Anchovy Toasts with Fresh Tomato Vinaigrette
The Anchovy Bar, sister restaurant to State Bird Provisions in San Francisco, celebrates the tiny, humble fish in a host of ways, including this made-to-share snack board of quality Spanish anchovy fillets, ripe heirloom tomatoes, and fresh Japanese cucumbers. "The build-your-own aspect of this dish makes the simplicity work so well," says co-owner Nicole Krasinski, who opened the restaurant with her husband, Stuart Brioza, a 2003 Food & Wine Best New Chef. "Everything is meant to be clean and fresh and offer a great balance to the salty anchovies." Source a variety of quality tinned anchovies from caputos.com to taste the differences in salinity and texture. This build-your-own toast board is ideal for entertaining or a light alfresco meal. Try using any leftover tomato vinaigrette tossed with pasta as a simple no-cook sauce.
"Caesared" Salmon Salad
In this creative salmon Caesar salad, Caesar dressing gets spread on the salmon before grilling, creating a rich crust that keeps the fish succulent while picking up delicious smoky flavor from the grill. For a perfect wine pairing, Master Sommelier Andy Myers says to reach for a bottle of Roero. "Roero manages a great balancing act next to the mélange of flavors in a good salmon Caesar. The crunchy apple and pear flavors make the cheese sing; the fresh acidity cleanses the palate of the anchovy."
Salmon and Arugula Frittata with Pesto
Chef Eric Adjepong uses salmon two ways in his pesto-infused frittata, topping the eggs with cooked fresh salmon before baking it, then garnishing the frittata with thinly-smoked salmon just before serving. Adjepong likes to serve the frittata with crisp greens drizzled with fresh lemon juice.
Sheet-Pan Salmon with Black-Olive Butter
In this elegant sheet-pan supper, salmon fillets are slathered with a flavor-packed butter of smashed garlic and salty, oil-cured olives. Simply seasoned with olive oil, salt, and pepper, fingerling potatoes get a head start roasting on the sheet pan; the salmon joins them during the last 10 minutes of cooking. A simple chilled yogurt sauce flavored with lemon and capers adds a cool, fresh contrast to this speedy yet impressive dish.
Grilled Grouper
Simply seasoned with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika, mild grouper fillets pick up lightly smoky, savory flavor in scallion, lemon, and butter stuffed packets on the grill. These packets leave the fish perfectly moist and flaky, and avoid potentially sticky grill grates. The built-in sauce cooks as the butter and lemon melt into the fish, and pair perfectly with fluffy cooked rice or crusty baguettes for sopping.
Smoked Salmon Dip
This creamy, smokey dip features flaky smoked salmon two ways: half is finely chopped to add a pleasant texture to the dip alongside briny pops of capers, and the rest is pureed with the mayonnaise, sour cream, and cream cheese, lending its beautiful color and deepening the flavor. Fresh dill and chives keep the dip light while lemon juice adds brightness while also keeping the dip perfectly scoopable — no broken chips here.
