Blackened Salmon Tostadas

Another wedding recipe... this was the recipe I asked the lodge to make as a passed appetizer. This is one of our household favs -- inspired by the great Ivar's Salmonhouse here in Seattle. You can get the larger sized tostada shells and make them more meal-sized. Sometimes I top them with a spicy cilantro aioli that I will add to the blog whenever I make it next. Something about the spice of the blackened seasoning combined with the cooling creamy cilantro flavors... so delicious. Pic coming soon!

Mini Blackened Salmon Tostadas

Ingredients

12 oz wild salmon fillet
1 15oz can refried black beans
1 medium sized avocado, cubed & divided
1 cup pico de gallo salsa (or any red salsa)
Handful of chopped fresh cilantro
12 3-inch mini tostada shells
12 lime wedges, for serving
Cajun blackening seasoning

Directions

• Heat beans over med-low heat until creamy.
• Coat flesh side of salmon fillet with blackening seasoning.
• On either a hot grill or a heated cast iron skillet with 3-4 tbsps canola oil (medium heat)
• Flash cook salmon, flesh side down for 2-3 minutes. Turn salmon over and grill/cook until skin gets crispy, about 5-6 minutes.
• To assemble tostadas, spread black beans over each tostada. Top with 1 oz salmon, avocado chunks and about a tablespoon of salsa. Garnish with cilantro and serve with lime wedges.

Makes 12 tostadas.

Plat du Jour

I modeled this recipe after a shrimp & grits dish I had at this amazing Cajun restaurant recently -- in Seattle of all places. Thankfully my years of waiting tables at Pappadeaux in Texas served me well because this turned out amazing. I was really happy with it. Anyways, here it is, hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Cajun-style Shrimp & Grits

Ingredients

Shrimp Mixture

½ lb gulf shrimp

1 link Cajun andouille sausage (pre-cooked), sliced diagonally

5 garlic cloves, minced finely

1 tbs fresh thyme leaves

½ onion, chopped

Handful of finely chopped fresh parsley

½ cup chopped green onion (white & green parts)

½ cup dry white wine

2 tbs olive oil

juice of 1 lemon  + lemon wedges for garnish

Cajun seasoning

Grits

¾ cup stone-ground grits

2 ½ cups water

½ cup skim milk

1 cup sharp aged cheddar cheese

½ cup parmesan cheese

2 tbs butter

sea salt + fresh ground pepper

Directions

Shrimp Mixture

1.     Throw shrimp in a zip lock bag and squeeze half of lemon’s worth of juice over shrimp. Season with your favorite Cajun seasoning or essence. Store in fridge while you prepare the rest.

2.     Caramelize onions in olive oil in a large skillet (medium heat) for about 20 minutes or until they barely start turning brown. While onions are caramelizing, start grits.

3.     Add thyme, garlic, sausage, and wine to onions and sauté for another 10 min or so, until sausage is heated through/ slightly browned on edges and some of the wine is cooked off. 

4.     Add shrimp, remaining lemon juice (sprinkling with a little more Cajun seasoning) and sauté for 3 min, or until just turned opaque. Take off heat and season with salt & pepper. Sprinkle with green onion.

Grits

1.     Pour milk and water into saucepan and boil. Slowly add grits and stir so they do not clump.

2.     Cook about 15 minutes or until thickened, stirring every now and then.

3.     Add butter, stir until melted. Add cheese and stir until blended. Add salt and pepper to taste. Take off heat and cover until ready to serve.

To serve:

Spoon grits into medium sized bowls and top with shrimp mixture. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and lemon wedges.