Vermouth Seaweed Clams with Green Peppercorn Aioli
It is often a great idea to cook items found together in the same environment, as they generally pair well. Case in point: clams and seaweed. This meal comes together quickly and is perfect for a weeknight dinner yet fancy enough to serve to company. Serve Vermouth Seaweed Clams with CedarCreek Estate Pinot Gris or Poplar Grove Cascadia Pinot Gris.Ingredients
Serves 4
1 cup (250 ml) mayonnaise
½ tsp (2.5 ml) finely ground white pepper
1 tbsp (15 ml) brined green peppercorns, rinsed and coarsely chopped
2 tbsp (30 ml) dried wakame seaweed
3 tbsp (45 ml) grapeseed oil
2 shallots, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
5 large sprigs fresh thyme, plus more for garnish
1 × 4- to 6-in (10 to 15 cm) sheet dried kombu seaweed
1 cup (250 ml) dry white vermouth
4 lbs (1.8 kg) live clams, purged and scrubbed clean
sliced baguette, to serve
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk mayonnaise, white pepper and green peppercorns until well combined. Refrigerate aioli while cooking clams.
- Place wakame seaweed in a medium bowl and cover with room-temperature water. Set aside to allow seaweed to hydrate and become tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and squeeze excess water out of seaweed. Set aside.
- In a large heavy-bottomed stockpot over medium‑high heat, heat oil. Add shallots, garlic and thyme. Cook, stirring often, until shallots have softened, about 3 minutes. Add kombu, vermouth and clams. Cover with a lid and cook, shaking pot occasionally, until clams have opened and kombu has softened, about 6 minutes. Discard kombu and any clams that stay closed.
- Divide aioli among 4 serving bowls and spread over base. Top with hot clams and spoon broth overtop. Scatter with wakame seaweed and serve with sliced baguette.
Drink Pairings
Shrimp Toast
Celebrate midsummer in true Scandinavian style with toast skagen, a luxurious shrimp toast that’s perfect for a festive gathering. Enjoy this dish with any of the following: Blue Grouse Rose, 40 Knots Island White Seas, Unsworth Vineyards Pinot Noir or Domaine Houchart Côtes De Provence Rosé.Ingredients
Serves 4
1 lb (450 g) small precooked shrimp, thawed if frozen
¼ cup (60 ml) crème fraîche
¼ cup (60 ml) mayonnaise
2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped fresh dill
1 tsp (5 ml) hot mustard
1 small shallot, finely diced
½ tsp (2.5 ml) finely grated lemon zest
fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
¼ cup (60 ml) unsalted butter
8 slices white bread, crusts removed and each slice cut into 2 triangles
salmon or trout caviar, for garnish
8 thin slices cucumber, cut in half, for garnish
fresh dill sprigs and lemon wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Spread shrimp over a clean tea towel or paper towel and pat dry. Removing excess moisture avoids a watery shrimp salad.
- In a medium bowl, whisk crème fraîche, mayonnaise, dill, mustard, shallots and lemon zest until thoroughly combined. Gently fold in shrimp. Taste and season to your liking with salt and pepper. Chill shrimp salad for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours before serving.
- About 1 hour before serving, prepare toast points. Butter both sides of each triangle of bread. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Working with a couple pieces of buttered bread at a time, toast in pan on both sides until golden brown and crispy, about 2 minutes total. Remove from pan and set on a rack to cool. Repeat to toast remaining bread triangles.
- When ready to serve, place toasted bread on a serving platter and top each with a generous spoonful of shrimp salad. Garnish with cucumber slices, a dollop of caviar and some fresh dill, if desired. Serve immediately with lemon wedges for guests to squeeze overtop salad just before enjoying.
Drink Pairings
Aquavit Salmon Gravlax with Mustard Dill Sauce
A popular appetizer of Nordic origins, gravlax usually consists of fish fillets cured in salt, sugar and fresh herbs. If aquavit is hard to find at your local liquor store, you can use vodka instead with very similar results. If you are serving a large crowd, this recipe doubles easily. Just make sure to start the recipe at least 2 days before you plan to serve it. You can pair this dish with any of the following: Blue Grouse Rose, 40 Knots Island White Seas, Unsworth Vineyards Pinot Noir or Domaine Houchart Côtes De Provence Rosé.Ingredients
Serves 6-8
1½ lbs (680 g) skin-on salmon fillet
1 tbsp (15 ml) caraway seeds
1 tbsp (15 ml) coriander seeds
2 tbsp (30 ml) granulated sugar
¼ cup (60 ml) kosher salt
½ tsp (2.5 ml) freshly ground black pepper
2 bunches fresh dill
|¼ cup (60 ml) Bornholmer Akvavit
Mustard Dill Sauce, to serve, make ahead, recipe follows
thinly sliced red onions, capers, lemon slices and rye bread, to serve
MUSTARD DILL SAUCE
3 tbsp (45 ml) white vinegar
2 tbsp (30 ml) roughly chopped fresh dill fronds
⅓ cup (80 ml) Dijon
1 tbsp (15 ml) granulated sugar
¼ cup (60 ml) vegetable oil
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Start by making gravlax. Find a baking dish large enough to hold salmon and line it with plastic wrap, leaving lots of overhang. Set aside.
- Rinse salmon under cold water and pat dry with paper towel. Remove pinbones from salmon and set aside.
- To make cure mixture, place caraway and coriander seeds in a frying pan, then set over medium-high heat. Stirring constantly, toast seeds until fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer toasted seeds to a spice grinder or mortar and pestle and grind finely. Transfer ground seeds to a small bowl and stir in sugar, salt and pepper until well combined. Set aside.
- Spread half the dill over bottom of lined baking dish. Generously rub skin side of salmon with about half the cure mixture, then set skin-side down on top of dill. Sprinkle aquavit overtop salmon, then rub it with remaining cure mixture and cover with remaining dill. Tightly wrap salmon fillet with plastic wrap lining baking dish. Top with a weight, such as a smaller baking dish or a plate with some cans of beans on top.
- Transfer weighted dish to refrigerator for 24 hours. Turn salmon over, continue to weigh down and refrigerate for another 24 to 48 hours. A longer cure will result in a firmer texture and a saltier flavour. |When ready to serve, remove salmon from plastic wrap and use back of a knife or a spoon to scrape cure mixture off fish. Place salmon skin-side down on a cutting board. Using a very sharp knife, thinly slice gravlax on bias. |x
- When ready to serve, remove salmon from plastic wrap and use back of a knife or a spoon to scrape cure mixture off fish. Place salmon skin-side down on a cutting board. Using a very sharp knife, thinly slice gravlax on bias.
- Mustard Dill Sauce: In a blender, combine vinegar, dill, Dijon and sugar and blend until dill is very finely chopped. With blender running, slowly stream in oil and blend until a smooth sauce has formed. Season with pepper. Can be stored in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 1 week. Makes about ¾ cup (180 ml)
Drink Pairings
Tandoori Cedar Plank Salmon served with Cucumber-Mint Raita
This new spin on a perennial crowd-pleaser celebrates BC’s cultural diversity, marrying the aromatic complexity of tandoori spices with the smoky, woody flavour of cedar plank salmon. Blue Moon Mango Wheat Ale or Gray Monk Rose make great pairings for this Tandoori Cedar Plank Salmon dish.Ingredients
Serves 4
¾ cup (180 ml) plain Greek yogurt
3 tbsp (45 ml) neutral-flavoured oil
3 tbsp (45 ml) fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp (30 ml) water
1½ tbsp (22.5 ml) finely grated fresh ginger
1 tbsp (15 ml) finely grated garlic
1 tbsp (15 ml) ground coriander
2 tsp (10 ml) Kashmiri chili powder
2 tsp (10 ml) garam masala
1 tsp (5 ml) ground cumin
1 tsp (5 ml) ground turmeric
¾ tsp (4 ml) salt
½ tsp (2.5 ml) freshly ground black pepper
½ tsp (2.5 ml) smoked paprika
4 × 6 oz (170 g) salmon fillets
red onion, thinly sliced, for garnish
fresh mint sprigs, for garnish
Cucumber-Mint Raita, to serve, make ahead, recipe follows
optional lime wedges, to serve
Cucumber-Mint Raita
1 cup (250 ml) grated cucumber
¼ tsp (1 ml) salt, plus more to taste
1 cup (250 ml) plain Greek yogurt
¼ cup (60 ml) grated carrot
2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped fresh mint leaves
1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
¼ tsp (1 ml) cumin seeds
⅛ tsp (a pinch) freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine yogurt, oil, lemon juice, water, ginger, garlic, coriander, chili powder, garam masala, cumin, turmeric, salt, pepper and paprika. Mix well and adjust seasoning to taste. Mixture should be a thick but pourable consistency.
- Add salmon to marinade and gently toss until well coated. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6 to 48 hours.
- Submerge a food-safe cedar plank in water, weighed down with a heavy bowl, and soak for 1½ to 2 hours.
- Preheat barbecue grill to 400 F (200 C). |Remove salmon from marinade, shake off excess marinade and set salmon aside.
- Remove plank from water, pat dry and position in centre of preheated grill until lightly charred, 3 to 5 minutes. Flip plank and place salmon skin-side down directly on charred side. Close barbecue lid and maintain grill temperature between 350 and 400 F (175 to 200 C). Cook salmon for 10 to 12 minutes, until it flakes easily when pierced gently with a fork at its thickest point.
- Transfer to a serving platter, garnish with red onions and mint and serve with Cucumber-Mint Raita and lime wedges.
Drink Pairings
Prawn Anticuchos served with Aji Verde
Peruvian food has been enjoying a moment in the spotlight, and for good reason. Give this quick and easy recipe a try—it’s a delicious twist on a hearty street food classic, and one bite is all it takes to see why. Serve this dish with Left Field Pinot Gris Wine or Moody Ales Pineapple Coconut Beer.Ingredients
Serves 4-6
4 dried aji panca or pasilla chilies (about 1⅓ oz/40 g), seeded and torn into 1-in (2.5 cm) pieces
2 tsp (10 ml) cumin seeds
½ tsp (2.5 ml) whole black peppercorns
¾ cup (180 ml) Negra Modelo
½ cup (125 ml) red wine vinegar
¾ tsp (4 ml) dried oregano
¾ tsp (4 ml) salt
5 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
½ cup (125 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
48 prawns (size 21/25, about 2 lbs/900 g), peeled and deveined
Aji Verde, to serve, make ahead, recipe follows
grilled corn, to serve
boiled or roasted sweet
Aji Verde
½ cup (125 ml) vegetable oil
4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
2 jalapeño peppers, roughly chopped
½ small white onion, diced
¾ cup (180 ml) mayonnaise
⅓ cup (80 ml) crumbled queso fresco, plus more for garnish
¼ cup (60 ml) grated Parmesan
2 tbsp (30 ml) red wine vinegar
2 limes, zest and juice
1 bunch fresh cilantro, stems included, roughly chopped
¼ cup (60 ml) loosely packed fresh mint leaves
salt, to taste
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium-low heat, combine chilies, cumin seeds and peppercorns and toast, stirring often, until warm and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Pour in lager and remove from heat. Let sit for 5 minutes, then transfer contents to a blender or food processor along with vinegar, oregano, salt and garlic. Purée until smooth, then with blender still running, slowly pour in olive oil until emulsified. Any marinade you don’t use for prawns can be served as a dipping sauce or stored in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 7 days.
- In a mixing bowl, toss prawns with enough marinade to coat generously. Cover and marinate in refrigerator for 30 minutes to 2 hours. If left to marinate longer than 2 hours, prawns may start to cure and turn rubbery. Pierce 4 prawns per skewer and set on a plate.
- Preheat barbecue grill to medium-high.
- Place skewers on grill and cook until prawns are opaque and cooked through, 2 to 4 minutes per side.
- Serve with Aji Verde, grilled corn, sweet potatoes and lime wedges.
- Aji Verde
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, warm oil. Add garlic, jalapeños and onions and sauté until onions have softened and begin to colour slightly, 6 to 8 minutes. Strain and transfer solids to a blender or food processor, and reserve oil. Let both cool before proceeding.
- To blender or food processor with cooled onion mixture, add mayonnaise, queso fresco, Parmesan, vinegar, lime zest and juice, cilantro and mint. Purée until smooth, then with motor running, slowly drizzle in reserved oil until emulsified. Season to taste and garnish with crumbled queso fresco. If not serving immediately, transfer to a jar or container with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate for up to 1 week, though colour may start to fade. Serve with any grilled meats or fish, French fries or fresh cut veggies.
Drink Pairings
Cod with Feta, Tomatoes & Olives
Dinner couldn’t get any easier. This cod dish is light tasting but so satisfying. Pair this dish with Growers Grapefruit Pomelo Cider or Birra Moretti Lager.Ingredients
Serves 4
¼ cup (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil, divided
4 × 6 oz (170 g) cod fillets
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
8 oz (225 g) feta, cut into 4 slices
2 lemons, divided
1 cup (250 ml) cherry tomatoes, halved
12 dry-cured black olives, pitted
1 handful fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, roughly chopped, plus more for garnish
fresh chives, chopped, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Heat barbecue grill to medium-high. Coat 4 individual cazuelas* with 1 tsp (5 ml) each of olive oil.
- Dry cod with paper towel. Season lightly with salt and pepper (keep in mind that feta is salty) and place 1 fillet in each cazuela. Top each fillet with a slice of feta.
- In a medium mixing bowl, mix remaining oil, zest and juice of 1 lemon, tomatoes, olives and parsley. Divide evenly between cazuelas. Place on barbecue and cook, lid closed, for 12 to 15 minutes, until fish is cooked through and flakes evenly.
- Cut remaining lemon into wedges and serve with fish. Garnish with parsley.
- * A cazuela is an earthenware pan. You can substitute with cast iron or any individual-sized pans.
Drink Pairings
Shrimp Boil Griller Packets
This is an easy way to have the fun of a shrimp boil without all the mess—and because everything is cooked in a foil packet, the flavours aren’t watered down by boiling! Enjoy the Shrimp Boil alongside Cutwater Mango Margarita or Barnside Brewing Honey Comb Amber Ale.Ingredients
Serves 4
1 lb (450 g) new potatoes*
1 tbsp (15 ml) salt, plus more to taste
¼ cup (60 ml) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 tsp (10 ml) Old Bay seasoning
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp (5 ml) minced onions
2 tsp (10 ml) minced fresh parsley
1 lb (450 g) shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 ears corn, shucked and cut into quarters
1 lb (450 g) smoked sausages (such as andouille or kielbasa), cut into 1-in (2.5 cm) slices
1 lemon, cut into 4 wedges |freshly ground black pepper, to taste
* To skip step 1 and reduce cooking time, use precooked potatoes or leave them out.
Instructions
- Put potatoes and 1 tbsp (15 ml) salt in a medium saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until potatoes are tender, 10 to 20 minutes, depending on size of potatoes.
- In a small microwaveable bowl, mix butter, Old Bay, garlic, onions, parsley and salt to taste. Melt in microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Set aside.
- Preheat barbecue grill to medium-high.
- Cut heavy-duty foil into 4 pieces, each about 12 × 18-in (30 × 45 cm). Divide potatoes, shrimp, corn, sausages and lemon wedges evenly on each piece of foil. Drizzle each packet with butter mixture.
- Wrap each packet tightly and grill, barbecue lid closed, for 12 to 15 minutes, until shrimp are pink, opaque and cooked through.
- Transfer each packet to a bowl and serve, seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
Drink Pairings
Spaghetti with Clams
A southern Italian classic, this is simplicity at its best! Spaghetti with Clams is best enjoyed with Mission Hill Reserve Chardonnay or 33 Acres of Sunshine Blanche.Ingredients
Serves 2
½ lb (225 g) spaghetti
3 tbsp (45 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 lb (450 g) clams, washed (discard any that remain open while washing)
1 cup (250 ml) cherry tomatoes, halved
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 small handful chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add spaghetti and bring water back to a boil. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes, until pasta is just al dente. Drain spaghetti and reserve ¼ cup (60 ml) pasta water.
- Meanwhile, heat a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until garlic is fragrant but not browned.
- Add clams and reserved ¼ cup (60 ml) pasta water and cover with a lid. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until clams start to open.
- Add spaghetti and tomatoes to clams and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until pasta is al dente and all clams have opened. Discard any clams that do not open. Add parsley and toss to combine.
Drink Pairings
Salmon Tartare & Avocado Spring Salad
A feast for the eyes and a satisfying treat for the palate! Wholesome wild BC salmon clad in a spicy-tangy dressing makes for an undeniable burst of robust flavours that balance all the other ingredients. This recipe and your creativity are sure to grace any elegant fine-dining experience at home. Serve the Salmon Tartare with Tantalus Pinot Noir.Ingredients
Serves 2
1 to 1½ tbsp (15 to 22.5 ml) sriracha
1 tbsp (15 ml) ponzu sauce
¼ cup (60 ml) mayonnaise
½ lb (225 g) sashimi-grade wild BC salmon, cut into ½-in (1.25 cm) cubes
2 green onions, thinly sliced
2 tbsp (30 ml) puffed rice (optional)
4 large curly lettuce leaves, washed and thoroughly dried
1 avocado, pitted and thinly sliced lengthwise
1 long English cucumber, cut into ¼-in (0.6 cm) slices on a bias
mini rice cakes, balsamic pearls, microgreens, for garnish
Instructions
- In a small non-reactive bowl, mix sriracha, ponzu sauce and mayonnaise. Transfer about 2 tbsp (30 ml) sauce into a small squeeze bottle and set aside until ready to serve.
- To make salmon tartare, in a medium non-reactive bowl, mix salmon, green onions and puffed rice, if using. Stir in sriracha-ponzu mixture, a bit at a time, to reach your desired consistency and spice level.
- Arrange 2 lettuce leaves on a serving plate. Arrange half the avocado and cucumber slices as desired.
- Place a few 2- to 3-in (5 to 7.5 cm) round culinary moulds on prepared serving plate near avocado and cucumber slices. Divide half the salmon tartare among moulds. Using a mould tamper or back of a spoon, gently press salmon while lifting moulds to shape tartare.
- Garnish as desired with mini rice cakes, balsamic pearls, microgreens and reserved sriracha-ponzu sauce.
- Repeat steps 3 to 5 on second serving plate and serve.
Drink Pairings
Oven-Baked Salmon Fillet
Whether for a quick dinner on a busy night or when feeding a group at a dinner party, this gorgeous fillet recipe will be one you want to save. Serve it with your favourite salad for a complete meal, and add any leftovers to your favourite greens for a wholesome lunch the next day. So easy, so versatile and so delicious! Enjoy the Oven-Baked Salmon Fillet with Tinhorn Creek Gewurztraminer.Ingredients
Serves 4-6
1 fillet wild BC salmon fillet (about 1.6 lbs/725 g), deboned, washed and thoroughly dried
salt and pepper, to taste
½ cup (125 ml) mayonnaise
½ tbsp (7.5 ml) Dijon mustard
1 tsp (5 ml) smoked paprika
¼ tsp (1 ml) cayenne pepper
2 tsp (10 ml) fresh lemon juice
up to ½ tsp (2.5 ml) freshly ground pepper, to taste
fresh parsley, lemon and
lime slices, for garnish
Instructions
- Adjust oven rack to upper third of oven and preheat to 400 F (200 C). Line a baking sheet with foil.
- Season salmon fillet with salt and pepper and place on lined baking sheet, skin-side down.
- In a medium bowl, mix mayonnaise, Dijon, paprika, cayenne and lemon juice. Spread evenly over surface of salmon.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and season with freshly ground black pepper. Garnish as desired with parsley and lemon and lime slices, and serve.