Green Tea Poached Salmon

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Green Tea Poached Salmon is a delicate and elegant dish that perfectly balances fresh, vibrant flavors with green tea. This recipe transforms simple ingredients into a sophisticated meal.  

Preparation for the dish begins with poaching the salmon in water, green tea bags, lemon slices and a touch of crushed red pepper. Poaching the salmon helps keep it juicy for later when it's time to cook. The green tea adds a gentle, earthy aroma that enhances the natural flavor of the salmon.  

To serve alongside the salmon, a bed of long-grain white rice is infused with the subtle sweetness of honey and fresh lemon juice. The rice is cooked with green tea bags, adding an extra layer of flavor that ties the whole dish together. Once cooked, the rice is tossed with diced onion, carrot and zucchini and sautéed in coconut oil. The coconut oil adds a slight richness and a hint of tropical flavor. 

The sauce, made from butter, onion, garlic, loose green tea leaves, Chardonnay, honey and cream, enhances this dish's richness and flavor. The green tea leaves and Chardonnay create a sauce with a balance of earthy, sweet and slightly acidic flavors. The honey and cream add a silky finish, making the sauce perfect for drizzling over the tender salmon and the fragrant rice. 

Finally, the dish is garnished with fresh green onion and additional lemon slices, making the meal delicious and visually appealing. Green Tea Poached Salmon offers the comfort of home cooking with the sophistication of a gourmet restaurant.

Directions:

1. For the rice: Bring water, 4 tea bags, 1 teaspoon salt, honey and lemon juice to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in rice, return to boiling. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a large sauté pan, over medium-high heat, melt coconut oil. Add onion, carrot, zucchini and garlic. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper; cook for 5 minutes or until onions are translucent.
3. When rice is done, remove tea bags and add rice to sauté pan; toss with vegetables and season to taste with salt and pepper. Reserve.
4. Season salmon with remaining 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper.
5. In a large sauté pan, over medium heat, simmer 2 inches of water with remaining 4 tea bags, one sliced lemon and crushed red pepper. Add salmon and simmer for 8 minutes, turning halfway.
6. For the pan sauce: In a large sauté pan, over medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add onion and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes then add tea leaves. Sauté until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Add wine and reduce by half, about 5 minutes. Stir in honey, cream and remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Cook for 3 minutes or until thickened. Strain, discard vegetables and leaves, reserving pan sauce.
7. Serve salmon over rice with pan sauce, remaining lemon slices and green onion.

Recipe Courtesy of Chef Alyssa, ALDI Test Kitchen