The Best Homemade Black Cod

You can spend a lot of money at Nobu for their delicious cod - or you can make this simple & quick version at home, and spend the rest on wine, beer, cocktails and a mini vacation...

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup soy sauce

• 1/3 cup sugar

• 1/4 cup sake

• 1 glove garlic, minced

• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced

• Juice of 1 whole lemon

• 1 whole cod fillet - about 2 pounds

• Green onion and sesame seeds to garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine all ingredients except the cod in a saucepan and bring to a boil

2. Turn down heat and simmer until slightly thickened and a bit syrupy - about 10 minutes

3. Preheat oven to broil and cover a baking sheet with foil, it's messy

4. Place cod on the foil and baste well with the sauce

5. Broil the cod about 6 inches away from the glowing coils until done - approximately 7 minutes for every inch of thickness, and If it starts to get crispy and a little bit black in spots, that's good

6. Remove from oven, baste with extra sauce and garnish with green onion and sesame seeds

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Squid with Oyster Sauce

FEATURED RECIPE FROM FISH DAY
SAM THE COOKING GUY TV EPISODE

Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• ½ teaspoon soy sauce
• Splash sesame oil
• peanut oil or any high retention oil to cook
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger minced
• 2 sprigs green onion, (white & light green parts only) cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1 pound squid, cleaned and cut into rings
• Salt
• Pepper

Note: This is a fast cooking dish...prep all your ingredients beforehand

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small bowl, mix oyster sauce, soy sauce and sesame oil - set aside
2. Heat a wok or pan on high with about 2 tablespoon oil and add garlic, ginger and green onions - quickly stir-fry to mix about 30 seconds then add the squid to cook 2- 3 minutes, or until just done but still tender
3. Season with a salt and pepper and mix the sauce in - stir well and serve

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Cold Asian Noodle Salad

A simple and delicious way of eating without cranking up the oven.

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

• 4 ounces soba noodles
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• ½ teaspoon sesame oil
• ½ teaspoon white granulated sugar
• ½ tablespoon Sriracha
• ½ cup carrots, julienned (matchstick size)
• ½ cup sugar snap peas sliced diagonally
• ¼ cup radish sliced thin in half circles
• 1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup English cucumbers sliced thin in half circles
• 1 tablespoon neutral oil (like avocado)
• 10 peeled, deveined tail-on shrimp (I used 16/20’s in this recipe)
• Kosher salt
• Sesame seeds
• Thinly sliced green onions and chopped cilantro for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook noodles according to package directions - do not overcook, drain, rinse well with cold water, drain again and transfer to a bowl
2. While noodles are cooking, in a small bowl combine vinegar, soy, sesame oil, sugar and sriracha - stir well and set aside
3. To the noodles add carrots, peas, radishes, celery and cucumber - mix and add a little sauce (adding more sauce as needed)
4. Heat a pan over medium/high, add oil and justvwhen it’s about to smoke add the shrimp and cook about 1 minute - season with Kosher salt, add splash of ½ tablespoon soy and 1 tablespoon Sriracha; mix well and cook until done, remove shrimp from heat
5. Place the noodles/vegetables on serving plate, top with shrimp and garnish with green onions, cilantro and sesame seeds

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Sea Bass with Parsley Cream Sauce

...and horseradish - did I mention that?

Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 2 tablespoons flour

• 1 ¼ cup milk

• ⅓ cup chopped curly parsley

• 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish

• 4 -6oz Seabass fillets, at room temperature

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• Kosher salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan on medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the paste cooks and bubbles a bit, but don't let it brown - about 2 minutes.

2. Add milk in small amounts, continuing to stir as the sauce thickens. Add pinch of salt and pepper to taste, lower the heat, and cook, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes until smooth. Remove from the heat - stir in parsley and horseradish

3. Drizzle each seabass fillet with olive oil and season with salt & pepper on both sides

4. Place seasoned fish fillets in a hot pan face down and sear for about 3 minutes on each side, until opaque

5. Plate fish and top with 2-3 tablespoons of the horseradish sauce

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Best Crab Sandwich

Makes 4 sandwiches

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound cooked crab meat
• 2 celery stalks, diced small
• ¼-⅓  cup bread crumbs
• 2-4 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 4 English muffins
• Canola oil
• 4 slices Swiss cheese
• ½ cup shredded romaine lettuce
• Fry sauce, see recipe

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix crab, celery, ¼ cup bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, salt and pepper well in a bowl - add more mayonnaise or bread crumbs if needed to shape into shape into 4 patties, the size of English muffins - refrigerate 15 to 30 minutes
2. Heat a non-stick pan on medium high heat and add a thin layer of oil to the pan
3. When the oil starts to shimmer, add the patties and cook until the bottom is golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes
4. Flip and add 1 slice of cheese to each patty add cook an additional 2-3 minutes, until cheese is melted
5. Meanwhile toast English muffin halves, or oil lightly and cook until just golden in a  non-stick pan
6. Spread fry sauce on 4 of the muffins, add lettuce, a patty and then the  remaining muffin

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Green Onion & Ginger Sauce

A classic Chinese oil based sauce - or more accurately a classic ‘Hainanese’ sauce - and it’s a simple and delicious add to almost any protein.

INGREDIENTS

• 2-3 tablespoons fresh ginger, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced
• 1 bunch green onions, white and light green parts only, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
• 1 cup any neutral oil

DIRECTIONS

1. Put ginger, garlic, onions and salt In a heat resistant bowl combine
2. Heat oil in a saucepan until hot but not boiling, and carefully pour on top of gingher combo (It’ll splatter a lot)
3. When it stops splattering, stir a couple times and then let it cool
4. At this point you can store it in a container in your fridge up to a couple weeks
5. Put on eggs, fish, shrimp, chicken, steak - almost anything

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Lobster Poutine

Makes 2 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 12 oz frozen tater tots 
• ½  tablespoon oil
• ¼ cup red onion, diced small
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 tablespoon sake
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup clam juice
• ¼  cup shredded smoked Gruyere cheese
• ¼  cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 small lobster tails, cut into bite size pieces
• ¼ cup chopped green onion to garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook tater tots according to package instructions
2. Heat a saucepan on medium high, add oil and sauté the onions until translucent
3. Add the garlic, cook until fragrant and add 1 tablespoon of butter
4. Add the sake, let the alcohol cook off
5. Add 2 tablespoons of butter, until melted then stir in 2 tablespoons of flour
6. Let the flour taste cook out about 2 minutes
7. Add the milk and clam juice and let thicken
8. Add the gruyere and jack cheese, season with salt and cayenne pepper to taste
9. In a small pan, melt 1 tablespoon of butter and sauté the lobster until cooked season with a little salt and pepper
10. Top the cooked tater tots with the cheese sauce, then lobster and garnish with green onions

FEATURED IN THIS SAM THE COOKING GUY TV EPISODE 

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Crab Benedict

Crab Benedict

Serves: 2

4 eggs, poached

2 English muffins, split & toasted

1 cup crab meat 

1 avocado, ripe cut into ¼ inch slices

Hollandaise sauce, see below

Chives, finely sliced for serving

• Top each muffin half with avocado, crab and then poached egg

• Drizzle with hollandaise sauce and sprinkle with chives

• Serve

Blender Hollandaise

10 tablespoons salted butter

3 egg yolks

Juice of ½ lemon

1/8 teaspoon cayenne 

• Put egg yolks, lemon juice and cayenne into a blender, and blend on medium until slightly thickened and pale yellow – about 30 seconds

• Melt Finlandia butter on low in a small pot - don't let it burn

• Turn on blender on and slowly drizzle in melted butter

• Blend until everything is mixed and the hollandaise has thickened

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Scallop Pan Roast

These remind me one of my favorite restaurants - the Oyster Bar at the Palace Station Hotel in Las Vegas. Btw, I said favorite restaurant, not hotel.  This is the place where OJ was arrested.

Serves 2 generously

INGREDIENTS

• 6 Sea Scallops defrosted or fresh
• 1/4 cup whipping cream
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup dry vermouth
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon celery salt
• 1/4 cup clam juice
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon horseradish
• 1/2 lemon, juice only
• 1/2 tablespoon Tabasco (I used Cholula) 
• small pinch Kosher salt
• parsley for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. In a deep skillet on low/medium heat melt the butter
2. Then, EXCEPT for the scallops, whipped cream and parsley.. add all the remaining ingredients, simmer for 3-4 minutes
3. Pat the scallops dry
4. Add the cream and scallops to the skillet, simmer for 3 minutes
5. Serve on a bed of steamed white rice, garnish with parsley enjoy! 

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Salmon Soup

A Finnish classic – that you MUST make. 

Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS 

• 2 small leeks, cleans and sliced thin– but just the white & light green parts 
• 2 tablespoons Finlandia butter*
• 5 cups fish stock, chicken or vegetable stock will work but try to find fish stock if you can
• 1 pound fingerling potatoes, sliced crosswise into ¼ inch slices
• 3 small carrots, sliced crosswise into1/4 inch slices
• 1 pound fresh salmon, no skin and bones removed cut into bite size pieces
• 1 cup whipping cream
• ¾ cup finely chopped fresh dill
• Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook the leeks in butter over medium heat in a pot until just softened – about 5 minutes
2. Add the stock, potatoes, carrots and bring to a boil 
3. Let cook 10-12 minutes or until vegetables have softened
4. Then add the cream and salmon and cook about 5 minutes more or until salmon is firm – try not to let it boil
5. Turn off the heat, add the dill, stir well and season to taste with salt and pepper
6. Cover with a lid and let sit 5 or so more minutes and serve (with some delicious dark bread like they would in Finland).

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*Finlandia Butter can be found at Vons, Albertsons and Safeway. Finlandia Cheeses are also available, in Southern California at Costco and other fine retailers.

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Lemon Butter Sauce

Makes about 1/3 cup
Prep time: 2 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Total time: 7 minutes

Really... do you need to hear anything more than just lemon & butter? 
I think not – though if you did, shallots & parsley are the rest of it. 

INGREDIENTS

• ¼ cup lemon juice
• Pinch Kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon shallot, finely chopped
• ¼ stick cold Finlandia butter*, cut into cubes
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley

DIRECTIONS

1. Warm a small pan over medium-high heat and add lemon juice and shallot
2. Cook until reduced by approximately ½, then add butter 
3. Slowly swirl butter into the mixture until thickened, season with salt and add parsley
4. Stir to mix and serve

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*Finlandia Butter can be found at Vons, Albertsons and Safeway. Finlandia Cheeses are also available, in Southern California at Costco and other fine retailers.

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FRESH SPRING ROLLS

Perfect food for when it is 800 degrees outside (San Diego summertime).

INGREDIENTS

• 8 rice wrappers (approx 8 inch diameter)
• 1 cup poached shrimp, chilled, shells and tails removed, sliced lengthways
• 1 cup my Black Bean Salmon  recipe, chilled
• 1 cup shredded Napa Cabbage
• 1 cup matchstick carrots
• 1 cup matchstick red pepper
• 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• big handful of lettuce leaves

SAUCE

• hoisin sauce
• Chili Garlic sauce (Huy Fong brand, the same people that make Sriracha)

DIRECTIONS

1. Prep everything
2. Mix Sauce: 3 parts Hoisin to 1 part Chili Garlic sauce, set aside  
3. Fill large bowl with warm water
4. One at a time, place 1 rice paper in water for 15 seconds
5. Place flat on clean kitchen cloth
6. Layer a strip of each ingredient, on top of each other, then roll it up like a mini buritto  
7. Repeat until you have used up all the ingredients
8. Serve with sauce, dip and enjoy! 

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MORE RECIPES

BEST CHINESE STIR FRY SAUCE

This is the 'little black dress' of stir fry sauces – good for chicken, beef, pork, veggies and seafood.

Makes about 1 cup

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped fine

• 1 teaspoon sesame oil

• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar

• 1/4 cup soy sauce

• 1/4 cup chicken broth, vegetable broth or even water

• 1 tablespoon sriracha

• 2 tablespoons sugar

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl or Tupperware and mix well

2. Stir fry about 2 cups any combination of diced vegetables and/or seafood, chicken or beef until protein is just cooked through

3. When just done, add 1/2 to 2/3 of sauce, mix and let thicken slightly – about a minute and serve

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Butter Poached Shrimp

I have a lot of friends who LOVE shrimp, but feel like they often overcook them.  And not only is this way is nearly foolproof because of the gentle poaching, but with the butter they come out tender, juicy, buttery (of course) and amazing.

Serves 4 as an appetizer - or one if you're stupid hungry

INGREDIENTS

• 2 sticks, or 14 ounces Finlandia salted butter *
• 1 pound 16/20 shrimp, peel, deveined with tail-on, room temperature
• Kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper
• Parsley chopped for garnish

DIRECTIONS 

1. Slowly melt butter in a medium pot
2. Add shrimp so they are covered with butter – if not all will fit covered, repeat this step
3. Cook until shrimp are just done – tender, juicy but not overdone – probably 3-5 minutes total
4. Serve in a bowl seasoned with salt & pepper and garnished with the chopped parsley
5. And fine, if you had a little bread you could always dip that too. Just sayin…

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*Finlandia Butter can be found at Vons, Albertsons and Safeway. Finlandia Cheeses are also available, in Southern California at Costco and other fine retailers.

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OLD SCHOOL SHRIMP SCAMPI

Not sure how you beat this. And considering this is "Super quick dinner week" and it goes from zip to amazing in less than 15 minutes...you gotta make it.

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 lb fresh large raw shrimp (21-30 size)

• 1/2 pack spaghetti

• 3 tablespoons butter

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 2 cloves garlic, crushed

• 1/3 cup Dry Vermouth

• pinch red pepper flakes

• 3 tablespoons curly parsley, finely chopped, (flatleaf will do)

• 1/2 lemon, fresh juice

• lemon wedge for serving

• drizzle of EVOO

• Optional: handful grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. In large pot boiled salted water add spaghetti, cook al dente

2. While that cooks... In a large skillet, on medium heat, add butter, oil, garlic, cook 30 seconds

3. Add vermouth, red pepper flakes, simmer 4 minutes to reduce liquid

4. Add shrimp, these guys only need 2 minutes, flip cook for 1 more minute

5. Add lemon juice and half parsley

6. Drain pasta, add to skillet coat in sauce

7. Serve garnished with parsley, drizzle of EVOO and a wedge of lemon. Sprinkle of Parmesan if you feel like it.

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