Three Times The Greatness

August 27, 2020
Salmon with Asparagus Three Ways
Pg. 49
Abby, Season 1
33 down…66 to go!

All I can say about this dish is I was blown away with how tasty it was with only two ingredients! Well done, Abby! I remember this episode from MasterChef Junior very well. The contestants participated in a challenge and the results equated to the number of ingredients they were allowed to use in the elimination challenge, and little Abby only had two. Poor thing.

I remember the judges being impressed with how that little eight-year-old was able to step up to the challenge and still create an amazing dish, but I had no idea how good it was gonna be. Every bite was better than the last, and I was devastated when it was all gone.

I have had salmon and asparagus countless times. It’s a delicious pairing, but I had never broiled salmon or pureed asparagus before. Every technique in this recipe, combined together, created a flawless dish. I can’t wait to make it all again soon!

What did I do differently? I figured, just because Abby could only use two ingredients, didn’t mean I had to. ;P

I added some lemon zest to the asparagus puree. Just a little bit of acidity enhanced the puree ten fold.
I added some crushed red pepper flakes to the full length, sautéed asparagus for a little heat.
I cooked the short tips for a few extra minutes to get them a little crispier. I thought the texture would be a great contrast to the delicate salmon and creamy puree. I was right.

All my love,
Dani, a big tid

P.S. What’s your favorite side dish (or sauce/puree) to go with fish? I’m eating fish for lunch a lot more than I used to and I want to branch out from my normal go-to’s. Let me know in the comments!