Walnut Encrusted Salmon with White Wine Mushrooms...

Its time to eat fish! Don't be scared of it but rather just try it! This is a simple recipe, full in flavor, and rich in nutrients! Fish is lean, so it is less fatty than red meat or pork and it full of "good fats" called omega-3. This dish is good for you and has the potential to become your families favorite!

Let's get cooking!

Walnut Encrusted Salmon with White Wine Mushrooms (and Yorkshire Pudding)

Salmon with onion-garlic-butter mixture and nuts...ready to be baked

You can tell it has been cooked because it has turned opaque orange

White wine mushroom mixture

Time to EAT!

Walnut Encrusted Salmon and White Wine Mushrooms

Author: Brenna Bowers

Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients:

16 oz. fresh caught salmon (with skin) (about 1” to 1 ½” thickness) (about 4 oz per person) (Tip 1)

3 Tablespoons butter, divided

1 small white onion, minced and divided

3 cloves of garlic, minced and divided

1-2 springs fresh rosemary, minced

3 leaves fresh basil, chopped finely

½ cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped

1 Tablespoon olive oil

2 cups mushrooms, sliced thin

Salt and pepper

½ cup white wine

½ cup Milk (2 percent is best)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

In a small pan, melt 2 Tablespoons of the butter over the stove. Add in half of the minced garlic, half of the chopped onion, all of the fresh rosemary, basil, and add in a pinch of salt and pepper. Allow the mixture to cook on low heat about 2 minutes or until the butter begins to smell fragrant and sweet (pull from the heat if the butter or onions start to brown).

Place tin foil on a baking sheet, spray with olive oil and place the salmon skin side down. Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel. Pour the butter-onion-garlic mixture over the fish and spread evenly. Place the toasted walnuts on top and press them lightly onto the salmon. Place into the oven for 12-18 minutes. (Tip 2)

In a large sauce pan, add the remaining 1 Tablespoon of butter, 1 Tablespoon of olive oil, the other half of the chopped onions, and all of the mushrooms. On low and slow heat, sauté the mushrooms (they should begin to melt down and shrink in size as they release their juices). After about 5 minutes, add in the garlic, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally for 2 more minutes and add in the white wine. Allow the mixture to simmer for 5 minutes and then add in the milk. Stir this mixture and cook until the mushrooms are tender and the sauce thickens and reduces (about 10 minutes or more).

Assembly:

Cut the salmon into serving sizes, leaving the skin on or off depending on your preference. Place the salmon on each plate and top with the mushroom mixture.

*I served my meal with Yorkshire Pudding” on the side

Tip 1: To choose a good salmon, look for the bright color orange, you do not want it to look slimy or feel slimy (that would mean it’s a little old).

Tip 2: To know when your salmon is ready, you want to look for the color of the fish to turn form vibrant dark orange to a lighter and opaque orange color. Poke a knife into the center of the thickest part of the fish and look to see if the color has changed all the way through. Remove from the oven as soon as the color has changed almost completely through and cover with foil. Let the fish rest on the counter about 5 minutes to allow it to finish cooking and retain the juices.