Sunday, December 1, 2013

Dishwasher Salmon and Unforgettable Stories

by Danica Winters
My latest short story, Christmas Wishes, which is also included in the bestselling anthology Christmas Romance (The Best Short Romances of 2013), is not only a story about love, moving forward, and wishing, but there is also a side story about a fish.

A fish? Yes, a fish. And not just any fish, but a salmon to be exact.

I have received many lovely letters about that silly fish. Most ask: "Can you really cook a fish in the dishwasher?" The answer is simple. Yes, you can cook a fish in the dishwasher. Yet, if you are like Lee from Christmas Wishes, I strongly suggest that you do so at your own risk! :)

For those of us who can cook, here is the recipe for Dishwasher Salmon. Enjoy! (But remember to never use dish soap when cooking! LOL)
 

Dishwasher Salmon

 Ingredients
4 6-ounce salmon fillets
4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
heavy duty aluminum foil
Dill Sauce:
2 tablespoons butter
2 leeks, white part only, finely chopped, then thoroughly washed
1 jalapeño chili, seeds and membranes removed, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup vegetable or chicken stock
1 1/2 cups lightly packed fresh dill, stems removed before measuring
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup sour cream

Directions

  1. Cut two 12-inch square sheets of aluminum foil.
  2. Place two fillets side by side on each square and fold up the outer edges.
  3. Drizzle 1 tablespoon lemon juice over each fillet. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Fold and pinch the aluminum foil extra tightly to create a watertight seal around each pair of fillets. Make sure the packet is airtight by pressing down on it gently with your hand. If air escapes easily, rewrap.
  5. Place foil packets on the top rack of the dishwasher. Run dishwasher for the entire "normal" cycle.
  6. When cycle is complete, take out salmon, discard foil, place one fillet on each plate, and spoon a generous serving of dill sauce overtop.
Don’t have a dishwasher? Bake foil-wrapped packets in a preheated 400°F oven for 12 minutes.
Sauce
  1. Melt the butter over medium heat in a sauté pan.
  2. Add the leek, jalapeño, and garlic and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the leeks are translucent—but not brown.
  3. Reduce heat to medium and add the stock. Simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. (Adjust heat as required to maintain simmer.) The liquid should reduce by half.
  4. Remove from heat and let cool.
  5. Transfer to a blender or food processor and add the dill, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Puree until smooth. Reserve and reheat just before serving. Stir in the sour cream at the last minute.





 



3 comments:

Mindy Hardwick said...

I love the dishwasher fish! My Dad showed me how to do this, too. It's a great recipe and surprises everyone when you pull dinner out of the dishwasher.

Catherine Lee said...

No, No, No! That's just not right! Who was the first person to say to themselves, "HEY, I think I'll cook this salmon in the dishwasher."?

ELF said...

Wow, that's an interesting idea...not sure I would want my dishwasher to smell like salmon though! Good luck on your releases.