Salmon Asparagus Sushi Recipes

FUN SALMON HAND ROLL

Steps:

• *Can be found at specialty Asian markets
• Serving suggestion: wasabi, sweet picked ginger, soy sauce
• In a medium bowl, mix together the chopped salmon, sesame oil, soy sauce, and mint leaves. Place a sheet of nori, shiny side down, on a work surface. Place 1/4 cup of the rice on the left side of the nori sheet. Using wet fingers, form the rice into a 3-inch square, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Place about 2 tablespoons of the salmon mixture, diagonally, in a 1/2-inch wide strip, on the rice, with the top of the salmon mixture facing the top left corner. Place a spear of asparagus on top of the salmon. Starting with the bottom left corner, roll the nori over the filling. Continue to roll, ice cream cone-fashion, working towards the right corner of the nori. Seal the edge of the hand roll with water or a few grains of the cooked rice. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
• Arrange on a serving platter and serve with wasabi, sweet pickled ginger and soy sauce.
• Yield: 8 hand rolls
• *Can be found at specialty Asian markets
• Place the rice and water in a medium saucepan over high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover the pan and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 25 minutes. Sprinkle the vinegar over the rice and mix with a fork. Transfer the cooked rice to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Allow the rice to cool completely before using.

SAVORY CREPE ROLLUPS

Steps:

• Lay crepe flat on a clean work surface. In a bowl, stir together cream cheese, lemon zest, and juice; season with salt and pepper. Spread evenly to edges of crepe. Cut crepe in half.
• Blanch asparagus in generously salted boiling water until crisp tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to an ice water bath until cold; drain and pat dry. Top each crepe half with 2 slices prosciutto and 2 blanched asparagus spears, laying them parallel to long, cut side of crepe, leaving a 1/2-inch border at cut edges.
• Starting at rounded ends, tightly roll each half to enclose filling, gently pressing long, cut end to adhere. To serve, trim ends and cut crosswise into approximate 1-inch pieces of "sushi."
• For salmon variation, sprinkle chopped scallions over cream cheese, replace prosciutto with smoked salmon, and omit asparagus.

GRILLED SALMON SUSHI-RICE BOWL

Steps:

• To make the sauce, combine the wasabi powder and water in a saucepan and let bloom for 5 minutes. Add 3/4 cup ponzu, the sake and grated ginger and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the sauce is reduced by half, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the fish and asparagus in a large baking dish. Pour the remaining ponzu sauce and the oil over the fish and asparagus and turn to coat evenly. Let stand for 10 minutes.
• In a small frying pan, toast the sesame seeds over medium heat, shaking the pan frequently, until lightly colored, 3 to 4 minutes. Immediately pour onto a plate to cool. Place a grill pan over medium heat until hot. Lift the asparagus from the marinade, place in the pan and cook, turning occasionally, until tender-crisp, about 3 minutes. Transfer the asparagus to a plate and cover with aluminum foil, shiny side down, to keep warm. Lift the fish from the marinade and place in the grill pan. Cook, turning once, until it turns opaque and just begins to flake, 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
• To serve, divide the rice among 4 bowls. Top with a piece of fish and some asparagus. Pour 1/4 cup of the sauce over the fish in each bowl. Garnish each serving with the sesame oil, green onions, avocado, cucumber, pickled ginger and sesame seeds.
• In a bowl, combine all the ingredients and stir until the sugar dissolves. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator; it will keep for up to 1 month.
• Place the rice in a bowl. Add cold water to cover and wash the rice well by rubbing it between your hands, then drain. Repeat twice more. Pour the rice into a strainer to drain.
• Place the rinsed rice and the 2 cups water in a 2 to 3-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the rice stand for 10 minutes.
• In a small pan, heat the vinegar, sugar, mirin and salt over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat.
• Turn out the cooked rice into a large wooden or plastic bowl, and pour the vinegar mixture evenly over the rice. Fold the liquid in with a wooden rice paddle. At the same time, fan the rice to bring out the luster of the grains. Continue fanning and folding until the rice absorbs all the liquid. Cover with a damp cloth and let stand until ready to use. It will hold at room temperature for up to 4 hours.

SALMON, ASPARAGUS, AND LEEK IN PARCHMENT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees with racks in upper and lower thirds. Cut four 12-by-17-inch pieces of parchment. Fold each in half crosswise to make a crease, then unfold and lay flat. Toss asparagus and leek with oil in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• Season fish with salt and pepper. Arrange a fillet on one side of crease on each piece of parchment. Top with asparagus mixture, dividing evenly. Fold each piece of parchment over, then make small overlapping pleats to seal open sides, creating half-moon-shaped packets.
• Bake on 2 rimmed baking sheets, 10 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer to plates and carefully cut packets open with kitchen shears (steam will be released). Serve, topped with herbs and squeezed with lemon wedges.