Fish – definitely, one of my favorite types of food. I grew up eating fish at least once a week – my mom used to say that fish was good for the brain; one should eat it to get smarter. :D
I had a very good piece of salmon in my freezer and I decided to use it for dinner. I had Karin’s recipe in mind, but didn’t find goat’s cheese in the supermarket I stopped by. So I opted for something else.
I liked the fish but didn’t like the baked witlof so much. :(
Anyway, this recipe made me glad because I’ve had this book forever but I’d never cooked anything from it.
There are no amounts in this recipe – you’ll have to adapt it to the number of people you want to serve.
Baked salmon and witlof (endive)
from The Cook's Companion
Toss sliced witlof with melted butter and scatter around a slice of raw salmon on a sheet of buttered foil or baking paper. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper.
Fold up the parcel and steam for 5 minutes or bake at 200ºC for 8 minutes – I baked it for 10 minutes but it was not good for my taste. I opened the parcel and baked for another 8 minutes.
Serve with a squeeze of lemon, a garnish of parsley and boiled potatoes – I had mine with chopped carrots, cooked in olive oil and onions, sprinkled with chopped parsley (not pictured).
23 comments:
It always interests me to know what different things are called in different parts of the world. I had to look up witlof because I did not know what it was - it is known as endive here! I'm also going to look for that cookbook - looks very good and interesting!
Pat, I haven't tried baked witlof either. But have heard that baking it is good. A matter of taste I think.
And you really should fly over to Australia to live. You use more recipes from Australian chef than I do. *wink*
Oh interesting I didn't know witlof was endive either. The salmon looks delish. My parents and my bf's parents said the same thing about fish. The omega 3s are really good for a child's developing brain. :D
I had to look up witlof, too! Endive (as we call it) is a very strong-flavored vegetable, so I can understand why you didn't love it with the salmon. But it's such fun to try new combinations.
Endive can be bitter, especially if it isn't blanched before adding to recipe. I like bitter greens, but I'm not sure how I would like it with fish, either. I like it roasted with cheese or doused with lots of creamy vinegar dressing. In any case, fish is good food, so all was not lost.
Yes please to salmon but I'm not that keen on endive, I find it too bitter. I've never had it cooked so maybe I'd like it that way. Amanda
Your salmon dish looks lovely. I don't like endive either - too sweet a tooth!
Salmon and leeks are good together - maybe you could substitute leeks next time?
KJxx
Patricia, I like salmon and endives, but never had them together. I wonder if I will like it....
When I read this post earlier today, I didn't have time to post a comment. I did spend a good deal of time in the car during my errands wondering what in the world "witlof" was. I would have never guessed it was endive! As for the recipe: I wonder if the taste might be more to your liking if you didn't cook the witlof and you let the salmon cool to room temperature...Just wondering.
I'm sorry you did not like the witlof or endive. I do like them and as mari said it would probably taste better if it was not cooked.
It is funny! Even now my mom still tells me that fish is good for the brain. It is true but she was more trying to make me eat sardines, wich I don't like at all. I would rather be dumb than eat sardines. But salmon! and yours especially...gotta have it!
oh yum! endives are one of my favorite veggies! funny anecdote, I hate it when I was a toddler. hated it when I grew up. it's only recent, and having it in salads, that made me love it. ;p
sorry you didn't end up liking it much. next time, I'm sure.
Papillote seems a good cooking method, I'm sure it preserved the flavour of the veg & fish, oh yummms... I so wish I could dig my teeth in your piece of salmon Pat... phewww!!
I agree with you. I´m not a big fan of witlof either. It has a slightly bitter taste which I don´t like, and as Veron writes "tastes better if it was not cooked".
Wrapping fish and vegetables in a parcel, as you did, is a very good thing to do, to keep all the delicious juices.
You did the right thing, Patricia, timing for cooking fish is best done by eye, forgetting about clock timing in recipes.
Love the salmon, Patricia - it looks fantastic! I don't know, either, if I'd like the endive - but I do enjoy endive grilled.. yummy!
xoxo
Sorry you didn't like the endives.... which, by the way, I've never heard called witlof and is a much more amusing name than endive! Isn't it funny how foods have different names all over the place? Like arugula being called rocket, which is also cooler than "arugula."
Ari (Baking and Books)
Steaming fish in a packet does produce nice results - I suppose you could substitute lots of things instead of endive, like dill, celery and other crisp vegetables.
Hmmmm...very interesting recipe indeed.
Salmon is always best cooked this way! The endive I always find to be a little to bitter.
Braised endive is pretty good too :D
Hey, Deborah!
It's an Australian chef, maybe that's why it got a bit confused.
The cookbook is full of recipes but there's no food photos - something that disappointed me a little.
Anh, I'd love to live in Australia, sweetie! I wanted to go there when I was 17 or so but my dad couldn't afford it. But moving go Australia would not be enough now - I want to be your neighbor. :)
Amy, the salmon was good, you're right!
Lydia, I agree - I like experimenting.
Susan, I like the idea of having the bitter greens with cheese! It sounds so good.
Amanda, I think the leeks would be wonderful here.
Kelly-Jane, your idea of using leek is fantastic!
xoxo
Nora, do you like baked endives? I like them raw.
Mari, this witlof thing was a mess! lol
I could try that next time. :)
Veron, I like it raw and will stick to it next time.
Rose, I had a laugh with you - I like sardines! :)
Celine, I made a salad for my husband with the remaining endive and he loved it - he didn't like it until that moment! Same as you! :)
Valentina, I like papillote a lot, too, sweetie. :)
Karin, next time I buy salmon I'll buy it to make your recipe.
Lis, now I want to try it grilled, too! :)
xx
Ari, I like the name "rocket" better, too. :)
T.W., your suggestions sound divine!
Kristen, thank you!!
Freya, I once made it with tomatoes, onions and black olives, with a bit of olive oil, it turned out so delicious!
Jeff, I'd love to try that. :)
I like fish cooked this way, it is usually moist and flavourful just as the one in your pics. I've never hand endive.
I love endive raw and cooked, but cooking it really draws out its subtle bitterness which I love.
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