♥︎Egg clouds with pancetta, thyme & oregano

For ➍

80 g pancetta*

4 eggs

2 sprigs of thyme

1 ts oregano

2 tbs olive oil

pepper & salt

Preheat the oven to 170°C. Separate the egg whites from the egg yolks. Beat the egg whites until foamy with the thyme, oregano, salt and pepper. Cover an oven tray with baking paper and spoon 4 mounds of meringue onto it. Make a well in each meringue and carefully pour in the egg yolks. Sprinkle with the finely chopped pancetta and place in the oven for 8 m.

Drizzle the eggs with a dash of olive oil and serve. Finish with arugula or another fresh herb if desired.

*Replace the pancetta with smoked turkey bacon or smoked salmon for a heart-friendly version or with spicy chorizo for an extra spicy version.

Salmon & miso butter & spinach

For ➍
25 g butter, at room temperature
25 g miso paste
1 ts finely grated lemon zest
1 ts lemon juice
250 g spinach
2 shallots
1 clove of garlic
4 tbs oil
salt
4 salmon fillets (150 g each)

Mix the soft butter with the miso paste, the finely grated lemon zest and the lemon juice into a smooth paste. [Put in the center of a piece of cling film. Roll up the foil tightly to form a roll, and twist the sides like with a toffee.]* Cool in the refrigerator.
Clean the spinach, wash the leaves and drain in a colander.
Peel and chop the shallots and garlic clove. Heat 1 tbs of oil in a large saucepan and sauté the shallot and garlic until translucent. Add the spinach. Sprinkle with salt and spoon the spinach leaves until shrunk. Add a little more salt if necessary.  Keep the spinach warm.
Grill the salmon fillet strips over hot coals or fry them in a non-stick pan in 3 tbs of oil.  Allow 3 to 4 m per side**.  Season the grilled or fried salmon with salt and put miso butter on top.
Serve the salmon on a bed of spinach. Serve with glass noodles or soba noodles. ***

*Optional
**The salmon will be glassy inside. If preferred, cook it for 1-2 m longer. 

Alternatively, marinate the salmon in a mix from miso paste, soy sauce, mirin, sesame oil, fresh garlic, ginger powder & honey. In a cast iron skillet fry the salmon with the non-skin part facing down for 1 m. Then flip salmon over and bring the cast iron into the oven and bake for 8-11 m (depending on thickness of salmon)Send salmon into the oven directly and bake for 11-15 minutes (depending on thickness of salmon). Or bake salmon in the oven directly bake for 11-15 minutes (depending on thickness of salmon). You can mix half of the marinate with 1or 2 tbs of water, boil for a m, and glaze the salmon with it, instead of using the miso butter. 

***Add some sauce to the noodles to spice them up.

Thai fish soup

For ➍
1 tbs cooking oil
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1 ts fresh ginger, grated
¼ red onion, thinly sliced
½ red chilli pepper, sliced (optional)
1 stalk lemongrass, bottom stalk only, bruised (substitute with peel of lemon or lime)*
4 kaffir lime leaves, torn (substitute with peel of lemon or lime)*
40 cl can coconut milk
2 dl vegetable broth
juice of ½ lime
1 tbs fish sauce
175 g shrimps, peeled & deveined
220 g salmon, cut into 2.5 cm chunks
assorted vegetables, such as spinach, snow peas, kale, tomatoes, bell pepper, etc.
1 tbs minced cilantro/coriander

In a wok or soup pot over medium high heat, add cooking oil and swirl to coat. When hot, add in the garlic, ginger, red onion, chilli pepper, lemongrass, kaffir and gently cook for about 2 m to release the aromas and flavors.
Pour in the coconut milk and broth and let simmer for 15 m. Remove the lemongrass, kaffir (or the lemon/lime peel if using)* and discard. Season broth with fish sauce and lime juice to taste.
Add shrimp, salmon, vegetables and cilantro. Cook for 3-4 m or until the shrimp and salmon is cooked through.
Add 250 g cooked dried rice noodles to turn the soup into a light dish.

*When substituting with the peel of a lemon or lime, use a vegetable peeler to get thin strips of peel  and give each strip a good bruising or twist to release the oils.
**Eventually, add some fresh tomatoes, cut into wedges.

Salmon poke tower

For /➊➋➌➍➎➏➐➑➒➓/
raw salmon in pieces, marinated with soy sauce & sriracha mayo
pieces of avocado
seaweed salad
cooked edamame
sliced spring onion
mix of sesame & poppy seeds

Place the ingredients in the ring. Press each layer well. Create a layer with
rice,
cucumber,
marinated salmon,
avocado,
seaweed salad,
edamame beans,
spring onion.
Squeeze a strand of sirarcha mayo over the ingredients.
Sprinkle with mix of sesame and poppy seeds.
Serve.

Smoked salmon & pea lemon risotto

For ➋-➌ 

2 tbs extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling 

1 small onion, finely chopped 

1 garlic clove, crushed 

200 g Arborio rice 

10 cl dry white wine 

80 cl fish stock 

1 mug (120-150 g) frozen peas, defrosted 

125 g smoked salmon 

1 lemon, zest & juice 

small bunch dill, finely chopped* 

freshly ground black pepper 

1 tbs cream cheese or mascarpone****

  

Heat the oil in a heavy-based frying pan placed over a medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3–4 m, until soft but not coloured. 

 Add the rice and stir well to coat in the oil. Cook for 2 m, stirring frequently. Pour in the wine and cook until it’s almost all evaporated. 

Add a ladleful of stock and stir until the liquid is absorbed completely.** 

Gradually add the remaining stock a ladleful at a time, stirring until all the liquid has absorbed before adding more. This should take around 18–20 m. ** 

Add the peas with the final ladleful of stock and allow them to heat through.*** 

 Once the stock is absorbed and the rice is tender but still has a little bite, stir in the smoked salmon, lemon zest, juice and dill. ****

Drizzle over a little olive oil, season with pepper and serve. 

*When using dried dill, mix a heaped tbs with 1 tbs olive oil, and let it stand for 10 m. Mix with salmon, to spread the taste

**Use an alternative easier method.

***When using g the alternative, drop in the peas 5 m before the rice is ready.

****[Stir if wanted 1 tbs cream cheese or mascarpone through the lemon juice and lemon zest].

Cod with spinach, shallots, smoked salmon & Blanche du Hainaut

For ➋

800 g cod fillets 

4 tbs olive oil 

15 cl Dupont Blanche, Hainaut white beer

500 g spinach 

4 shallots, chopped 

100 g butter 

100 g smoked salmon, cubed

400 g potatoes 

1 bunch of chives 

25 cl fresh cream 

1 egg

Bake the cod fillets slightly in olive oil. Bake for 10 m in the oven at 180 ° C. 

Deglaze with white beer and simmer for 1 m.. 

Meanwhile, stew the spinach leaves cooked and shallots briefly in 50 g of butter . Add the smoked salmon into cubes increased. 

Boil and mash the potatoes. Add a bunch of chopped chives and warm cream to the puree.  Mix well and season with salt and pepper, then add the egg and 50 grams of butter.

Serve.

Braised fennel with lemon

For ➋ or ➍ (as side dish)

3 fennel bulbs, quartered

15-25 cl water**

8 cl olive oil

2 ts ground fennel seeds

2 tbs freshly squeezed lemon juice* 

1 tbs chopped fennel fronds

Arrange the fennel in a large skillet. Add enough water to the pan to come at lease halfway up the sides of the fennel. **

Drizzle the fennel with the olive oil, sprinkle with the fennel seeds and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. 

Bring the fennel to a simmer, cover and cook over medium heat, shaking the pan every now and then, until the fennel is tender, 20-30 m.** 

Remove the lid for the last few m of cooking to allow the liquid to reduce and thicken. 

Stir in the lemon juice* and fennel fronds. 

Serve the fennel drizzled with the thickened cooking liquid. 

Serve with roasted chicken, grilled halibut or salmon, grilled or roasted meats. 

*Use fresh blood orange juice instead.

**Chop the fennel, add 4 tbs blood orange juice, 2 tbs olive oil, cover and cook in the microwave (about 7 m for 500 g fennel). Serve with cherry tomatoes and fregola, and roasted salmon.

Salmon in lime broth

For ➋

30 cl chicken or vegetable stock*

1 lemongrass stalk, trimmed, peeled, white part finely sliced 

2 shallots, peeled, finely sliced 

1 mild fresh red chili, finely sliced 

100 g mushrooms (oyster mushrooms or fresh shiitake), finely sliced 

1 ts sugar** 

1 tbs vegetable oil 

2 150 g fresh salmon fillets, with skins, bones removed 

sea salt & freshly ground black pepper 

100 g (baby) spinach leaves 

1 tbs (Thai) fish sauce 

1 tbs fresh lime juice 

Bring the stock to the boil in a large saucepan. Add the lemongrass, shallots, chili, mushrooms*** and sugar. Reduce the heat. Simmer for 10 m. ***

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a frying pan. Sear the salmon fillets, skin-side down, until the skin is crisp. Turn once and cook briefly on the other side, leaving the inside slightly pink. Remove from the heat and season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. 

Boil the spinach in the hot broth for 5 s, remove with a slotted spoon and arrange in warmed shallow soup bowls. 

Place the salmon on top. 

Add the fish sauce and lime juice to the broth, and spoon it around the salmon.

* Use a miso based broth instead (use 1 tbs miso paste for 30 cl water)

** Optional

*** Add mushrooms for the last 3-4 m for a meatier mushroom

Salmon fillet with beech mushrooms & green risotto

For ➍ 

150 g white & 150 g brown beech mushrooms (shimeji mushrooms) 

4 pieces  salmon with skin

300 g risotto rice

1 l stock

1 tsp turmeric 

100 g frozen peas 

1 bunch parsley or chervil, finely chopped 

2 tbs ground Parmigiano 

1 shallot 

olive oil 

3 lumps butter 

1 onion, cut 

5 cloves of garlic, sliced 

Fry the onion and 2 cloves of garlic in the oil for a few m. Add the rice and make sure it is well mixed with the oil. Extinguish with a dash of wine and let the alcohol evaporate. Add the stock, pepper and turmeric and simmer under the lid over a low heat for 15 m. Add the frozen peas and let it cook for a further 5 m. Add the finely chopped parsley or chervil along with the cheese and the knob of butter to the rice, heat well and season if necessary. 

Cut the feet of the beech mushrooms because they are tough, but use the stems. Heat the oil and fry the shallot and 3 cloves of garlic. Add the mushrooms and cook for 5 m. Add pepper and salt.

Season the salmon with salt and pepper. Heat the oil with the butter and fry the salmon skin side down in the pan for a few m. Brown the salmon briefly and firmly on the other side. The salmon can still be pink on the inside, but salmon that has been baked for too long is dry. 

Spoon rice in a deep plate, then dress the salmon and mushrooms. Finish with parsley, chervil and possibly violets.

Quiche with fennel & smoked salmon

For ➍

150 g smoked Atlantic salmon strips 

1 fennel 

200 g snack tomatoes 

1 roll puff pastry 

100 grated Emmenthal cheese 

1 dl milk 

4 eggs 

1 tbs butter 

1 ts dill black pepper & salt 

140 g arugula, lamb's lettuce, beetroot 

2 tbs olive oil 

1 tbs white wine vinegar

Cut the fennel in 2. Remove the hard core and cut into strips.

Cut the snack tomatoes into 2.

Preheat the oven to 180 ° C.

Melt the butter in a pan and stew the fennel for 5 m. Season with salt and pepper.

Break the eggs and mix in the milk. Season with salt and pepper.

Place the puff pastry with baking paper in a cake tin. Press the edges well and remove the excess dough. Prick the pastry base several times with a fork.

Divide the fennel over the puff pastry and sprinkle with the grated cheese. Divide the salmon strips over it and cover with the egg mixture. Place the halved tomatoes on top, cut side up. Sprinkle with the dill and place 45 m in the preheated oven.

Mix the olive oil with the white wine vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Mix into the salad mix.

Cut the quiche into wedges and serve with the salad.

Salmon with lentils & sweet potato salad & orange dressing

For ➍
4 salmon fillets, skinless, 500 g
1 ts chilli powder
1 ts salt
salad:
160 dry lentils, boiled, drained
400 g sweet potatoes, in cubes of 2x2cm
1 red chili pepper, finely chopped
1 tbs olive oil
80 g rucola
150 g feta
salt
orange dressing:
3 tbs butter
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 orange, grated zest & juice
2 tbs apple vinegar

Prepare salad.
Preheat oven to 200 ° C. Place sweet potato cubes on baking tray. Sprinkle with olive oil, salt and chili pepper. Bake 20 m.
Mix sweet potatoes with the lentils, rucola and feta in a large bowl.
Prepare orange dressing:
Melt butter, and stir until golden brown. Grate zest of ½ orange and add the juice of the whole orange. Add vinegar and remove pan from the heat.
Prepare salmon. Rub the salmon with chili and salt. Bake 6-7 m on one side over medium heat 1- m on the other side.
Serve the salmon with lentil salad and orange dressing.

Oven-roast salmon with fennel

For ➍
4 pieces salmon fillet
1 kg fennel
800 g potatoes
50 g Parmigiano
garlic paste
thyme
pepper & salt
fleur de sel

Peel the potatoes and cut into slices.
Cut the fennel into slices and finely cut the fine greenery from above. Keep this separate.
Boil or steam the fennel and potatoes until done.
Mix the fennel with garlic paste, pepper, salt and thyme.
Arrange the fennel in a baking dish and place all the slices of potato on top. Season with pepper and salt.
Sprinkle the grated Parmigiano and the green of the fennel over it.
Then place the salmon fillets on the grated cheese, season with pepper and fleur de sel and place in a preheated oven at 225° C under the grill.*
Try to have a crispy exterior and tender fish meat.

*Or grill the salmon separately.

Soy salmon & lime tacos

For ➍
4 salmon fillets
3 tbs soy sauce
2 tbs sunflower oil
2 tbs sesame seeds
juice ½ lime
salt & pepper
pinch of garlic salt
easy guacamole:
2 avocados
½ lime
½ lemon
salt & pepper
fresh chilli (optional)
mango & watermelon salsa:
1 mango
¼ small watermelon
¼ red onion
few sprigs of parsley leaves
1 ts honey
garnish:
3 tbs pomegranate seeds
5 tbs sour cream & chives dip
2 radishes
3 tbs dried crispy onions

Place the salmon on a baking tray lined with foil or baking paper and pour over a few glugs of sunflower oil, 2 tbs of soy sauce, a handful of sesame seeds, garlic salt, pepper and a squeeze of half a lime. Making sure both sides are coated with the sauce, bake skin-side down for 20 m until the flakes come away with a fork easily.
Whilst the salmon cooks in the oven, prepare your accompanying ingredients.
-(Guacamole) Halve and stone 2 avocados and use a spoon to scoop out the flesh into a bowl. Mash with a pinch of salt, pepper, a squeeze of lemon and lime and some chilli, if desired.
-(Salsa) Finely dice parsley, mango, watermelon and red onion for the salsa. Squeeze some lime and a tiny drizzle of honey and mix well.
Place small soft flour tortillas on a dry hot pan for 30 s to warm through.
Assemble salmon taco with guacamole and pomegranate seeds: spread guacamole over the base of the taco spoon over some of the salsa and add some salmon flakes on top. To garnish sprinkle some pomegranate seeds and some chopped parsley.
Assemble salmon taco with sour cream and chives: start with sour cream and chives spread over the taco base, spoon over the salsa and layer salmon flakes. Add thinly sliced radishes and garnish with some chopped parsley.
Serve with corn on the cob cut up into pieces, and quartered fresh limes.

Lemon herb salmon & zucchini

For ➍
4 zucchini, chopped
2 tbs olive oil
salt & freshly ground black pepper
2 tbs brown sugar, packed
2 tbs freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tbs Dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ ts dried dill
½ ts dried oregano
¼ ts dried thyme
¼ ts teaspoon dried rosemary
4 salmon fillets
2 tbs chopped fresh parsley leaves

Preheat oven to 200°C. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray.
In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar, lemon juice, Dijon, garlic, dill, oregano, thyme and rosemary; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.
Place zucchini in a single layer onto the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add salmon in a single layer and brush each salmon filet with herb mixture.
Place into oven and cook until the fish flakes easily with a fork, about 16-18 m.
Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.

Salmon rolls

For ➊➋ rolls
for 12
1 cucumber, washed & unpeeled
5 cl (sushi) vinegar
6 tbs herb goat's cheese
4 slices smoked salmon
dill
salmon eggs*

Cut long strips of cucumber with a peeler. Leave the peel on.
Marinate the cucumber strips for a moment in the vinegar.
Dry the cucumber strips and cover them thinly with cheese. Place small strips of smoked salmon on them.
Roll up nicely.
Decorate the salmon roll with a sprig of dill. Some salmon eggs give the snack a festive touch. Serve on a plate or on a toast.

*Use imitation fish eggs made from seaweed.
**Make this salmon roll in advance. Keep the snacks in the refrigerator on a plate with paper towels. Just before serving you finish the bite with a leaf of dill.

Quick Japanese marinated salmon

For ➋
2 salmon fillets 150 g each
1 tbs soy sauce
3 tbs mirin
1 tbs sake
½ tbs oil

Combine all ingredients except the oil in a ziplock bag, remove as much air as possible and marinate overnight (or minimum 3 h).
Heat ½ tbs oil in a non stick pan over medium heat*.
Add salmon skin side down, cook for 2 to 3 m until crispy. Check the skin to ensure it isn't cooking too quickly - if it is, then turn down the heat and/or remove the pan from the stove briefly to allow the temperature to decrease.
Drizzle over remaining marinade in the ziplock bag over the flesh side. Flip and cook the flesh side for 2 m, or to your liking. I like salmon medium rare so the inside is very moist and just cooked.
Rest for a couple of minutes, remembering that the salmon will continue to cook while resting, then serve.

*Be careful to ensure you cook it over medium heat and no higher - because of the sugar in the mirin, if you cook it on too high a heat the sugar will burn before the inside has been cooked.
**Other method: to broil/grill, preheat the broiler/grill on high. Use the oil to grease a tray, then place the salmon on it and place under the broiler/grill (about 5 inches / 15 cm from the heat source) until cooked to your liking. The general rule of thumb is 10 m per 2.5 cm thickness of the fillet (measure the thickest part of the fish).

Japanese style poached salmon

For ➍
600 g skinless salmon filets
150 g portobello mushrooms, finely chopped
3 tbs finely chopped yellow onions
20 cl mirin, sake or dry white wine (or add some water)
15 cl heavy cream*
2 tbs butter*
1 tsp fresh (or ¼ tsp dried) tarragon, finely chopped
¾ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper

Rinse salmon and pat dry with a paper towel. Cut filet into 4 equal portions.
In large skillet, arrange mushrooms and onions covering bottom of pan. Place salmon pieces on top.
Pour sake and water over salmon and bring to a boil over medium-high. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and gently simmer 3-5 m or only until salmon is slightly undercooked. Remove salmon from pan, transfer to a plate, cover with tin foil, and set aside.
Increase heat to medium-high and continue to boil mushrooms and onions until the liquid has reduced to 40 cl.
Add any extra juices from salmon plate, stir in heavy cream*, butter*, tarragon, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook 10-15 m until liquid has reduced to 10 cl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove sauce from heat and set aside.
Transfer salmon to individual serving plates, spoon mushroom reduction sauce on top of salmon. Serve immediately.

*Omit cream and butter.

Teriyaki salmon rice bowl with spinach & avocado

For ➍
500 g salmon fillet cut into 4 thin portions (skin on is ok)
teriyaki sauce
1 square sheet of nori, cut with a scissors into 2.5 cm strips, then stack the strips & cut crosswise into 2.5 by 0.5 cm confetti*
2 tbs of black or/& white sesame seeds
400 g sushi rice
16 cl homemade seasoned rice vinegar  or bought seasoned rice vinegar
500 g fresh spinach, washed
1 tbs Asian sesame oil
salt
1 bunch scallions, washed, trimmed, & sliced crosswise
1 avocado, peeled, pitted & sliced

Make the teriyaki sauce.
Toast nori and sesame seeds in a hot skillet for 2 m, stirring and tossing constantly just until sesame seeds start to get a little brown. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Make the sushi rice. Rinse rice several times to remove excess starchy powder: put rice into a large bowl and cover by an inch with water. Swish rice around with your hands. Pour off cloudy water. Repeat 2 or 3 times more. Drain in a fine mesh colander. Cook rice per package directions. (about 60 cl  water per 400 g rice and a 15 m simmer, covered) Remove rice from heat and let it sit, covered, for 10 m.
While rice is cooking, make seasoned rice vinegar. 
Transfer rice to a large nonmetallic bowl. Slowly pour 16 cl of seasoned rice vinegar over the rice, while tossing and mixing it. Cover bowl with a cloth and set aside.
Cook the spinach: Heat 1 tbs sesame oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add spinach and 2 tbs water to the pan. Cover pan and leave it for 2 m. Uncover and stir. Spinach will be mostly wilted. Cook, stirring for about 1 m more until it is completely wilted. Sprinkle with a pinch or two of salt. Remove from heat.
Cook the salmon**: Preheat oven to broil and set the rack 20 cm from the top. Place salmon skin-side down on a foil-lined jellyroll pan. Pour 6 cl of teriyaki sauce into a separate small bowl to use for glazing the salmon. Brush salmon with teriyaki sauce and cook for 2 m under the broiler. Pull salmon out of the oven and brush more teriyaki sauce on top. Return to the oven and cook for 1-3 m more, to your desired doneness. Better to undercook it slightly as it will continue to cook a bit even after it's out of the oven. Remove from oven.
Assemble rice bowls: Put rice and spinach in the bottom of a bowl. Lay salmon on top. (skin will peel off easily, if you prefer it skinless) Garnish with avocado slices. Sprinkle with scallions and nori-sesame confetti. Drizzle with teriyaki sauce. Repeat for each bowl.

*Use dried seaweed instead.  Let stand for 5 m in a bowl of water. Discard the water.
**Alternatively, cook the salmon in a frying pan, as they would in Japan. Replace teriyaki with this seasoning mix.
2 fillets salmon with skin (2 fillets =  340 g) (1 to 1.8 cm thickness, skin will hold the flesh together while cooking); ¼ ts salt; freshly ground black pepper; 1 tbs all-purpose flour; ½ tbs neutral flavor oil (vegetable, canola, etc); 1 tbs unsalted butter; 1 tbs sake
Seasonings: 1 tbs sake (or Chinese rice wine or dry sherry); 1 tbs mirin (or 1 tbs sake + 1 ts sugar); 1 tbs granulated sugar; 2 tbs soy sauce
Combine the ingredients for seasonings and mix well until the sugar is mostly dissolved (or you can microwave for seconds). Rinse the salmon and pat dry. Season the salmon with kosher salt and black pepper on both sides.
Sprinkle ½ tbs of all-purpose flour on one side of salmon and spread evenly. Flip over and sprinkle the rest of flour on the other side. Gently remove the excess flour.
In a frying pan, add the vegetable oil and melt the butter over medium heat. Don’t burn the butter. If the frying pan gets too hot, reduce heat or remove from the heat temporally.
Add the salmon fillets, skin side on the bottom (this will be top when you serve). Cook the salmon for 3 m, or until the bottom side is nicely browned.
Add sake and cover with lid. Steam the salmon for 3 m, or until it's cooked through. Remove the salmon to a plate.
Add the seasonings to the pan and increase the heat little bit. When the sauce starts to boil, add salmon back in the pan and spoon the sauce over the salmon.
When the sauce thickens, turn off the heat. Plate the salmon on a plate and serve immediately.
http://www.justonecookbook.com/teriyaki-salmon-recipe/
***Make the teriyaki sauce and toast the sesame seeds and nori in advance. Keeps in airtight containers in the fridge for a week or so. The rice is best made fresh.
This is a very adaptable recipe. Eat it hot, cold or at room temperature. Try it with different vegetables like sautéed snow peas, sugar snap peas or asparagus (cut on the diagonal into bite-sized pieces). Use tofu or chicken instead of salmon.

Teriyaki sauce & glace

For ➍
18 cl soy sauce
18 cl mirin (rice wine)
100 g sugar (white or brown)*
1 ts finely minced garlic (optional)
1 ts finely minced ginger (optional)

In a small saucepan bring soy sauce, mirin, sugar, garlic (if using) and ginger (if using) to a gentle boil. Lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, until slightly thickened, about 10 m. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
Use with salmon or chicken, or rice bowl. Use to marinate** or as a glace.
To make a glaze: mix ½ tbs cornstarch with 1 tbs water. Heat sauce on medium high heat and add cornstarch water mixture. Simmer until thickened about 1 m.

*Classic teriyaki sauce is made of equal parts sake, mirin and soy sauce. It can be adjusted with some sugar, if needed.
**Most Japanese recipes, s.a. for salmon, don't marinate the fish, just brush it.

Japanese raw salmon & avocado rice

For ➍
300 g sushi rice
350 g skinless salmon fillet
2 small, ripe avocados, sliced
juice 1 lemon
4 ts light soy sauce
4 ts toasted sesame seeds
2 spring onions / scallions, thinly sliced
1 red chilli, deseeded & thinly sliced
small handful coriander leaves
salt

Rinse the rice in a sieve until the water runs clear. Drain and put in a large pan with 4 dl water. Bring to the boil, turn the heat to low, cover, then cook for 10-12 m until the rice is almost cooked. Remove from the heat, then leave, covered, for another 10 m.
Thinly slice the salmon and arrange on a platter with the sliced avocado. Drizzle over the lemon juice and soy, making sure everything is evenly covered. Leave in the fridge to marinate for 10 m.
Carefully tip the juices from the salmon platter into the rice, then stir in with a little salt. Divide the rice between 4 bowls.
Scatter the sesame seeds, spring onions, chilli and coriander over the salmon and avocado, then serve with the rice.

A sushi like combination without the rolling.