Cook Like James

Seared Scallops with Fresh Cilantro Pesto

Seared Scallops with Fresh Cilantro Pesto

 These scallops make a great first course, but you can easily serve it as main course by mixing the pesto with pasta. I use cilantro  because it grows so well in the garden, but you can easily substitute your favorite pesto – basil or sun dried tomato would work well.

Download Seared Scallops with Fresh Cilantro Pesto

 1 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves 

¼ cup fresh parsley or baby spinach leaves

1 tablespoon toasted pine nuts 

1-2 medium cloves garlic, chopped coarse

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Pinch of coarse kosher salt 

Pinch of ground black pepper 

1/4 cup olive oil 

 3/4 pound sea scallops, about 16, small side muscles 

1 tablespoon olive oil 

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1.    Pulse cilantro, pine nuts, garlic, zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in bowl of food processor until minced. With processor running, slowly add oil. Process until smooth; set aside.

2.    Sprinkle scallops on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat large (11-inch) sauté pan over medium-high heat until hot, about 1 minute. Add half the oil; swirl to coat bottom. Add butter and continue to heat pan until butter begins to turn golden brown. Add half the scallops, one at a time, flat side down; cook, adjusting heat as necessary to prevent fat from burning, until scallops are well browned, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.

3.Using tongs, turn scallops, one at a time; cook 1 to 1 1/2 minutes longer, depending on size. Repeat cooking process using remaining half of oil and scallops.

4.    Serve 2-3 scallops on a small dollop of pesto. 

 

 

Foil Wrapped Haddock with Fresh Roma Tomatoes and Zucchini

Foil Wrapped Haddock with Fresh Roma Tomatoes and Zucchini

Traditionally this fish would be cooked in parchment paper, and opened at the table (See NY Times article: "The Envelope Please: Cooking En Papillote" )  but I find the task somewhat tedious and prefer the much easier-to-use aluminum foil.  Haddock or Cod work best in this recipe and the few simple ingredients make it easy to throw together – especially in the summer when the zucchini is abundant and the tomatoes are at peak flavor. You can make the fish packets ahead and just bake them when you’re ready for dinner.

Download Foil Wrapped Haddock with Fresh Roma Tomatoes and Zucchini recipe

2 medium zucchini, ends trimmed and sliced crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick rounds

½ pound Roma tomatoes (2 medium), cored, seeded, and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces (about 1 cup)

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)

1 teaspoon minced fresh oregano leaves

1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Sea salt and ground black pepper

4 skinless cod fillets, 1 to 1 1/4 inches thick (about 6 ounces each)

¼ cup minced fresh basil leaves

1 lemon, cut into wedges

1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Mix olive oil, oregano leaves, red pepper, ¼ teaspoon sea salt and pinch of ground pepper in small bowl; set aside.

2. Place chopped tomatoes in a medium bowl and toss with half the garlic mixture. Toss the zucchini with remaining garlic oil mixture.

3. Cut four 12-inch square sheets of foil; arrange four flat on counter. Shingle the zucchini slices in the center of each piece of foil.

4. Pat fish dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper and place fillets on top of zucchini. Divide tomato mixture over each fillet.

5. Bring the sides of the foil up to meet over the fish. Crimp the edges together in a ¼” fold and the fold over 2-3 times. Fold the open edges at both ends of packets to tightly seal.

6. Place packets on rimmed baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes.

7. Carefully open foil, allowing steam to escape away from you. Using thin metal spatula, gently slide fish and vegetables onto plate with any accumulated juices; sprinkle with basil. Serve immediately, passing lemon wedges separately.

 

Quick Easy Balsamic Glazed Seared Salmon

 
Quick Easy Balsamic Glazed Seared Salmon

I made this recently for my friend Robert and we both loved it. It’s incredibly easy to do and is perfect with rice or couscous and a nice green summer vegetable like zucchini or asparagus.Sometimes I serve it with Elie Krieger’s Whole Wheat Penne with Fresh Herbs and Zucchini (see recipe here - http://bit.ly/hvTUP0)

Download Quick Easy Balsamic Glazed Seared Salmon recipe

¼ cup high quality balsamic vinegar

¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice

2 tablespoons maple syrup (Grade B) or honey

1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 sprig fresh rosemary (5-inch)

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

4 skin-on wild Alaskan salmon fillets, 6 ounces each, 1 to 1 1/4 inches thick

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1. Whisk vinegar, juice, maple syrup or honey, and pepper flakes together in small bowl, then add rosemary. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until smoking. Season salmon with salt and pepper and cook, skin side up, without moving, until well browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip fish skin side down and cook until all but very center of fish is opaque, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to platter and tent with foil.

2. Wipe out pan with paper towels and lower heat to medium. Carefully pour balsamic mixture into pan (it will splatter). Maintain a strong simmer over medium to medium high heat until thick and syrupy, about 5 minutes. Remove rosemary sprig. Whisk in butter, season sauce with salt and pepper, and pour over salmon. Serve.

Classic Sole Florentine (Make Ahead)

Classic Sole Florentine (Make Ahead)

This is a classic dish adapted from the Best Make Ahead Recipes cookbook – one of my favorite books. It’s perfect for dinner parties because you can pop the pre-prepared dish in the oven 20 minutes before serving.  Frozen chopped spinach works well, but make sure to squeeze out as much of the water as possible. I usually put it in a fine mesh strainer and press it firmly with a wooden spoon; then press it between layers of paper towel to remove most of the moisture (otherwise it waters down the sauce).

Download Classic Make Ahead Sole Florentine recipe

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 medium shallot, minced (about 3 tablespoons)

2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves

1 small garlic clove, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 1/2 teaspoon)

2 cups heavy cream

4 teaspoons cornstarch

Salt and ground black pepper

2 (10-ounce) packages frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

1 teaspoon minced fresh dill

1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (1/2 cup)

8 sole fillets, 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick

15 Ritz crackers, crushed fine (3/4 cup)

1 lemon, cut into wedges (for serving)

1. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the shallot and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the thyme and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in 1 3/4 cups of the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Whisk the remaining 1/4 cup heavy cream and cornstarch together, then stir into the saucepan. Continue to simmer until the sauce is thickened, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside to cool.

2. Combine 1 cup of the sauce, spinach, dill, and Parmesan in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste. Pat the fish dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Coat a 13 by 9-inch baking dish with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter.

3. Place the fish on a cutting board, smooth side down. Divide the spinach filling equally among the fish fillets, mounding it in the middle of each fillet. Fold the tapered end of the fish tightly over the filling and then fold the thicker end of the fish over the top to make a tidy bundle.

4. Arrange the fish bundles in the baking dish, seam side down (leaving space between each roll). Pour the remaining sauce evenly over the fish.

5. TO STORE: Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

6. TO SERVE: Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 475 degrees. Sprinkle the fish with the Ritz cracker crumbs and bake until all but the very center of the fish turns from translucent to opaque and the filling is hot, about 20 minutes. Serve with the lemon wedges.

 

Easy Salmon and Leek Pot Pie with Puff Pastry

Easy Salmon and Leek Pot Pie with Puff Pastry

This is a great comfort food recipe that’s easy to prepare and is a nice change of pace from the traditional chicken pot pie. It reminds me of the recipe for Fish Pie from J. Sheeky’s in London - a great restaurant in the West End. They use a mix of salmon, cod and haddock in a smooth and silky white sauce topped with creamy mashed potatoes (shepherd’s pie style). (click here for -J. Sheeky's recipe) Instead of potatoes, the topping of choice here is puff-pastry cut-outs, which are easy to make and add an elegant touch to the dish.  

Download Easy Salmon and Leek Pot Pie with Puff Pastry

Topping

Flour for the counter

1 sheet frozen puff pastry (9 1/2- by 9-inch), thawed

1 large egg, lightly beaten

Filling

2 pounds salmon fillets, skin removed (or a combo of salmon, boneless cod and haddock fillet)

6 tablespoons unsalted butter (3/4 stick)

3 leeks, white and light green parts only, halved and sliced 1/4 inch thick

2 cloves garlic, minced

7 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 (8-ounce) bottles clam juice

2 cups whole milk

1 cup frozen peas

¼ cup minced fresh dill

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon English mustard (or Dijon)

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Pinch nutmeg

Pinch cayenne pepper

Lemon wedges (for serving)

For the topping:

1. Adjust an oven rack to the lowest position and heat the oven to 425 degrees. Dust the counter lightly with flour and unfold the sheet of puff pastry. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the pastry into 12 rounds or rectangles. Brush the cut outs lightly with egg, then transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake until the rectangles are puffed and lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Allow to cool on the baking sheet until needed.

For the filling:

1. Reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees. Remove any pin bones from the salmon and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Season the salmon with salt and pepper, then spread it in a 9 by 13-inch baking dish and set aside.

2. Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the leeks and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Stir in the flour and coat the vegetables. Gradually whisk in the clam juice and milk until smooth. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce is thick, about 1 minute.

3. Off the heat, stir in the peas, dill, lemon juice, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, nutmeg, and cayenne. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour the mixture over the salmon in the baking dish. Use a spoon to redistribute the salmon evenly throughout the dish.

4. Arrange the reserved puff-pastry rectangles attractively over the casserole. Bake until the sauce is bubbly and the salmon is fully cooked, 13 to 15 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving with the lemon wedges.

Best Baltimore Crab Cakes with Creamy Chipotle Chile Sauce

 

I've tried crab cakes in most parts of the country, but none taste as good as the ones found in Maryland. They’re known for the large lumps of crab and very little breading, which makes for a spectacular crab cake. Old Bay is a spice staple and key to an authentic recipe. I like to serve them with a spicy chipotle cream sauce, but you can use the more traditional tartar sauce as well.

1 pound jumbo lump crabmeat  

4 scallions, white and green parts, minced (about 1/2 cup)

1 tablespoon fresh parsley leaves or cilantro, dill, or basil, chopped

1 1/2   teaspoons Old Bay seasoning

2-4 tablespoons fresh bread crumbs, (pulse 2 slices quality white bread in food processor)

¼ cup mayonnaise

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

½ teaspoon grated lemon zest

½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 large egg

 

¼ cup unbleached all-purpose flour

¼ cup vegetable oil

1. Carefully mix crabmeat, scallions, herb, Old Bay, bread crumbs, mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, zest, and Worcestershire sauce in medium bowl, being careful not to break up crab lumps. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Carefully fold in egg with rubber spatula until mixture just clings together. Add a few more bread crumbs if needed to help hold mixture together. 

2.    Divide crab mixture into four rounds, about 3 inches across and 1 1/2-inches high. Arrange on baking sheet lined with waxed paper; cover with plastic wrap and chill at least 30 minutes. (Can refrigerate up to 24 hours.) 

3.    Put flour on plate or in pie tin. Handling crab cakes with care, lightly dredge crab cakes in flour. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Gently lay chilled crab cakes in skillet; pan-fry until outsides are crisp and browned, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Serve hot, with sauce. 

Creamy Chipotle Chile Sauce:

¼ cup mayonnaise

¼ cup sour cream

1 tablespoon canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce (minced)

½ tsp. chili powder

1 small clove garlic , minced or pressed through a garlic press

1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro leaves

1 -2 teaspoons lime juice from 1 lime

 

For the sauce: Mix all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until the flavors blend, about 30 minutes. (The sauce can be refrigerated for several days.)

 

 

 

Grilled Salmon with Balsamic Syrup and Fresh Ginger Spaghetti

 

On a recent trip to Sao Paulo, I had an excellent lunch with friends at Restaurant Spot. The NY Times described the crowd as “mostly well-dressed office workers or business people… but it's the evening crowd, however, that keeps Spot buzzing when musicians, designers, models, and other trendy types crowd in to this glass-enclosed downtown cocoon to flirt, schmooze, and preen” We had the Grilled Salmon with Balsamic Syrup with a very tasty ginger spaghetti.  I’ve done my best to recreate the recipe below.   http://www.restaurantespot.com.br/menu.shtml.

 

Grilled Salmon with Balsamic Syrup and Fresh Ginger Spaghetti

 

 

Balsamic Syrup:

 

3 Tablespoons brown sugar

1 cup balsamic vinegar

1/2 small sprig fresh rosemary

 

Combine the balsamic vinegar and brown sugar in a small pan, slowly bring to the boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat, add sprig of rosemary and simmer for 14-18 minutes until thickened and syrupy. Remove rosemary and serve syrup with salmon.

 

Simple Grilled Salmon:

 

4 skinless salmon fillets (6 ounces each)

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

Coarse salt and ground pepper.

 

1.    Heat grill to medium-high. Rub 4 skinless salmon fillets (6 ounces each) with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander; season with coarse salt and ground pepper.

 

2.    Lightly oil grates; place salmon, skinned side up, on grill. Cover grill; cook 5 minutes. Turn fillets; cover, and cook until opaque throughout and flaky, about 4 minutes more. Serve salmon drizzled with Balsamic Syrup

 

Fresh Ginger and Basil Pasta:

 

1 T peeled, roughly chopped fresh ginger

1 T cilantro

3 T fresh basil leaves

2 T finely chopped garlic

3 T olive oil

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

12 oz Spaghetti or pasta of choice

 

Put the ginger, cilantro, basil, garlic and olive oil in a food processor, and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Set the sauce aside.

 

Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil, add a generous teaspoon of sea salt, and cook the pasta according to the instructions on the packet. Reserve ¼ cup pasta water and then drain in colander. Return the pasta to the saucepan, and add the sauce. Toss well, adding some reserved pasta water if needed to thin sauce.

 

 

 

Southern Style Shrimp and Cheesy Grits for Two

 

Uglesich's Restaurant in New Orleans (Uglesich website) serves one of the best shrimp and grits that I ever tasted, although, just about everything there was incredible. This recipe, which follows a method from America’s Test kitchen, is pretty easy to throw together and makes a great quick dinner for two.

 Download Southern Style Shrimp and Grits for Two recipe

8 ounces shrimp (large size 31-40 per pound), peeled and deveined

1 tablespoon Olive Oil

1 minced garlic clove

pinch of Cayenne pepper

¼ - ½ tsp. Cajun Seafood seasoning

Salt and pepper

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 small onion minced (about ½ cup)

1 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup Heavy Cream

1/2 teaspoon hot sauce

½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup Quick Grits (Quick not instant grits is key)

4 oz extra-sharp shredded cheddar cheese, shredded

1 green onion sliced thin

 1.  Adjust oven rack to the middle and heat oven to 375 degrees

2.  Toss the shrimp with the oil, garlic, cayenne, Cajun seasoning and season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate will making the grits. 

3.  Melt butter in a 10 inch skillet over medium heat.  Add onion and cook until soften stirring frequently, 4- 5 minutes.

4.  Stir in water, cream, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper and bring to a boil.

5.  Slowly whisk in grits, reduce heat to low and cook, stirring often until grits are thick and creamy, 5-7 minutes.

6.  Remove from heat and whisk in cheddar until combined.

7.  Lay shrimp on their sides in a pinwheel (circle the skillet with tails in middle) over the grits then press on them slightly to submerge about halfway down.

8.  Transfer skillet to oven and bake until shrimp are cooked through, about 5 – 7 minutes. Sprinkle with scallions and serve.

 

 

Homemade Fish Sticks

This is a quick and easy recipe for fish – and it’s great for kids – reminiscent of the ever popular chicken fingers.

 

Download Homemade Fish Sticks

 

1 egg

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

2 cups Panko breadcrumbs

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 1/2 pounds fish fillets, cod, haddock, orange roughy or other mild fish

3 tablespoons flour

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted (optional)

Tartar sauce, for serving

 

1.    Put an oven rack near the top of the oven. Preheat oven to 450°F, with a baking sheet inside.

 

2.    Use a fork to beat the egg together with the mayonnaise and mustard. Mix breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan in a shallow dish and season it with a bit of salt and pepper too. Cut fish fillets into 1-inch-thick by 4-inch-long pieces. Pat off extra moisture with paper towels, and toss cod pieces in flour.

 

3.    With one hand, dip a piece of cod into the egg mixture and put it on the breadcrumbs. With the other hand, coat each piece with breadcrumbs. Stack breaded cod pieces on a plate, repeating until all the cod is breaded.

 

4.    Remove the hot baking sheet from the oven, pour on the olive oil and butter, if using. Arrange the cod pieces in a single layer. Bake until just cooked through, flipping halfway through, about 4 minutes per side for thick pieces, 2 to 3 minutes for thinner ones. Serve with tartar sauce or favorite dipping sauce.

 

Best Maine Lobster Roll

The Best Maine Lobster Roll

  Download The Best Maine Lobster Roll Recipe

 

I was walking through my local farmer’s market today and saw a new vendor called the Maine Connection Seafood Company.( http://www.maineconnectionseafood.com)  The prize on their table was fresh Maine lobster – flown to LA the same day that it is caught from the family run fishing business. Of course, you can buy a whole lobster and cook it yourself, but this is so convenient and incredibly fresh. Lobster rolls in Maine are almost always made with a top split hot dog bun, but they’re nearly impossible to find in California.

 

8 ounces cooked fresh lobster, refrigerated

2-3 tablespoons mayonnaise

Salt and freshly ground pepper

1 rib celery, finely diced

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons finely chopped chives or tarragon

1 scallion, finely chopped, white and light green part only

2 hot dog buns, preferably top split (or brioche roll)

1 tablespoons unsalted butter, soft

Boston lettuce

 

1.    Cut the lobster meat into 1/2-inch pieces and place in a large bowl, and mix with the mayonnaise and season with salt and pepper. Fold in the diced celery, lemon juice, chives, and scallion pepper until well blended.

 

2.    Heat a large skillet. Butter the sides of the hot dog buns with the butter and grill over moderate heat until golden brown on both sides. Transfer the hot dog buns to plates, add lettuce and place the lobster salad and serve immediately.