Salmon Rockefeller
½ teaspoon fennel seed
12 ounces fresh baby spinach leaves, divided
6 tablespoons (¾ stick) unsalted butter, diced
4 scallions (white and light green parts only), finely chopped
3 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh tarragon leaves
2 tablespoons finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano® cheese
4 teaspoons anise-flavored liqueur (anise apértif)
3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
½ teaspoon white wine vinegar
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4 skinless salmon fillets, each 6 to 8 ounces and about 1 inch thick, pin bones removed
Cooked white rice
In a spice mill finely crush the fennel seed. Pour the crushed seed into a food processor along with ½ cup packed spinach leaves, the remaining butter ingredients, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Whirl until the spinach and scallions are finely chopped and the butter is well blended, scraping down the sides of the bowl often.
Prepare the grill for direct cooking over medium heat (350° to 450°F).
Season the fillets on both sides with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper and arrange them on a 12-by-7-inch sheet pan lined with aluminum foil. Spread 2 to 3 tablespoons of the butter over the top of each fillet. Reserve any butter not used for cooking the remaining spinach.
Cook the fillets on the sheet pan over direct medium heat, with the lid closed, until cooked to your desired doneness, 8 to 12 minutes for medium rare (do not turn). Transfer the pan with the fillets to a heatproof surface. Remove the fillets from the pan and reserve the buttery juices. Keep the fillets warm while preparing the spinach.
Add any reserved butter and the remaining spinach to the pan. Use tongs to coat the spinach with the butter. Place the pan over direct medium heat, close the lid, and cook until the spinach is wilted, 2 to 3 minutes, turning occasionally. Remove from the grill.
Divide the rice among four individual plates and top with the spinach and a salmon fillet. Serve warm.
Serves: 4 Prep Time: 20 min Grill Time: 10-15 min
