Line caught while on a summery cottage expedition, this rainbow trout was a gift from a friend who knows my love of food. I couldn’t help but create something with it to share with another.

There’s something about fish that always seems to remind me of the same flavours; lemon, fresh herbs and smoke. I love grilling fish but lately, I’ve been itching to try tea smoking and this was the perfect fillet to do it. Simply done with a wok and a round cooling rack, I combined the smoking ingredients of green tea, rice and sugar on aluminum foil, propped the fish over top of the rack, salt and peppered then sealed everything in with more foil.

During the ten or so minutes it took for the fillet, I picked a fennel bulb and a big handful of parsley from the garden. The fennel, was thinly sliced and sautéd in a dribble of olive oil. When it was tender, the fish was done, so I plated the fennel along with the parsley and some slices of preserved lemon, topping it all with some flaked trout and reserved fennel fronds.

Fast and elegant, yet simple enough for a picnic.
From friend to friend this fish made quite a few people happy.

The beginning of summer also marks the start of lobster season for me. I’m not entirely sure why but maybe it was the childhood trips out East to visit our relatives. The journey was always in July and there, we could buy them by the dozen as the fishermen strung their boats on to the docks or freshly steamed from just about anywhere. We would stop at a scenic overlook and eat them cold by primitively smashing onto the shells with found rocks. Ah, memories are made of this, as my grandmother would say.

The warm breezes conjure up ideas of beach lobster boils, where getting messy and eating with your hands is half of the fun. With BBQ and picnic season upon us, either way it’s outdoor food.  Celebration food is meant for sharing. There’s nothing else like it that can bring such relaxed laughter and decadence from one meal.

Surprisingly, lobster also one of those things that I will rarely eat if not just out of it’s shell. By that I mean straight up, no other flavour than butter. But, every so often, there’s a good haul to drive the price down and tease the lobster lovers, making this delicacy become relatively inexpensive. I can’t help finding myself making up an occasion to celebrate. Thankfully in this case it’s summer! Time to bring a gathering of friends to celebrate and share something delightful.

Paired with fresh basil and mint to soothe the heat, this crisp Thai salad, along side the fresh, sweet lobster still stole the July fireworks show.

THAI LOBSTER SALAD
Serves 4

2 Lobsters, 1 1/4- 1 1/2Lbs., steamed
1 Mango, peeled, pit removed and cut into matchsticks
1 Red Bell Pepper, seeded and cut into strips
1/2 English Cucumber, sliced into strips
3 Tablespoons Fish Sauce
3 Tablespoons Sesame Seed Oil
2 Tablespoons Olive or Peanut Oil
1 Lime, freshly squeezed of juice
3 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar
1 teaspoon Chili Sauce (I used Rooster) or 1 thai chili, finely minced
1/3 Cup Mint, finely chopped
1/2 Cup Basil, finely chopped
1/4 Cup Cilantro, torn
2 Scallions, finely chopped
1 Handful of fresh mixed greens per serving, Arugula, Bibb or leaf lettuce etc.

Break open the lobsters and carefully remove the meat.
Slice the tail meat into large bite sized pieces but set aside the claws for garnish.
In a large jar or pourable measuring cup, combine the fish sauce, oils, lime juice, vinegar and chili sauce and stir or shake well.
Combine the mango, peppers, cucumbers, scallions, chopped herbs and lobster into a large bowl.
Pour over the prepared dressing and toss to coat.
Place a handful of salad greens on each plate and top with the dressed vegetables and lobster.
Place one of the reserved claws on top to serve.

I never would have thought that summer BBQ’s would match up so well with Asian inspired salads.
I’ve tested this recipe a few times now at a few outdoor gatherings and I have to tell you, it held up pretty well beside the best of potato salads.

I’ve had this rice in my pantry collection for a while, you see I have a nasty habit of food shopping. Yes, admitted, I have more varieties of grains than summer sandles, which is so goes against all that is womanly. I just can’t help it though. Who knew there were so many types of quinoa, couscous or rice to be had and to hoard?

Black, or Forbidden Rice is an Asian heirloom variety of rice that is not glutenous and is very high in fiber as well as iron. It’s Forbidden name comes from it traditionally being served to the Emperors of Ancient China, thus being restricted from common consumption. Now, of course it can be found and even trademarked by a few different rice producers, sold in popular grocers and heath food stores.

Word to the wise though, check over your rice as you would lentils for forbidden objects, like pebbles. It’s heirloom and wholesome, right down to the ground it’s grown and what can get into it.

FORBIDDEN ASIAN BLACK RICE SALAD

2 Cups Black Rice, picked over
3 Cups Water
1 Yellow Pepper, finely diced
1 Red Pepper, finely diced
1 Large Carrot or a Handful of Baby Carrots, cut into matchsticks
3 scallions (green onions), finely chopped
Handful Thai Basil, about 10 leaves chopped

DRESSING

1/4 Cup Sesame Oil
1/4 Cup Soy Sauce
1 Tablespoon Freshly Grated Ginger, about a 1 inch knub
1 Clove of Garlic, finely minced
Zest of One Orange
Juice of One Lime
3 – 4 Tablespoons Agave Nectar, or to taste depending on how sweet you like things

Combine the sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, zest, lime juice and agave with a whisk or a hand immersion blender until smooth. Reserve.
Check the rice over for pebbles or other impurities.
Rinse the rice, then leave it to soak for about 5 minutes. Drain well and add to a large sauce pan with a tight fitting lid.
Cover the rice with the 3 cups of water and bring it to a boil, stirring occasionally.
Reduce the heat for a low simmer and cover for about 25 minutes.
Remove from the heat and leave it covered for another 5 – 10 minutes.
Fluff with a fork and transfer the cooked rice to a large mixing bowl.
Drizzle over the prepared dressing then add the diced pepper, carrot, scallions and basil.
Toss well to combine the vegetables with the rice.
Garnish with additional citrus zest or basil leaves if desired.
No need to cool. Best served at room temperature, making it a perfect summer outdoor salad.

So she’s not my aunt, but she is someone’s. Growing up I would never even dare taste a bean salad let alone make one. However, starving while out at the beach one day, I was cornered with this, my only sustenance and can I say that since that moment I was not only a convert but a Beano stock holder.

I adapted that version and have since made it one of my signature BBQ/Potluck/quick in a pinch wow ‘em salads.

DRESSING

3/4 Cup Red or Balsamic Vinegar
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
1/4 Cup Extra Fine Fruit Sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
Pepper to Taste

Method

Combine ingredients in an air tight container and shake well to dissolve the sugar.
Allow to stand for about and hour or at least the time to prepare the salad ingredients, if you are in a hurry.

SALAD

3 Cans of Beans (garbanzo, turtle, romano etc.)
1 Cup Fresh Green Beans (Trimmed and sliced to 1″ inch lengths) ** – measure to get correct number
1 Red Pepper
1 Yellow Pepper
2 Carrots
2 Celery Stalks
1 Red Onion (Small)
2 Cloves of Garlic
2 Tablespoons Finely Chopped Flat Leaf Parsley (optional, if you’re feeling decorative)

Method

Rinse the canned beans well and set aside in a large bowl.
Peel and mince the garlic.
Trim and slice green beans to 1″ inch lengths. Clean and trim the remaining vegetables and chop each into about a 1/2″ dice.
Add everything to the beans, including the dressing and toss well to coat.
This salad can be served immediately or made ahead to marinate up to a day ahead for a more thorough flavor.