The Pickett family looooves salmon, so I'm constantly on the look out for new ideas. Here's a 4-ingredient recipe that has batted a 1000 lately. This is the way a friend of mine makes salmon, which actually only started with 3 ingredients. I added the chopped tomatoes for extra taste and color (and because I get to use 4 ingredients!). My family assured me that the tomato addition was a great one. Yours truly doesn't actually eat anything that swims. (Probably because when I was growing up the scent of my mother's oil packed tuna was always wafting through the house.) Anyway, for you salmon lovers, this is what you'll need:
2 pounds of fresh salmon
Mediterranean Garlic Marinade by Scott's (pesto works as well.) 1/2 cup +1/4 cup
1/4 cup of Balsamic Glaze by Trader Grotto's (Rachel Ray's Balsamic Reduction works also.)
2/3 cup of chopped grape or cherry tomatoes
Step 1. Cut the salmon in 1/2 lb. pieces, put them in a baking dish or large plastic bag and cover the pieces with about 1/2 cup of the marinade. (Ideally you would marinate the salmon for a few hours.)
Step 2. You then cut the tomatoes into small pieces and mix them with 1/4 cup of balsamic glaze and 1/4 cup of marinade. (This mixture will be spooned onto salmon later.)
Step 3. Preheat grill on medium high. With foil, create 2 rectangular "trays" folding up the foil to create sides. These "boats" will prevent liquid from seeping out. Or better yet, line a grill basket (that has a handle) with foil. These grill baskets are one of Pickett's Pearls Glorious Gadgets. They are great for barbecuing shrimp, veggies etc. as well as salmon.
Step 4. You then spray inside of the foil with cooking spray. Next place salmon covered with marinade into foil trays or foil-lined basket then generously spoon tomato mixture on top.
Step 5. Place salmon on the grill. Cook for about 10-12 minutes (depending on thickness) until it flakes easily with a fork. (No need to turn it.) You can serve salmon with its skin on, which will be nicely charred underneath. If you don't like the skin, the filets lift easily off it with a spatula.
Looking Back
A couple of Easters ago Pickett's Pearls featured Salmon with Lemon and Dill, the go-to salmon recipe for the Pickett family. Check it out!
Funny Encounter
Not too long ago, I was at a gas station about to pump gas when I got a phone call. I took the call and because I'm a hideous multi-tasker, I forgot to start the pump. A biker who looked about 75 complete with long gray beard, leather jacket and tattoos rolled right up to me and started revving his huge motorcycle. He said to me, "Lady are you gonna fish or cut bait?" I said "fish" and got to pumping. Normally I hate when people are irritated with me, but this time it was just plain funny. At least he didn't say, "Lady, if you aren't gonna to p. . . then get off the p. . . !"