This a dinner party favourite for me. Simple, delicious and impressive. Always a winner. This also happens to be another Giada creation — I guess at some point I had a love affair with her first cookbook and can’t shake a few of her recipes.
This is also one of the few recipes that I don’t do any variations on. The recipe is great as is. What’s even better is that I usually have the ingredients on hand (except for tomatoes). I also noticed for the first time that the recipe says that you can use canned tomatoes. I NEVER do. It seems like a waste. Fresh tomatoes are so much more lively and have a brighter flavour than any canned tomatoes. So I opt for fresh — even during the winter.
One variation that I’ve been meaning to try is tossing a few capers into the mix. I’m a big fan of capers. And if you were feeling REALLY frisky maybe some chopped black olives. Also if you’re in a pinch and don’t have shallots substitute some onions and garlic. Believe me, it works.
I normally serve this with orzo and garlic sauteed broccoli, but in the photo above I served it with mashed white beans and sauteed swiss chard. The white beans were unimpressive, I just couldn’t get the right consistency no matter what I did.
Salmon Baked in Foil (via Food Network)
4 (5 ounces each) salmon fillets
2 teaspoons olive oil plus 2 tablespoons
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tomatoes, chopped, or 1 (14-ounce) can chopped tomatoes, drained
2 chopped shallots
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.Sprinkle salmon with 2 teaspoons olive oil, salt, and pepper. Stir the tomatoes, shallots, 2 tablespoons of oil, lemon juice, oregano, thyme, salt and pepper in a medium bowl to blend.
Place a salmon fillet, oiled side down, atop a sheet of foil. Wrap the ends of the foil to form a spiral shape. Spoon the tomato mixture over the salmon. Fold the sides of the foil over the fish and tomato mixture, covering completely; seal the packets closed. Place the foil packet on a heavy large baking sheet. Repeat until all of the salmon have been individually wrapped in foil and placed on the baking sheet. Bake until the salmon is just cooked through, about 25 minutes. Using a large metal spatula, transfer the foil packets to plates and serve.
