COCONUT-DILL SALMON WITH GREEN BEANS AND CORN

Posted in Seafood by sallybr

Huge thank you to my dear friend Margie, who recommended this recipe. In fact, she often sends me recipes she loves, and they are always winners. This one I found particularly unusual because apart from the use of dill, which is a traditional match with salmon, corn and green beans seemed unexpected to me. And you know what? They work like a charm! Margie is a fantastic cook, world-traveler and great writer. I take this opportunity to share her substack site (click here), so you can subscribe (it is free!) and read about her adventures.

COCONUT-DILL SALMON WITH GREEN BEANS AND CORN
(slightly modified from New York Times)

1 (2-pound) salmon fillet (skin on or off)
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut cream
1tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tsp sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 lemon
chopped fresh dill to taste (you can use up to 1/2 cup)
8 ounces green beans, trimmed
1 cup fresh corn kernels
1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced into halves or quarters if large

Heat an outdoor grill. Pat the fish dry with paper towels and place on a large strip of heavy-duty aluminum foil on a sheet pan. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil and sprinkle lightly with salt.

In a small bowl, combine the coconut cream, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, 1 tablespoon oil, salt and pepper. Zest the lemon right into the bowl and squeeze in 1 tablespoons juice. Stir in the fresh dill. Pour half of the dressing over the fish and set the other half aside. Wrap the fish in the foil by turning up the sides and crimping them together to form a packet.

On another large strip of foil, toss the green beans with oil and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Wrap the beans in the foil to form a packet. Place both the salmon and green bean packets on the grill and cover if using a gas grill. Grill until the green beans and salmon are cooked through, about 10 minutes. Transfer the fish packet to a large serving platter and open the top.

Open the green bean packet, transfer the beans to a large bowl and add the corn, tomatoes, more fresh dill, half of the reserved dressing and a pinch of salt. Toss to coat. To serve, top the fish with some of the vegetables and remaining dressing.

ENJOY!

to print the recipe, click here

Comments: I had never grilled green beans in a packet like that, and loved the result, it is so easy and mess-free, I will be making it often, whenever the main dish involves grilling. The salmon, cooked in the foil, developed a very soft texture, with the nice added bonus of the coconut sauce, a bit on the sweet-and-sour path. Perfect! If you have a ton of dill available use it, I did not and was a bit shocked at the price of dill at the grocery store, so I reduced the amount considerably. Margie told me she made the recipe again and used cilantro, and thought it was a nice twist, consider that as another possibility. Hardest part of the recipe? Getting the corn kernels off the cob, I am not particularly fond of that, but nothing beats the freshness of corn prepared that way. Go for it. I do have a perfect tool to help that job, so not sure why I am winning….

Margie, thanks for always inspiring me!

1 YEAR AGO: Salmon and Baby Bok Choy over Sushi Rice

2 YEARS AGO: The Pizzsalad

3 YEARS AGO: Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken Breasts with Pickled Jalapeños

4 YEARS AGO: Dressing Up the Roll Cakes

5 YEARS AGO: Roasted Carrot and Barley Salad

6 YEARS AGO: Ode to Halva

7 YEARS AGO: Brazilian Pao de Queijo (re-blogged)

8 YEARS AGO: Apricot Linzer Torte

9 YEARS AGO: A Trio of Air-Fried Goodies

10 YEARS AGO: Focaccia with Grapes, Roquefort and Truffled Honey

11 YEARS AGO: Moroccan Carrot Dip Over Cucumber Slices

12 YEARS AGO: White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

13 YEARS AGO: Cilantro-Jalapeno “Hummus”

14 YEARS AGO:A Moving Odyssey

15 YEARS AGO:Hoegaarden Beer Bread

16 YEARS AGO: Ancho-Chile Marinade: Pleased to Meat you!

17 YEARS AGO: Shrimp Moqueca

5Jun2026

THE BEAUTY OF VELVETING

Posted in Seafood by sallybr

Oriental-style stir fries are often part of our rotation meals for dinner. Usually chicken or shrimp as the main protein. Shrimp cooks super fast, I usually brine it and incorporate it into the wok, and that does prevent it from getting tough and dry. But if you want the most perfect and succulent texture, look no further: go for the traditional Chinese method of velveting. It can be done in oil or water, I always opt for the latter. Once you have velveted shrimp, it can sit at room temperature for an hour without problems. Just use it in any recipe and be ready to fall in love…

SHRIMP STIR-FRY WITH BROCCOLI AND CASHEWS
(from The Bewitching Kitchen)

for velveting the shrimp:
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sherry
1 large egg white, whisked briefly
1 + 1/2 Tablespoon cornstarch
1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 pound large shrimp, peeled and de-veined
1 medium head of broccoli florets
1/2 yellow bell pepper, sliced thin
2 stalks celery, cut in 1/4 inch slices
Cashews, lightly toasted
peanut oil, about 3 tablespoons
1 Tablespoon toasted sesame oil
salt and black pepper to taste

finishing sauce:
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup soy sauce or tamari
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce (or more to taste)
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon minced ginger
2 teaspoons arrowroot powder

Place the shrimp in a bowl. Sprinkle the salt and sherry, gently mix. Add the egg white, cornstarch and olive oil, stir well but gently. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Bring a pot with water to a gentle boil, add a smidgen of olive oil and then place the shrimp straight from the fridge in the water. Stir gently so they do not stick to each other. Simmer for a couple of minutes and immediately drain in a colander. Rinse very briefly with cold water to stop the cooking, and reserve until time to finish the recipe. You can do this step one hour in advance.

Mix all ingredients for the finishing sauce and reserve. Place the broccoli and a sprinkle of water in a microwave safe bowl, season gently with salt. Microwave for 2 minutes, drain, and reserve.

Heat the peanut oil in a wok, when smoking hot add the celery and yellow bell pepper. Season lightly with salt and pepper. When very fragrant and the veggies are soft, add the broccoli and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add the velveted shrimp, cook gently for another minute or so. Whisk the prepared finishing sauce and pour into the wok, bring to a boil. Cook until thickened and well combined with the ingredients. Sprinkle toasted cashews on top and serve, adjusting seasoning if so desired.

ENJOY!

to print the recipe, click here

Comments: If you love stir-fries, I urge you to incorporate the velveting step to make your recipe even more special. Phil tasted it and immediately said “You nailed this one!” Indeed, you cannot beat the texture of these babies. You can use any recipe you like, and also do the exact same process (minus the cornstarch) to velvet chicken. I never use oil because I refuse to have to deal with a large amount of leftover oil, particularly if used for seafood. But your kitchen, your rules. I don’t think the oil method will produce a better outcome anyway. We enjoyed it with some brown rice and ate like Royals of The Ming Dynasty! Or so it seemed to us…

1 YEAR AGO: Chocolate-Covered Oreos and a Virtual Party!

ON2E YEARS AGO: Chicken Fajita Bites and a Cookbook Review

3 YEARS AGO: Oreo Balls, Fun and Easy

4 YEARS AGO: Pork with Prunes

5 YEARS AGO: Honeyed-Jalapenos on Spelt Pizza

6 YEARS AGO: Bulgur and Chickpea Salad with Pomegranate Seeds

7 YEARS AGO: Purple Star Macarons

8 YEARS AGO: Smoked Salmon, Fait Maison

9 YEARS AGO: Kouign-Amann, Fighting Fire with Fire

10 YEARS AGO: In My Kitchen, Yin and Yang

11 YEARS AGO: Chocolate Toffee Banana Bread

12 YEARS AGO: In My Kitchen, June 2014

13 YEARS AGO: Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

14 YEARS AGO: Baked Coconut and “The Brazilian Kitchen”

15 YEARS AGO: Honey-Glazed Chicken Legs

16 YEARS AGO: French-Style Rolls

28Mar2026

SALMON BOWL WITH BROWN RICE AND MANGO

Posted in Air-Frying, Rice and Grains, Seafood by sallybr

This goes into our rotation for sure! The recipe for the salmon has been in my blog for a while and it is indeed something I cook often. But today I share one awesome way to enjoy it. Do not omit the mango pieces, and I actually strongly advise you to get frozen fruit. I am so tired of buying fresh mangoes just to be disappointed at the texture or taste. As long as you are careful about how you de-frost it, it will work perfectly (see the comments).

SALMON BOWL WITH BROWN RICE AND MANGO
(from The Bewitching Kitchen)

1 recipe for salmon bites (click here)
1 + 1/2 cups cooked brown rice
avocado slices
cucumber slices, salted and rinsed
fresh mango pieces
1/8 cup olive oil
juice of 1/2 lemon
salt and pepper to taste

Prepare a quick dressing with the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Amounts are flexible. You want enough to coat the fruit and veggies.

Place the cooked brown rice, still warm, in the center of a serving bowl, using a small bowl to shape it. Add the fruit and veggies around, drizzling the dressing all over them, and arrange the salmon pieces together as shown in the picture.

Serve right away.

ENJOY!

to print the recipe, click here

Comments: To use frozen mango, remove the amount you need from the package and lay over a paper towel to defrost. Do it about 30 minutes before your meal. By the time you plate it, it will be close to room temperature, still a bit cold in the center, but the texture won’t suffer. This was a delicious meal, very easy to put together, I highly recommend you give it a try. If you don’t have an air-frier, you can grill the salmon or roast it in the oven.

ONE YEAR AGO: A Cotton Candy Duet

TWO YEARS AGO: Helen Fletcher’s Pineapple Kolache

THREE YEARS AGO: Blood Orange and Cranberry Mini-Cakes

FOUR YEARS AGO: Simnel Cupcakes

FIVE YEARS AGO: Oat and Sesame Seed Sourdough

SIX YEARS AGO: Moroccan Turkey Pie with Olive Oil Crust

SEVEN YEARS AGO: Another Twisted Sister of the Shepherd’s Pie

EIGHT YEARS AGO: Cashew Chicken, My Way

NINE YEARS AGO: Two Deliciously Simple Salads

TEN YEARS AGO: In My Kitchen, April 2016

ELEVEN YEARS AGO: Spring has Sprung with Suzanne Goin

TWELVE YEARS AGO: Chai Brownies

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO: Pomegranate-Molasses Glazed Carrots

FOURTEEN YEARS AGO: Braised Brisket with Bourbon-Peach Glaze

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO: The Real Vodka Sauce

SIXTEEN YEARS AGO: Spring Rolls on a Spring Day

21Nov2025

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Posted in Seafood, Soups, Veggies by sallybr

And a truly amazing idea for leftovers… Read on!

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP
(adapted from Naturally Nidhi)

roasting mixture:
1 medium butternut squash , cut in half
2 tbsp walnuts
3 medium Roma tomatoes , cut into halves
1 large yellow onion, halved
2-3 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp Herbes de Provence

soup base:
1 + 1/2 cups water
1 cup milk
salt , to taste
1/2 tsp garam masala

toppings:
roasted pumpkin seeds
sourdough croutons
grated cheese
heavy cream or thinned yogurt drops

Heat oven to 400°F.

On a large baking tray, arrange the butternut squash halves, walnuts, tomatoes, and onion halves. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle salt, black pepper, and Herbes de Provence. Roast for 45 to 50 minutes, depending on your oven, until soft. Scoop out the roasted squash. Add all the roasted ingredients to a blender, Vitamix works best.

Pour in 1½ cups water and blend until smooth. Add more water if needed. Transfer the blended puree into a pot. Add 1 cup milk first, then more as needed to adjust the consistency. Season with Garam masala, adjust salt if needed. Warm gently for a few minutes, but do not let it boil.

Pour the soup into bowls. Add toppings, decorate with drops of heavy cream or thinned yogurt. Serve.

ENJOY!

to print the recipe, click here

Comments: This is an amazing soup, the taste is complex, warm, absolutely wonderful on a chilly evening. If you protect the walnuts under the little hole of the butternut squash, they won’t burn during the roasting time. If some are left unprotected, check after 25 minutes or so, and remove when nicely roasted but not burned.

And now for leftovers… Full credit for the husband not only for the idea but the execution. Phil grilled lobster tails and used the meat to bring the soup back to center stage. It was absolutely outstanding! I highly recommend this combination, blew my culinary mind. To decorate, I used chili oil drops. Those little tiny drops pack a punch. A nice ingredient to have around. Big thank you to Naturally Nidhi for the recipe.

ONE YEAR AGO: A Duet of Veggies

TWO YEARS AGO: That Turkey Bread

THREE YEARS AGO: Compressed Eggplant and Gruyere Slices

FOUR YEARS AGO: Charcoal-Painted Spelt Sourdough

FIVE YEARS AGO: Lime-Ganache Bonbons

SIX YEARS AGO: The Dobos Torte

SEVEN YEARS AGO: Coffee-Caramel Entremet Cake

EIGHT YEARS AGO: Fennel Soup with Almond-Mint Topping

NINE YEARS AGO: Eataly

TEN YEARS AGO: Spaghetti Squash Perfection

ELEVEN YEARS AGO: Skinny Eggplant Parmigiana

TWELVE YEARS AGO: Supernova Meets Wok

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO: 500 Posts and The Best Thing I ever made

FOURTEEN YEARS AGO: Back in Los Angeles

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO: White House Macaroni and Cheese

SIXTEEN YEARS AGO: Korean-Style Pork with Asian Slaw

4Nov2025

INCREDIBLY SIMPLE SHRIMP AND SQUASH DINNER

Posted in Incredibly simple, Seafood, Side dishes, Veggies by sallybr

For a light version, pair the shrimp with spaghetti squash. To go for the kill, serve with a hearty helping of fettuccine… Two super easy recipes that we absolutely loved!

Let’s start with the main dish…

SAUTEED SHRIMP WITH LEMON-CAPER DRESSING
(adapted from The New York Times)

4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
¼ cup lemon juice
2 very thin slices of lemon, deseeded and coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped dill
1 tablespoon capers or more, coarsely chopped
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Kosher salt

to brine the shrimp (optional, but recommended)
1 qt water
1/4 cup Kosher salt
squeeze of lemon juice

Brine the shrimp by soaking in the solution for 30 to 45 minutes. Drain, rinse lightly and pat dry with a paper towel. Reserve.

In a large bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons olive oil with the lemon juice, chopped lemon, dill, and capers; set aside.

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium skillet over medium. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring occasionally, until pink and lightly browned on the edges, 3 to 4 minutes.

Transfer the shrimp to the bowl with the lemon dressing and toss to coat. The shrimp can be served right away, over pasta, rice, or any side dish you desire.

ENJOY!

to print the recipe, click here

SUPER SIMPLE SPAGHETTI SQUASH

To get the original recipe, click here

I don’t think I will ever use another method to make it. The only tricky part is slicing it, BUT if you poke a few holes with a fork around the skin and microwave it for 5 minutes, slicing is easy.

Place crosswise slices (about 1.5 inches thick) over a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Remove the seeds with a spoon. Drizzle some olive oil, salt and pepper, rubbing the slices to coat slightly.

Bake at 400F for about 40 minutes, flipping the slices midway through roasting.

Use a fork to shred the squash while still warm in the pan.

Comments: The shrimp preparation is delicious, I’ve made it three times in the past month, so I highly recommend you give it a try. As to the squash, I love how each little portion is perfect for a single serving. You can do that and follow with recipes that use the squash in little muffin tins with a bit of tomato sauce, or an egg, there are countless options out there in the blogosphere and Pinterest universe. It ends up with perfect texture.

ONE YEAR AGO: Japanese Vegetarian Curry

TWO YEARS AGO: Butter Chicken Meatballs

THREE YEARS AGO: Lace-Decorated Sourdough

FOUR YEARS AGO: Incredibly Simple Carrots

FIVE YEARS AGO: Sarah Bernhardt’s Cookies

SIX YEARS AGO: A Really Big Announcement

SEVEN YEARS AGO: Stir-Fried Chicken in Sesame-Orange Sauce

EIGHT YEARS AGO: Monday Blues

NINE YEARS AGO: A New Way to Roast Veggies

TEN YEARS AGO: Two Takes on Raspberries

ELEVEN YEARS AGO: Spice Cake with Blackberry Puree

TWELVE YEARS AGO: Own Your Kitchen with Cappuccino Panna Cotta