Coconut Lemongrass Wild Salmon

Coconut Lemongrass Wild Salmon

Enjoy this recipe recently featured in Clean Eating Magazine! Photo by Ronald Tsang.

Yield: 4 servings

1 large shallot, peeled and diced small (3 tablespoons)

6 3-inch pieces lemongrass, bruised with the back of a knife

1 large 3-inch piece of fresh ginger (3-ounces), peeled and cut into 1/8-inch slices

3 medium garlic cloves, peeled and crushed with the back of a knife

2 large makrut lime leaves, ribs removed

1 small Thai chili, cut in half widthwise

1 13.5-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk (not lite, no guar gum)

1 cup water

1 cup low sodium chicken stock

8 ounces grape tomatoes, halved (approximately 25 grape tomatoes)

½ teaspoon kosher salt, divided, plus more to taste

1¾ pound head cauliflower, core and leaves discarded, cut into bite-sized florets

8 ounces baby bok choy, cleaned and quartered

1¼ pound skin-on wild sockeye salmon, 1-inch thick, pin bones removed and cut into 4 equal sized pieces *

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice

In a large pot (which fits a steamer basket), add the shallot, lemongrass, ginger, garlic, lime leaves, chili, coconut milk, water, chicken stock, grape tomatoes and ¼ teaspoon salt.

Insert steamer basket. Add cauliflower in an even layer to basket.

Cover with a lid. Turn heat to high and set a timer for 25 minutes.

Once you see steam, reduce heat to medium-low.

After 25 minutes, remove the insert (careful, hot!) and transfer to a plate. (Heat is still set to medium-low.) Add the bok choy evenly atop the cauliflower. On top of the bok choy, add the salmon pieces, evenly spaced, skin side down. Season the salmon with ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper.

Re-insert the steamer basket, cover with a lid and set a timer for 4 minutes. After 4 minutes, your salmon should be opaque and lighter in color. Turn off the heat.

Remove steam basket and place on plate again. Add the lime juice to the steaming liquid, stir and season to taste with salt as needed. Strain liquid, pressing on the solids with the back of a spoon to get all the delicious broth!

To serve, place some cauliflower and bok choy in the center of a shallow bowl. Remove skin if you prefer and place salmon filet on top of the steamed vegetables. Spoon over ¼ cup of the broth per bowl.

*Salmon note * If your salmon has a slight fishy smell to it – not a problem, give it a quick rinse in cold water and pat it dry.

Radicchio & Ricotta Linguine

Radicchio & Ricotta Linguine

Enjoy this recipe recently featured in Clean Eating Magazine! Photo by Ronald Tsang.

 

Yield: 4 servings

1½ tablespoons + ½ teaspoon kosher salt, divided, plus more to taste

½ pound whole wheat linguini

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

5 large cloves garlic, peeled and minced (2 tablespoons)

4 large shallots, peeled and diced small (3/4 cup)

1½ teaspoons ground fennel

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

1 cup whole milk ricotta

½ cup packed freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more for serving (1.75 ounces)

½ small head of radicchio, cored and sliced into 1/8-inch thick slices (2 packed cups) (5-ounces)

½ cup toasted walnuts, chopped roughly

½ cup packed roughly chopped fresh flat leaf Italian parsley

 

Bring a small pot of water and 1½ tablespoons of salt to a rolling boil. Once the water has come to a rolling boil, stir the linguini into the boiling salted water and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente (almost done, or “to the tooth”). Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining. When pasta is done, turn off heat, drain pasta and return to the original pot and cover with a lid to keep warm.

Meanwhile, while the pasta is cooking, in a medium saucepan, add the olive oil, garlic and shallots and place over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots just begin to brown, approximately 5 minutes. Add the fennel and black pepper and stir continuously for 1 minute.

Remove from the heat and carefully stir in ¾ cups of the reserved pasta water. Add the lemon juice, cream, ricotta, Parmigiano-Reggiano and remaining ½ teaspoon salt. Whisk until ricotta is fully incorporated.

Add the sauce to the cooked pasta followed by the radicchio, walnuts and parsley. Stir until sauce thickens slightly and all the linguini is well coated. If the sauce is too thick, loosen with the remaining ¼ cup reserved pasta water. Divide onto plates, top with additional Parmigiano-Reggiano and serve immediately.

Rosemary Dijon Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Apples & Cabbage

Rosemary Dijon Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Apples & Cabbage

Enjoy this recipe recently featured in Clean Eating Magazine! Photo by Ronald Tsang.

 

Yield: 4 servings

Apples and Cabbage:

2 small apples (preferably Braeburn, Fuji, or Honeycrisp) (9-ounces) unpeeled, cored and diced medium (2 cups)

10-ounces purple cabbage, thinly sliced (3 packed cups)

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

2 (3-inch) sprigs fresh rosemary

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

 

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Set aside.

 

Tenderloin:

1 pound pork tenderloin, silver skin removed (see note)

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary (approximately 3 (5-inch) sprigs fresh rosemary)

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

1 cup fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley leaves, roughly chopped

¼ cup toasted pecan pieces

 

Adjust an oven rack to the middle position, then preheat the oven to 350ºF.

Mix the salt, rosemary and pepper together in a small bowl.

Pat the tenderloin dry. Season the tenderloin (all sides) with the seasoning mixture.

Add the olive oil to a large, oven-safe sauté pan (large enough to accommodate the pork) and place over medium heat. Heat until hot, approximately 2 minutes.

Add the tenderloin and allow to cook for 2 minutes, undisturbed, until nicely seared. Using tongs, rotate the tenderloin ¼ turn and continue to sear, again for 2 minutes. Once seared, rotate again another ¼ turn and sear for another 2 minutes. Turn off heat. Upon rotating the tenderloin to the fourth and final side, hold the tenderloin off the pan with your tongs and insert the digital probe of an oven-safe meat thermometer from the end of the tenderloin lengthwise into the center. The tip of the probe must reach approximately halfway into the tenderloin.

Add the apple cabbage mixture to the pan and then replace the tenderloin in the pan (on top of the mixture) with the fourth and final side (which has not been seared yet) facing up, and transfer the sauté pan, uncovered, into the oven. Set the digital thermometer to 140ºF. (Note: keep apple cabbage bowl at the ready; do not wash.)

When the thermometer beeps, after about 20 minutes, transfer the tenderloin to a cutting board and cover loosely with foil. Transfer apple cabbage mixture to original bowl. Add parsley and pecans and stir to combine. Add the 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar and stir. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Loosely cover bowl to keep warm.

Allow the tenderloin to rest for 15 minutes before slicing. (Make pan sauce while tenderloin rests.)

 

Dijon Pan Sauce:

1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 large shallot, peeled and diced small (1/4 cup)

1 cup freshly pressed apple cider

½ cup low sodium chicken stock

4 (3-inch) sprigs fresh rosemary

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 12 pieces

kosher salt, to taste

freshly ground black pepper, to taste

 

While the tenderloin is resting, place the same sauté pan you cooked the tenderloin in (careful-hot!) over medium-high heat.

Add the olive oil and shallot, stir and cook for 1 minute.

Add the apple cider, stock and rosemary sprigs. Reduce until approximately ½ cup remains. Remove from the heat and discard the rosemary.

Add the Dijon and cider vinegar, stir to incorporate, then stir in the butter until fully incorporated. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Slice the pork into 1/2-inch medallions. Place 1 cup of the apple cabbage mixture on a plate, top with a few slices of pork tenderloin and spoon approximately 3 tablespoons of the sauce around each plate.

 

Note: Similar to the iridescent color of a pearl, silver skin is the inedible connective tissue that covers a small portion of the thicker end of the tenderloin. Too tough to pull off with your bare hands (unlike a layer of fat), the silver skin can be removed by simply filleting it off. Do this by cutting just under the silver skin with the tip of your knife, angling your knife slightly upwards, then cutting the silver skin off in strips. Alternatively, you can ask your butcher to remove the silver skin.

Matcha Vanilla Custard

Enjoy this delicious dessert recently featured in Clean Eating Magazine! Photo by Ronald Tsang.

Matcha Vanilla Custard

Yield: 6 servings

5 large egg yolks

6 tbsp raw honey, divided

2 tbsp arrowroot

2 tbsp matcha powder

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

3 cups half-and-half cream

1/4 tsp sea salt

1/4 cup organic unsalted butter, cut into pieces

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

2 oz 70% dark chocolate, shaved with a vegetable peeler

1/2 cup toasted unsalted walnut pieces, optional

1/4 cup pomegranate seeds, optional

 

In a medium heat-proof bowl, whisk egg yolks, 2 tbsp honey, arrowroot, matcha and cinnamon. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan on medium, heat cream, remaining 1/4 cup honey and salt. Stir occasionally with a rubber spatula, scraping bottom of pan, until liquid just starts to simmer. Turn off heat.

Very slowly, drizzle hot cream mixture into matcha mixture, whisking continuously.

Transfer matcha mixture back to saucepan. Turn heat to medium. Cook, whisking continuously, until liquid has thickened, approximately 1 to 2 minutes (it’s fine if the mixture bubbles slightly). Remove from heat; whisk in butter and vanilla.

Divide custard among 6 small bowls or ramekins. Garnish with chocolate, walnuts and pomegranate seeds (if using). Serve chilled.

 

Dragon Fruit Salad with Lemony Chicken & Butternut Purée

Dragon Fruit Salad with Lemony Chicken & Butternut Purée

Enjoy this recipe recently featured in Clean Eating Magazine. Photo by Ronald Tsang.

 

Yield: 4 servings

Carrot Ginger Puree:

4 cups water

1 pound peeled and medium diced (1/2-inch) butternut squash (3 1/3 cups)

1 pound peeled and thinly sliced (1/4-inch discs) carrots (2 1/3 cups)

2 teaspoons peeled and grated fresh ginger, (grated on a Microplane)

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 20 small cubes (each tablespoon quartered)

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

¾ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

 

In a large pot (which fits a steamer basket), add 4 cups water. Insert steamer basket and add squash and carrots to the basket. Cover with a lid and turn heat to high. Once steaming, reduce heat to medium and steam for 20 minutes. Carefully transfer steamed veggies to a blender and add ginger, butter, orange juice, lemon juice, salt and pepper and blend on medium low until smooth. Keep covered until service.

 

Roasted Chicken:

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2½ teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme

2 teaspoons grated and finely chopped lemon zest, grated on a Microplane

 

Adjust an oven rack to the top position and preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pat the chicken thighs dry and coat with olive oil on both sides. Season the thighs evenly (both sides) with salt and pepper followed by the thyme and lemon zest.

Line a sheet pan with foil and evenly space the chicken thighs on the sheet pan. Place, uncovered, in the oven.

Cook until the thighs reach an internal temperature between 165 and 170 degrees Fahrenheit, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the chicken thighs to a cutting board to rest for 10 minutes, loosely covered with foil, before slicing chicken into ½-inch strips.

 

Dragon Fruit Salad:

1 medium shallot, peeled and diced small (3 tablespoons)

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 dragon fruit (1 pound), peeled and diced into ¼-inch pieces (2 cups)

1 medium apple (6-ounces) (preferably Braeburn, Fuji, or Honeycrisp), unpeeled, cored, quartered and thinly sliced (1/16-inch slices)

¼ pound frisée, cut into 2-inch pieces (2¼ packed cups)

10 medium fresh mint leaves, finely chopped (1 tablespoon)

1/3 cup pomegranate seeds

1/3 cup roughly chopped toasted almonds

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

 

Place all ingredients in a medium bowl and gently fold to combine.

To serve, scoop ¾ cup of the puree into large shallow bowls. Top puree with 1 cup of the salad and arrange sliced chicken on top.

Vietnamese-Style Wild Snapper Lettuce and Noodle Wraps

Gather the troops! This is a super fun meal to share and it’s quick and easy to make. Be sure to use Seafood Watch to find a best choice for snapper at your local grocery store or fish market. Enjoy! (P.S. This recipe was recently featured in Clean Eating Magazine!)

Photo by Andrew Grinton

Yield: 4 servings

 

Dipping Sauce

¾ cup distilled white vinegar

3 tablespoons raw cane sugar

3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (juice of 1 lime)

1 tablespoon fish sauce

½ thai chile, thinly sliced, or more to taste

 

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl. Stir until sugar is dissolved.

 

Lettuce Wraps

8-ounces vermicelli noodles

12 red leaf lettuce leaves (6-ounces or ½ bunch)

1 cup fresh cilantro leaves

1 cup fresh mint leaves

1 cup fresh thai basil leaves

8-ounces small carrots, (approximately 4 small carrots) peeled, cut in half widthwise and thinly sliced lengthwise

 

Add water to a large saucepan (enough to boil the noodles) and bring to a boil. Add noodles and let cook for 1 to 2 minutes until noodles are soft. Drain and rinse noodles under cold water and place in a bowl.

Arrange lettuce, herbs and carrots on a tray or plate.

 

Snapper

1 pound skinless snapper fillets (¾ to 1-inch thick), pin bones removed

½ teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon grapeseed oil

 

Pat fish dry and season fish evenly on both sides with salt. Cut fish into 3-inch by 1-inch strips.

Place a large sauté pan over medium heat and add oil. Heat until hot and oil is shimmering, approximately 2 minutes.

Add fish strips, adding the thickest strips to the pan first, and let cook for 2½ minutes total, flipping the fish every 30 seconds. Fish will start to flake when done.

Transfer fish to a plate. Serve immediately.

Gather the family/friends around the table! To serve, place some noodles on a leaf of lettuce. Add some carrots, fish and fresh herbs. Roll or fold the lettuce to form a wrap or pocket. Spoon over some sauce (or dip the lettuce wrap in the sauce). Eat and repeat!

Note: If you are not up for making the wrap, you can always shred the lettuce on your plate and add the other wrap items on top and spoon over the sauce like a salad dressing.

Halibut Ceviche with Tomato Gazpacho

Photo by Andrew Grinton

Strike this recipe while the tomatoes are overflowing at your local farmers market or in your very own backyard garden! (P.S. This recipe was recently featured in Clean Eating Magazine!)

 

Yield: 4 servings

Gazpacho

½ pound small cucumbers (Persian or Japanese) (approximately 2 cucumbers) peeled and chopped roughly

½ large red bell pepper (¼ pound), seeded and chopped roughly (reserve other half for ceviche)

2 pounds red tomatoes (approximately 7 medium tomatoes), cored and chopped roughly

1-ounce shallot (1 medium shallot), peeled and quartered

1½ teaspoons kosher salt

3 tablespoons sherry vinegar

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

 

Add all the above ingredients to a blender, except the olive oil.

Blend until smooth. With blender on low, stream in the olive oil until combined.

Taste and adjust salt as needed.

Refrigerate until ceviche is ready to be served. Stir or re-blend briefly before serving.

 

Ceviche

¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

¾ cup freshly squeezed lime juice

½ teaspoon kosher salt

1 small jalapeno (.75-ounces), seeded, deveined and diced small (1½ tablespoons)

1 pound skinless halibut, diced into ¼-inch cubes (Use Seafood Watch to select halibut)

½ large red bell pepper (¼ pound), seeded and diced small (½ cup) (reserved from gazpacho)

1 scallion, thinly sliced (¼ cup)

¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

¼ cup + 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

 

Combine lemon juice, lime juice, salt and jalapeno in a small bowl. Stir to combine. Add halibut and mix thoroughly.

Using the back of a spoon, level the halibut off so it is pressed down in the liquid. Cover the mixture with plastic wrap, pressing the plastic wrap directly atop the fish in the bowl.

Refrigerate for 8 minutes.

Remove plastic wrap and stir. Using the back of a spoon, re-level the halibut off so it is pressed down in the liquid. Cover the mixture with plastic wrap, pressing the plastic wrap directly atop the fish in the bowl.

Refrigerate for an additional 8 minutes. The halibut should be opaque and white in color.

Drain the mixture in a colander and return it to the original small bowl. Add the remaining ingredients. Stir well to combine. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper and serve immediately.

To serve, pour 1¼ cups of the gazpacho in a shallow bowl. Then, mound ¾ cup of the halibut ceviche in the center of the bowl.

Wakame Avocado Puree

Try this as a spread on Asian style tacos or as your next avocado toast…

 

½-ounce dried wakame

¾ cup packed fresh cilantro leaves and stems

¼ cup packed fresh mint leaves

¼ cup grapeseed oil

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

1 teaspoon honey

2 teaspoons grated (grated on a microplane) fresh ginger

2 small cloves garlic, peeled and grated on a microplane (1 teaspoon)

1 large avocado, pit removed and flesh scooped out

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon kosher salt

 

Place the wakame in a blender and blend on high to turn into a fine powder. Remove wakame powder and set aside.

Place remaining ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in 2 teaspoons of the wakame powder. (Reserve remaining wakame powder for sprinkling over fish, rice or popcorn.)

 

Photo: Ronald Tsang

P.S. This recipe was recently featured in Clean Eating Magazine!

Lemon and Herb Kefir Spread

Lemon and Herb Kefir Spread

(Look for kefir in the yogurt section of your grocery store.)

2 cups plain whole milk kefir
1 teaspoon finely chopped preserved lemon (optional)
½ teaspoon lemon zest, grated on a Microplane
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme
kosher salt, to taste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Pour the kefir into a nut bag or a triple layer of cheese cloth. Place the nut bag in a strainer. Place the strainer inside a bowl. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator for 16 to 18 hours.

Discard or reserve the whey (clearish liquid) in the bowl. Transfer the strained kefir from the nut bag into a small bowl. Add the preserved lemon, lemon zest, lemon juice and thyme and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Slather on a piece of your favorite toasty bread and serve!

Photo: Ronald Tsang

P.S. This recipe was recently featured in an issue of Clean Eating Magazine!

Flank Steak Wakame Crepe Tacos

Flank Steak Wakame Crepe Tacos

(Give your tacos a boost of wakame, a highly nutritious superfood!)

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Crêpes
Yield: 10 (7-inch) crepes + 1 practice crepe J (first one is always chalked up to practice)

¾-ounce dried wakame
2 large eggs
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1½ cup water
1 cup garbanzo bean flour
¼ cup white whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. Place the wakame in a blender and blend on high to turn into a fine powder. Remove 3½ teaspoons for this recipe. Set the remaining wakame powder aside. (You will be using it later.)

2. Place the eggs and olive oil in a large bowl and whisk until the eggs are mixed.

3. Add the water and whisk until well combined.

4. Add the flours, salt and pepper and whisk until well combined.

5. Add the wakame powder and whisk until just combined.

6. Place a crêpe pan or small nonstick sauté pan over medium-low heat.

7. Once hot, measure approximately ¼ cup batter (you can use a 2-ounce ladle for this), and pour into the center of the pan.

8. Quickly rotate and tilt the pan to spread the batter evenly, just enough to cover the bottom of the pan.

9. Cook for 1 minute 30 seconds, then flip the crêpe over with a plastic spatula. The crêpe should be cooked, maybe even very lightly golden brown in colored, but not dry or crispy.

10. Cook the second side for approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool. Once the crepes are room temperature, it is fine to stack them.

Flank Steak
1½ pounds flank steak
2 teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
¼ of a small head of red cabbage, sliced thinly
3 scallions, sliced thinly on a bias
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
¼ cup picked fresh cilantro leaves
sriracha (or your favorite hot sauce), to taste
1 avocado, sliced

1. Pat the steak dry with a paper towel. Pierce, in rows, both sides of the steak with a fork.  Cut the steak into four equal-sized pieces, cutting with the grain. Season all pieces/sides with the salt and pepper. Cut the steak into four equal-sized pieces, cutting with the grain.

2. Place a large nonstick sauté pan over medium-high heat.  Add grapeseed oil and heat until the oil just begins to smoke. Lay steak in pan and cook, flipping once every minute, until well caramelized. Use your digital thermometer to achieve the perfect medium-rare, 125 to no more than 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The total cooking time will be 5-9 minutes, depending upon the thickness of the steak.

3. Remove steak from pan and let rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes.

4. Cut cooked steak pieces in thin slices against the grain.

5. To assemble, lay a crepe down. Top with some purple cabbage and scallions. Lay a few steak slices on top and some avocado. Sprinkle over some sesame seeds and a drizzle of sriracha. Garnish with some cilantro leaves. Fold up and enjoy!

Photo: Ronald Tsang

P.S. This recipe was recently featured in an issue of Clean Eating Magazine!