Easy & Quick Salmon Recipe with Dill Sauce
I've always been curious about myths and legends: Ancient Greek, Egyptian, Scandinavian, any... Did you know that most herbs and spices have a story or two to tell about their mythical origins? The laurel tree, for example, was once a nymph chased by Apollo, who was madly in love with her. An olive branch brought by the dove gave Noah a clear sign that the flood was over and, thanks to Picasso's painting, it is now a world-famous symbol of peace. As for dill, the whole story has been lost to history – all we know is that there was once a young boy called Anethus who, for some reason, was turned into a herb called dill, which in ancient times was thought to cure many illnesses. Since dill and salmon are inseparable in Scandinavia (it's one of the most popular food combinations in Northern Europe), my friend from Finland came up with her own version: she suggested that Anethus wasn't transformed into a herb by magical powers, but rather travelled very far and brought the seeds of dill to one of the Scandinavian islands, where it has been cultivated ever since. And then, perhaps, Anethus decided to settle there, and the reason was love, of course... But let's not go into too much detail!
This recipe is healthy, tasty and easy. And if you've never tried salmon with creme fraiche and dill, give it a try. It is an obsession in the Scandinavian countries for a reason.
It would be great to know what your favorite legend or myth?
Ingredients:
Salmon:
½ tbsp Olive oil
1 tbsp Butter
4 Salmon fillets
Salt, Black pepper
1 Shallot
2 cloves Garlic
Zest of 1 Lemon
3/4 cup (180ml) Chicken stock
3/4 cup (200g) Crème fraîche or Sour cream
Handful of fresh Dill
½ tablespoon Butter
Garnish, mashed potatoes:
1kg/2lb russet potatoes
1 tbsp salt (for the water)
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup (130ml) warm milk
Kitchen utensils: frying pan, spatula, zest grater, chopping board, knife, plate.