Panko Crusted Salmon with Warm Lentil Salad

Today's posting includes two delicious recipes from Ina Garten — Panko Crusted Salmon and Warm Lentil Salad. They go so well together that I can't resist including both! The salmon dish is quick and easy but loaded with flavor, and the same goes for the lentil salad. Use the French green Le Puy lentils if you can find them, it's worth it. The salmon can be made a few hours ahead, just get them ready and refrigerate. The lentils can be served warm or at room temperature and make great leftovers.

Panko Crusted Salmon Recipe

Ready for the oven

For two servings:
1/3 c. panko
1 T. minced fresh parsley
1 tsp. grated lemon zest
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 T. olive oil
(2) 6 to 8 ounce salmon fillets, skin on
1 T. Dijon mustard
1 T. vegetable oil
Lemon wedges

Preheat the oven to 425-degrees.

In a small bowl mix the panko, parsley, lemon zest, 1/4 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Add the olive oil and stir until the crumbs are evenly coated. Set aside. Salt and pepper the top of the salmon fillets, then generously brush with mustard. Press the panko mixture thickly on top of the mustard (it helps the panko adhere). Heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a cast iron skillet. When the oil is very hot, add the salmon fillets, skin side down, and sear for 4 minutes, without turning, to brown the skin. Transfer the pan to the hot oven for 7 minutes until the salmon is cooked and the panko is browned. Remove from the oven, cover with foil, and let it rest for 5 minutes. Serve the salmon hot or at room temperature with lemon wedges.

Warm Lentil Salad

2 T. + 1/4 c. olive oil
1 leek, white and light green parts, sliced 1/4-inch thick
1 tsp. garlic, minced
1 c. French green Le Puy lentils
1 small to medium onion, peeled and stuck with 6 whole cloves
1/2 of a large white turnip, peeled
1 tsp. butter
heaping tablespoon of Dijon mustard
2 T. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Heat 2 T. olive oil in a medium sauce pan, add the leek and carrots, and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute, take off the heat and set aside.

In a large saucepan add the lentils, 4 cups of water, the onion studded with cloves, and the turnip and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 20-25 minutes (you want the lentils al dente, not mushy). Remove the turnip and onion (take out the cloves and discard) and drain the lentils. Put the lentils in the sauce pan with the leek and carrots and add the butter. Stir well. When cool enough to handle, chop the onion and turnip and add to the lentil mixture.

In a small bowl add the mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper and whisk until incorporated. Add the olive oil and whisk again. Add to the lentils, stir well, and allow to cool until just warm. Before serving taste and add salt and/or pepper, if needed.

– Ina Garten, Food Network

Roasted Cauliflower, Sausage & Green Olives

This is a simple but flavorful dish that you'll enjoy again and again. It's definitely going in my weekly menu rotation. Serve alone, on rice, or with a tasty gazpacho or other first course soup. Based on Chef Yotam Ottolenghi's recipe, I highly recommend his cookbooks, and check out his recipes at The Guardian (they also have an app). Well worth it. The guy is a creative genius and works magic with vegetables.

Recipe

1 large head of cauliflower, broken into bite-size florets
6 oz. Field Roast Mexican Chipotle Vegan Sausages (2 links), cut in chunks
1 large red onion, cut in wedges
1/4 c. pitted green olives, cut in half
2 cloves garlic, peeled, smashed and cut in quarters
2 T. pumpkin seeds
2 tsp. sweet smoked paprika
3 T. olive oil
1-1/2 tsp. salt
freshly ground pepper to taste
3 T. chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

Preheat oven to 425-degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Put all ingredients, except parsley, in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Pour the ingredients onto the baking sheet and spread out to one layer. Roast for 30 minutes, stirring ingredients after about 15 minutes, until cauliflower is softened and getting some color. Remove from oven, let cool for about 10-15 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.

– based on recipe by Yotam Ottolenghi

Eggs Jeanette

A nice (and very simple) first course or light supper for Easter. Serve with chilled pinot grigio and fresh, warm French bread. This is a recipe that Jacques' mother used to make when he was a child.

Recipe

6 hard cooked eggs, peeled
1 to 2 T. milk
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 T. fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1-1/2 T. peanut oil

DRESSING:
2 T. reserved egg yolk mixture from above
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 tsp. red wine vinegar
1 T. water
pinch of salt
pinch of freshly ground black pepper
1/4 c. grapeseed oil (or olive oil)

Cut the eggs in half, remove yolks and mash with a fork, or put through a food mill. Chop the garlic with the parsley and mix in with the yolks, then add the milk, garlic, salt and pepper – mixture should be moist and hold together. Stuff the whites with the yolk mixture, reserving about 2 T. for the dressing. Don't pile the filling too high, level off before frying so they sit flat in the skillet.

Heat the oil in a non-stick skillet. When the oil is hot add the egg halves, stuffed side down, and fry over medium heat for 2 minutes until browned (do not cook the white side!).

Make the dressing by adding all of the ingredients (except the oil) in a food processor. With the machine running, slowly pour in the oil and mix until well incorporated. Pour the dressing on a flat plate and arrange the eggs on top.

– Jacques Pépin, "Essential Pépin"

Curry Crab Strudel

I've been wanting to try this recipe for quite some time and today's the day! I.LOVE.CRAB. There's a local fish truck in my neighborhood selling fresh Dungeness crabmeat at $35 per pound, so this recipe is a bit on the expensive side – but it's time to splurge and the flavor is worth it. I got about 18 pieces out of this recipe and served it as hors d'oeuvres with a crisp Oregon Dobbes Estate "Wine by Joe" 2012 Pinot Gris. Happy happy!

Watch Ina make this delicious recipe here (starts at approx. 6:05 minutes in)

Recipe

Ready for the oven

1 cube unsalted butter
3 scallions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. curry powder
1 pound lump crabmeat (drained and picked over to remove any shells)
3 T. fresh Italian parsley, chopped
1 lime, juiced
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
10 sheets phyllo dough (thaw overnight in refrigerator; take out of refrigerator 30 minutes before using)
1/2 c. plain dry bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 400-degrees.

Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a medium saute pan, add the scallions and cook over medium-low heat – a few minutes in, add the garlic and continue until scallions are softened, about 5 minutes total. Add the curry powder and stir. Remove from heat.

Shred the crabmeat into a bowl and mix with the parsley, lime juice, salt (to taste), and pepper. Stir in the scallion/curry powder mixture.

Melt the rest of the butter in a small saucepan and set aside. Unfold 1 sheet of the phyllo dough. Brush the sheet with melted butter and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Repeat this process by laying a second sheet of phyllo over the first sheet, brush with melted butter and sprinkle with bread crumbs until 5 sheets have been used. Spoon a 1-inch wide row of the crab mixture (half of the crab mixture) along the long edge of the phyllo dough. Roll it up tightly. Repeat the process with 5 more sheets and the other half of the crab mixture.

Cover a sheet pan with parchment paper and lay the crab strudel on top. With a sharp knife, score the strudel diagonally into 1-1/2-inch pieces a little more than halfway through. Brush outside with more melted butter. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned. Slice and serve.

Ina Garten "Barefoot Contessa," Food Network

Summer Squash Goat Cheese Custard

This custard has a wonderfully mild, summery flavor. I served it with Pistachio Crusted Salmon and a Vegan Caesar Salad, but it would be very nice for a luncheon or light dinner.

Recipe

2 large yellow squash, sliced in 1/2" rounds (about 4 cups)
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
3 oz. goat cheese
3 T. butter
1/4 c. cornmeal
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. half and half
3 T. chopped fresh dill, plus sprigs for garnish (or use parsley or tarragon)
1 T. sugar
1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400-degrees. Put the squash and onion in a large saucepan with enough water to cover. Cook over medium-high heat, covered, until the squash are tender, about 15 minutes. Strain well and mash slightly with a potato masher or fork. Add the goat cheese and butter while still hot and stir until melted. Mix in the cornmeal, eggs, milk, dill, sugar, salt, and pepper.

Pour into an 8"x8" baking dish, or six individual ramekins that have been coated with butter. Bake at 400-degrees for 40 minutes (35 minutes for the ramekins) or until golden brown on top. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Cottage Cheese Dip

I found the recipe for this simple, yet spectacular dip/spread on numerous websites. Onceuponachef.com says that it comes from a restaurant where she used to work – L'Auberge Chez Francois outside of Washington DC. So few ingredients but packed with flavor and absolutely sublime on toasted baguette or crackers!

Recipe

16 oz. 4% small-curd, cream-style cottage cheese
2/3 c. sour cream
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp. finely minced garlic
1 T. finely minced shallots
1 T. finely minced chives
1 T. finely minced parsley

Mix the cottage cheese and sour cream until well blended, then stir in the rest of the ingredients. Cover and keep in the refrigerator – it gets better the longer it is chilled – if you can wait that long!