Sunday Gravy with yeah right: Dijon Salmon and Crispy Potatoes. Look Ma! I’m Still Eatin’ Right!

Howdy everyone and happy Sunday!

It’s also a World Cup free Sunday for those of you who don’t observe. Actually I’ll take a baseball only day with zero issues. The World Cup teams are pretty fucking chalk right now anyway.

Got a quick personal story to share with you this morning. This past week one of my longest tenured customers at work had her retirement party. I’ve worked with her for over 25 years so I was going to be sure I said congrats, goodbye and all of that. She’s a super cool human being and very deserving of retirement. 

They hosted a big event with food and a slide show and she had members of her family there and there was a ton of food and drinks – no alcohol cuz still at work – and everyone sitting around talking over each other and there wasn’t really any place to sit and…

I fucking SUCK at these types of things. Suck HARD.

First if all, I only knew like 5 people there and there were easily over 70 folks in a fairly small room.

One of the reasons that my buddy was retiring is the entire workforce here is “Getting younger.” Know what I mean here? They’re phasing out the older workers – like my buddy – and bringing in younger, cheaper folks. I didn’t recognize any of these damn kids in there.

Another thing, this event started an hour and a half after I got to work. I had just had my fruit smoothie and toast and I ain’t ready to crack open a large meat lovers pizza, OK? Too damn early.

The biggest thing though? My recent hearing loss fucking blows in a crowd of people. Everyone was talking at the same time and it sounded like white fucking noise. I can’t tell one conversation from another. I have major issues hearing mid-to higher pitch so basically any female voice is just distorted the fuck out.

I can see why folks with hearing problems would avoid socializing altogether.

It was fucking horrible.

So what did I do? 

Found a side door to the break room we were in, snuck the fuck out, grabbed the elevator and almost sprinted to my car getting my ass out of there.

Gave them a real Irish goodbye.

I told my employees that if they have one of those for me? My ass ain’t showing up.

ANYWAY!

Sometimes I have to remind myself that it’s OK to cook healthy on Sunday Gravy.

Not that I don’t eat healthy, because I sure as shit do. That whole “Monday thru Friday vegetarian” thing is still my M.O. Over 4 years now.

It’s actually BECAUSE of that fact that I want to go balls out, whole hog, gimme all the goddamn calories for a Sunday Gravy menu.

When you just spent a whole fucking week consuming nothing but fruit and vegetarian soup you’re pretty goddamn ready to dive into an Olympic sized pool of gravy.

As much as I love the foods I present to you here, a motherfucker would have died 20 years ago if my recipes were what they ate every day.

It’s not sustainable!

As always, moderation is everything.

I’m taking a break from the heavy caloric dishes today. We are indeed going to prepare a healthy AND goddamn delicious menu for you that you can make over and over again. Which I very much WILL do!

There’s also an added bonus today! I’m breaking out a new potato preparation that I’ve never presented before. And THAT is fucking delicious too!

We’ve got new potato prep for you! That shit is RARE!

Salmon has been featured on Sunday Gravy in the past. Several very tasty methods indeed.

Today we bring you a technique that is quick to prepare, just a few ingredients but cooks flawlessly and is fucking delicious. Plus I’m giving you a very versatile sauce or “dip” that goes with anything, as an added bonus.

Today we will be making Dijon Salmon, crispy “smashed” potatoes and a lovely lemon caper dill sauce that is worth the effort just by itself.

Ready for this shit people?

recipe courtesy of simplehomeedit.com

“POTATOES
1½ lb) baby potatoes, washed – I used Yukon Gold

2 tbsp salt 

Olive oil 

SALMON

2 tbsp finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1 lemon, juiced – divided

1 tsp freshly minced garlic

1 tsp dijon mustard

½ tsp salt 

¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper

3 tbsp olive oil

4 salmon fillets, skin on (the skin helps to keep the salmon’s shape when serving, but skin-off fillets can also be used)

CREAMY LEMON DILL SAUCE

1 tablespoon whole-egg mayonnaise

1 container of plain Greek yogurt

1 tsp dijon mustard

3 tbsp finely chopped fresh dill

½ lemon, juiced

1 tsp finely chopped capers

1 tsp salt

½ tsp honey (optional)

TO SERVE

Green leafy salad”

Get all that?

Let’s see how well we follow directions.

Dill sauce first.

Grab your plain Greek yogurt.

Some dijon and just a bit of mayo. The original recipe was 50/50 mayo to yogurt which was too much goddamn mayo for this dish.

Juice of 1/2 lemon. Save the other half for the fish.

Toss in your capers and the dill, salt and honey then combine.

Dill sauce.

This shit is fantastic on everything. Grab some chips and use this as a dip. It’s killer.

Refrigerate until serving.

We start the potatoes by par-boiling them for 25 minutes.

Let cool and drain. At least 10 minutes, we want the potato dry to produce the crispiness we’re going for.

Line a cooking sheet with parchment paper and using the bottom of a glass, lightly smash each potato. Then drizzle on some olive oil and a sprinkle of salt.

These will cook at 425 degrees for a total of 45 minutes. Since the fish will cook at the same temp, set your first timer for 30 minutes. Then add the sheet pan of fish, set the timer to 15 minutes and everything finishes at once.

Let’s start the marinade for the salmon. We begin by mincing 3 tablespoons of flat leaf parsley.

Then the rest of the marinade ingredients.

Quick and easy. You won’t need to marinate very long either. Just a few minutes and it will be fine.

Let’s get a look at our fish.

Decent price and a really nice piece of fish. I got a pretty good yield from these 2 packages.

Slice each filet in half and apply the marinade.

I’m using parchment paper for everything today. Fuck it! I ain’t cleaning no shit-encrusted baking sheet today.

Bake the salmon for those last 15 minutes of potato baking time as mentioned above.

Potatoes are done.

Place a slab of potato on a plate with one of the salmon filets alongside a spinach salad. Don’t forget the lemon caper dill sauce.

Close up.

Clean up that photo, Soldier!

Whaddaya think? Huh?

Flawless execution!

The salmon was cooked to perfection. It’s got that hit of dijon and garlic that is goddamn magical with the lemon adding a burst of acidity. The fish is delicate but deeply satisfying. That’s what I love about salmon, it’s got all of the health benefits of eating fish but it satisfies almost like a red meat. So damn good.

The potatoes are excellent. That crisp from leaving the skins on is crazy. It’s got almost a potato chip crunch on the bottom. You can gussy these things up like a motherfucker too. Add fresh herbs, add some parmesan – holy shit that would be excellent here. Customize to your heart’s desire.

This is a flat out fabulous meal. My body was practically cheering after I was finished eating.

You got any cooking chops at all?

Make this, dammit. This is a “bookmark the page” and keep forever recipe.

You’re welcome.

This weeks “fun” holidays courtesy of A Bit of Good News: “July 12 is National Different Colored Eyes Day, National Eat Your Jello Day, National Pecan Pie Day, National Simplicity Day, Barn Day, Etch-A-Sketch Day and Paper Bag Day.”

Not sure that paper bags deserve their own fucking day. I can get a small one and drink my beers from it, I guess. How will you celebrate paper bag day?

Fuck sake.

That’s all I’ve got for today.

Take care of yourselves and for god sake appreciate your hearing while you have it. We don’t have enough senses that we can afford to lose one.

See you all next week.