Category Archives: tomatoes
French Fridays with Dorie: Salmon and Tomatoes en Papillote
Where does the time go? Already, it’s French Friday again. This week, I’ve returned from my trip to D.C., and I’m back in my own kitchen making Salmon and Tomatoes en Papillote.
I’m starting to realize that one of the great things about this cookbook we’re cooking our way through is that so many of the recipes are more about the techniques than the exact ingredients. This recipe, like many others we’ve already made, is a springboard for a myriad of future combinations.
For Salmon and Tomatoes en Papillote, each fish fillet is oven-steamed in its own foil packet along with a handful of seared grape tomatoes, herbs, and lemon. After a short bake in a very hot oven, dinner is ready. It’s fast enough for a weeknight dinner, but elegant enough to serve to company. I served the fish with couscous, the fastest side dish I know.
Because the fish was wrapped up tight in its little packet, I was worried about the cooking time. I went with 12 minutes for 4 ounce fillets. No need to worry, as the fish was perfect. It was just slightly undercooked when I checked one, but, by the time I transferred the fish to plates and got them onto the table, the fish was cooked through the way I like it.
This could be done with any thick fillets, any variety of herbs, and other quick-cooking vegetables. You can always find grape tomatoes at the supermarket, but the vegetables could change with the seasons as well. Harder vegetables would definitely require a little precook so they are done at the same time as the fish.
My basil plants are a little slow to get going this summer, but I have many other herb plants that are going full force, so I used lemon balm leaves instead. My choice complemented the lemon slices, juice, and zest in the packet. I used sprigs of thyme on top.
You could serve the packet right on the plate and let your eaters open up the surprise inside for themselves. I decided it would be prettier to move the contents to the plate.
I ended up making four fillets, two for dinner and two for leftovers. Leftovers weren’t as good. The extra reheat, though brief, was enough to overcook the fish. Better to make this one just in time to serve.
Knowing the other Doristas, there are going to be some great variations to make note of for the next time I make this for dinner, and there will definitely be a next time. This recipe is a winner! Check out other blogger’ links at French Fridays with Dorie.
We don’t post the French Friday recipes, but you can find it on page 302 of Dorie Greenspan’s Around My French Table. This book is filled with so many recipes you’ll want to add to your repertoire. Check it out at the library, or buy your own copy. You won’t be disappointed.
Next week, we’re making a Cold Berry-Melon Soup. This one takes me completely out of my comfort zone, and I know it won’t fly with the other half of my household. Melon is for breakfast, not soup, so, I’ll stay open-minded and see how it works out for me. Until next Friday, have a great week.
Summer Wind Down
I can’t believe it’s already after Labor Day and summer is unofficially over. Next week it will be officially over with the arrival of the Autumn Equinox.
Howard will continue to eat corn until the last sweet ear. We also starting cutting kernels off of cobs and freezing for the winter. This Sunday’s Globe magazine has some amazing-looking corn soup recipes, so I see one of those in our future eating.
I can tell the days for summer tomatoes are numbered, but I’m making the most of them. I made two tasty tomato dishes this week, both worthy of sharing.
First was a spicy tomato pie. It made a great lunch, both fresh out of the oven, and reheated at work. The pie sandwiches fresh tomatoes between a peppery biscuit dough. The tomatoes are covered with grated cheese and a spicy mayonnaise. Howard found it a little too spicy, but I loved it! I used a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom, so my pie only had two layers of tomatoes. If I had used a regular pie pan, which would have been deeper, I could have had more layers.
Spicy Tomato Pie
Adapted from The Good Cook’s Book Of Tomatoes by Michele Anna Jordan
Serves 6-8
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp kosher salt plus more for sprinkling the tomatoes
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2/3 cup milk
3 or 4 medium ripe tomatoes, seeded and sliced
A generous handful of cilantro, chopped coarsely
2 – 4 oz grated smoked cheddar cheese
2/3 cup mayonnaise
1 Tbsp chopped chipotle in adobo sauce
Juice from ½ lime
To make the biscuit crust: Mix together the flour, pepper, salt and baking powder. With your fingers, quickly work the butter into the flour until it is the consistency of coarse-grain sand. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the milk into the well. Using a fork, mix quickly, until the dough comes together. It will be soft and sticky. Turn onto a WELL-floured surface. Knead the dough for about 30 seconds. Then let it rest for 10 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350F. Cut the dough in half. Roll our one half to fit the bottom of a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Line the pan with the dough.
Cover the pie dough in the pan with a layer of tomato slices. Sprinkle with a little kosher salt, and some chopped cilantro. Repeat with another layer. Top the tomatoes with the grated cheese. Thin the mayonnaise with the lime juice and whisk in the chopped chipotle. Spread the mayonnaise mixture over the surface of the pie.
Roll out the other half of the dough and place over the top of the pie, pinching the edges of the top and bottom crust to seal. Cut some slits to allow the steam to escape. If you want to, brush the surface with cream or an egg wash.
Bake until the pie is hot all the way through and the crust is golden, about 25 minutes. Let the pie rest for 15 minutes before serving. Loosen the edges of the tart pan and remove the outside piece (leaving the pie on the base). Cut into wedges to serve.
I also went to a potluck dinner this week, hosted by Teresa from Farm Share Stories Farm Share Stories . She invited the food bloggers who participated in the Loving Local blogathon a few weeks ago to her home. My contribution to the bountiful table of good food was a new bread salad I concocted. The salad was a sort of deconstructed pesto bread salad, with a vivid green basil dressing. I have a new batch of croutons waiting to be made into this salad again for dinner tonight. This time I’m going to try adding a clove of garlic to the dressing to make it more pesto-y.
Deconstructed Pesto Bread Salad
Serves 6-8
For Basil Dressing:
½ cup packed fresh basil leaves
2 Tbsp white wine vinegar
½ cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
For Salad:
4 – 5 cups homemade croutons, ¾ to 1-inch cubes
2 large tomatoes, diced
½ cup diced red onion
½ cup pine nuts, toasted
To make the dressing, combine all the ingredients in the blender and puree until smooth.
To make the salad, place croutons and remaining ingredients in a very large bowl. Toss gently to combine. Add the dressing and toss to coat all ingredients well.
Let the salad sit about 10 minutes before serving so the bread can soften up a bit.
You can prepare the ingredients up to a day ahead of time. Don’t combine the ingredients more than an hour before serving because the salad will get too soggy. Leftovers don’t keep that well.
A Plateful of Happiness 