon grated fresh nutmeg

Method

  • Add all the ingredients to a large saucepan and heat gently for  20 minutes stirring occasionally.
  • Use 80g sugar initially and add a little more if you prefer it sweeter.
  • You can make in advance, cool & chill in the fridge to re heat later.

For a non alcoholic version:

Use 500ml (17.6 fl oz) clementine juice and 300ml (10.5 fl oz) of pomegranate juice instead of the red wine and demerara sugar. Taste after heating and add some sugar if you prefer sweeter.

Simon & I wish you a very Happy New Year and here’s to more blogging in 2016 from taste2taste.com.