I’ve noticed that my blog postings have slowed to a trickle lately. This can be attributed to the normal “so hectic at work” response, but it’s due mainly to the hot, humid weather. Even with the air conditioning on, a 40-minute oven-roasted vegetable dish can wreak havoc on my comfort level.
That being said, I’m glad that this week’s ffwD assignment was quick to prepare. From the salmon’s 4-minute searing on the stove top to its 6-minute bake time, this dish made almost no difference to my indoor climate control. And, it ended up being tasty as well.
In my preparations, I left out the basil and used chopped mint leaves mixed in with Cat Cora’s Greek Kalamata olive tapenade with sundried tomato that I already had on-hand. Dorie instructed us to slice pockets into the salmon fillets and massage the tapenade mixture inside. I did this step, but I don’t believe it added anything to the fish as the drizzle on top was satisfying enough. I served the salmon on a bed of organic herb mixed greens.
To see how other bloggers liked the salmon with basil tapenade, check out French Fridays with Dorie where we make recipes from Dorie Greenspan’s Around My French Table: More Than 300 Recipes from My Home to Yours.
Jul 20, 2012 @ 06:36:40
I envy the fact that you work and blog at the same time! I work from home and still find it difficult. I have always wondered what a tapenade was, I have heard the word and seen it on many menus but never bothered to understand what it was. Now I know!
Jul 20, 2012 @ 06:39:44
Very sexy picture indeed – well done.
Jul 20, 2012 @ 06:41:09
Looks so good. And you’re right, with the weather so hot, this dish is quick, fast, and easy and healthy!!! =) Have a great weekend and I’ll take a plate or two of these..LOL!
Jul 20, 2012 @ 06:54:32
Sorry to hear about the heat. Glad you got the chance to make this salmon dish – it looks amazing.
Jul 20, 2012 @ 07:12:45
Yes, the heat has been brain numbing… Thank goodness it finally broke yesterday & overnight temps finally were back down to the 50′s up here.
Your salmon looks lovely – great color!
Jul 20, 2012 @ 07:54:23
I sooo know what you mean about the heating changing the way you cook. I am now stalking any drop in temps to slide in a batch of muffins at 6 AM. The salmon looks delicious–nice to have another idea for a “cool kitchen” recipe.
Jul 20, 2012 @ 08:19:17
this looks so good – incredibly healthy and full of flavor – wonderful dish !
Mary x
Jul 20, 2012 @ 08:57:02
Yep, the heatwave was unbearable, no way was that oven going to get turned on. Getting a break from the heat today and the weekend is supposed to be pleasant. Salmon dish looks delicious, love your presentation.
Jul 20, 2012 @ 09:53:33
I have the same problem with the heat and I am having serious salmon envy for your salmon since I burned mine
…the tapenade was good though!
Jul 20, 2012 @ 11:13:25
The hot humid weather has done it to me!! Your salmon looks wonderful…lovely photo!
Jul 20, 2012 @ 11:39:09
Gorgeous!
Jul 20, 2012 @ 12:38:11
This looks delicious, Yummy.
Jul 20, 2012 @ 13:37:07
Haha, it’s true, the hot weather is making me lethargic, and not want to turn the oven on at ALL. But it’s raining today, I think the oven will be on
This looks SO good, I love salmon so much, but I haven’t had any in such a long time!
Jul 20, 2012 @ 14:25:20
I hear ya about the weather! We finally had rain yesterday and we’re much cooler…at least for today. Your salmon looks gorgeous!
Jul 20, 2012 @ 14:44:35
I remember those days. I had a hard and fast rule about turning the oven on as soon as the temps went above 80. I know, I’m a wimp. But here in Frankfurt we are having the opposite of a heat wave this summer so it really hasn’t been an issue for me.
Jul 20, 2012 @ 15:03:28
This looks mouthwatering, and definitely worth turning on the oven even in the heat!
Jul 20, 2012 @ 15:11:23
This looks like one stunning salmon my friend – gorgeous picture to the max
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Jul 20, 2012 @ 15:40:21
I wish I’d had some ready made tapenade. It would have made this much simpler. But it was delicious and the tapenade great!
Jul 20, 2012 @ 16:59:44
Ugh. I am just super unmotivated to post right now. My life is just getting too demanding. And it’s SOOOOO hot here too. Last thing I want to do is get in the kitchen. This is an awesome dish to beat the heat with though. Looks fabulous!
Jul 20, 2012 @ 18:16:42
That is one beautiful photo. It brings salmon up a big notch. Hubby and I
enjoyed this recipe a lot and I will be repeating it again.
Jul 20, 2012 @ 20:30:45
That photo certainly is impressive. What a gorgeous plate of food to serve someone. (or eat all by yourself)
Jul 20, 2012 @ 20:59:25
I’m sitting here huddled by the heater. I’ve just been to my son’s rugby game where my hands became so numb I couldn’t feel them. And there you are sweltering in one of your hottest summers ever. Such a contrast. Your salmon with the mint tapenade looks great. I love the contrasting colours and I’m sure the flavours are wonderful xx
Jul 20, 2012 @ 21:00:13
OMG – that color is ridiculously fab.
Jul 20, 2012 @ 21:34:33
Looks yummy!
Jul 21, 2012 @ 02:01:44
I love a good salmon, although I think I generally prefer it raw (or close to raw) than very cooked. Your salmon looks very good though, must have been great with the mint tapenade!
Jul 21, 2012 @ 03:32:00
humid summer reminds me of Japanese summer. After living in California for such a long time, I feel like I almost forgot what’s like. I remember the feeling of not wanting to do anything – cooking/baking? No way. But you made such a delicious meal! This mint tapenade makes me curious. Salmon is always our favorite in our household. Looks yum!!
Jul 21, 2012 @ 03:41:04
I love salmon, and the idea of mint is really interesting! it would be cool and refreshing in the heat, i think! It is hard to stay motivated to cook in the heat, I’m sure! That’s why I read blogs such as yours–I need the motivation!
I think this tapenade would be good with other things, too, so fun to try! Debra
Jul 21, 2012 @ 05:43:29
My blog posts have slowed to the same trickle my friend! Summer and work and life can do that to you.
The salmon looks delicious – one of my most favorite things ever.
Have a great weekend!
Jul 21, 2012 @ 08:23:40
Great photo shoot. Salmon looks so juicy and delicate. I am glad you have a no fuss dinner so that you can take a much needed rest. Stay cool and take care, BAM
Jul 21, 2012 @ 09:30:38
Yeah, now that you mention it I think the tapenade stuffing is an extraneous step. Until this dish I never really thought of olive, basil, and mint together…so that was a new one to me. This one went over very ell and was requested to be in the salmon rotation…so next time I’m just doing as you suggest and we’ll see if its even noticed!
Jul 21, 2012 @ 10:57:28
Beautiful picture and tasty looking recipe! I love the contrasting colors of the salmon and the greens. Brava!!
Jul 21, 2012 @ 11:11:40
I love salmon and usually I make it teriyaki. This tapenade looks perfect and I am going to bookmark this to try it!
Jul 21, 2012 @ 14:35:19
mmmmm…mint. Great idea!!!
Jul 21, 2012 @ 21:30:23
I agree that it’s enough to just drizzle on top. The stuffing didn’t add much flavor for me. Glad you were able to make this in spite of the heat. Stay cool.
Jul 22, 2012 @ 00:56:32
Salmon is my favourite
This post makes me want to eat salmon for dinner tonight 
xox, c
http://http://carolyntay.blogspot.com/
Jul 22, 2012 @ 01:25:50
This looks great. I definitely want to give it a try.
And I totally get what you mean about the weather shaping your desire to cook!
Jul 22, 2012 @ 02:49:10
I’m sure your dish tastes as good as it looks. =) I must try
Jul 22, 2012 @ 07:06:15
I just love your minty twist on the tapenade! Very hot weather is a pain, gets everyone so cranky. Have a great week!
Jul 22, 2012 @ 10:45:40
I love salmon — this looks heavenly!
Jul 22, 2012 @ 11:44:10
What a great dish!
Jul 22, 2012 @ 23:32:50
ah what a nice, succulent piece of salmon there! delicious!
—ohfishiee
Jul 23, 2012 @ 07:53:33
Great photo! I love salmon and I love the way you plate them, so mouth-watering!
Jul 23, 2012 @ 08:28:23
Salmon is one of my favorite fish. I love the way you have cooked this. A must try!
Jul 23, 2012 @ 10:30:56
Beautiful! I agree with you on the massaging step. It didn’t need it.
Jul 23, 2012 @ 10:33:10
This looks very tasty and healthy
Jul 23, 2012 @ 14:56:42
The inclusion of mint is a great choice here and your salmon looks positively gorgeous!
Jul 23, 2012 @ 19:29:38
Sorry about the weather…I cannot complain since we live by the beach the weather here is always nice.
The salmon looks fantastic…great dinner recipe
Hope you have a nicer week ahead!
Jul 23, 2012 @ 19:43:57
I agree, the pockets and infusion of tapenade into the fillets didn’t add anything, in my opinion. You are the first blogger who has written that. Although this was delicious, I wish I hadn’t left it in the oven for 6 minutes. I like more “bounce to my middle”. I thot the salmon was a bit overcooked. Still, I agree, a good recipe and I think the small changes you made, mint, tomatoes in the tapenade, only enhanced it.
Jul 23, 2012 @ 21:11:19
the tapenade looks incredible. Seriously incredible. I love salmon and the flavors all go perfectly with each other. I am coming to your house for dinner
Jul 24, 2012 @ 08:59:03
We’re having a heat wave here too, more like a humid wave actually. I’ve been thinking about cooking a few Salmon steaks on the grill but to be perfectly honest, the humidity is so thick I’m not sure I want to stand over the grill. I may just pop them in the oven which will give me a final push to finally make Cat Cora’s Tapenade which I’ve been trying to get to for ever!!!
Thanks for sharing, Yummy, stay cool…
Jul 24, 2012 @ 14:07:44
what a great way to flavor the salmon!
Jul 24, 2012 @ 23:10:07
I am with ya, life sure can get crazy busy:-) I love the flavor combination, and the addition of mint sounds so refreshing:-) Hugs, Terra
Jul 25, 2012 @ 01:19:37
Love salmon and this looks absolutely delicious! Adding mint was a great idea!
Jul 25, 2012 @ 08:56:10
The weather is definitely having an impact on what I cook (or do not cook) too! The mint tapenade on this salmon sounds delicious.
Jul 25, 2012 @ 09:08:15
This looks delightful! Fork in hand…
Carmen
Jul 30, 2012 @ 13:25:39
Looks delicious. Salmon recipes are always good to have in your backpocket for summer!
Aug 08, 2012 @ 17:50:21
This is just simply a beautiful recipe just to look at. I can’t wait to take my relationship with that salmon a step farther and cook it!
Aug 11, 2012 @ 14:04:28
Your photos are always gorgeous. I agree, cutting the slits in the fish seemed unnecessary.