Pineapple Salmon Slow Cooker Recipe (flop!)

When Adam and I were in our first year of marriage we lived in an apartment about a half-mile away from his brother and family. We were lucky enough to be invited over for dinner pretty often, and always happily accepted.

Adam's sister-in-law, Angela, is an excellent cook. Her family owns restaurants, and she's grown up in the kitchen and around food. I've always been quite impressed with the way she can open a fridge and just start throwing things together to make a really fantastic meal--- no recipe required.

She made us a salmon dinner one night (gosh, a good 12 years ago) that I still think about. It was the best salmon I have ever eaten. Ever.

ever.

She says she doesn't remember what she marinated the salmon in, but I knew pineapple juice was involved. and soy sauce.

I think.

I've been trying, unsuccessfully, to recreate this salmon. Last week I tried again.

It did not go so well.

The Ingredients.

(do NOT make this!)

4 salmon fillets

1 fresh pineapple, skinned and cubed

1 large orange, juiced

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1/3 cup soy sauce (La Choy and Tamari wheat-free are gluten free)

2 cloves garlic, smashed 

1 teaspoon red chile flakes

aluminum foil

an outdoor garbage can

The Directions.

Use a 6-quart slow cooker (but not really. don't attempt to make this. please.) In a blender combine the pineapple, orange juice, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and chile flakes. Blend until you have a creamy sauce (the color will not be pretty. that should have set off some bells and whistles for me...)

Place the salmon fillets into a flat baking dish with high sides (a pyrex or corningware with a lid works best). Pour the sauce blend evenly over the top. Refrigerate your fish in the sauce for two hours or so (or don't. this tastes really bad and you shouldn't be doing any of this anyhow.)

After the time has elapsed, spread a length of foil out on your kitchen countertop. Place the fish inside (lots of the sauce will stay in the dish. this is fine. trust me,  you don't want the sauce.) and crimp the sides of the foil to make a fully enclosed packet. You can stagger-stack all the fish fillets to make one large packet with all of the fish, or you can wrap each fillet individually. 

Your choice.

Put the packet(s) into your crockpot and cook on high for 2 hours, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.

Taste. 

Then take outside and throw away.

The Verdict.

The "finished" picture up top is taken on the brick outside by the garbage bins. Thankfully I made this the night before the garbage was picked up---

I've made fish in the crockpot dozens and dozens and dozens of times, and have NEVER had this happen. The fish smelled really really fishy (I think it was a weird chemical break-down with the vinegar?) and the sauce tasted just how it looked.

really, really bad.

We had baked potatoes for dinner instead.

still want fish? these are the good ones!

Salmon with Lime Butter

Sweet and Spicy Salmon

Cedar Planked Salmon

Jamaican Salmon

Orange Honey Tilapia

Parmesan Tilapia

My Totally Together: Shortcuts to an Organized Life book/planner hits bookstores today. You should get it! :-)

have a great day! have any flops? feel free to share!

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Salmon with Lime Butter Slow Cooker Recipe

This photo makes me smile. It's not the best---I've never been all that good at food photography---but while I scrolled through the newest downloads on the computer this morning, I started chuckling when I came to this picture.

It's fish. On a fish plate.

When Adam and I went to Crate and Barrel to register prior to our wedding, he scanned in this fish platter. I thought it was hideous.

HIDEOUS.

but he wanted it, and was certain that somebody would buy it, even with the $120 price tag.

It certainly wasn't worth arguing over, so I held my cringe as he happily "zapped" it with the registry gun.

I don't remember which of our guests bought this platter, but I do know that this fish has been lovingly packed in bubble wrap each time we've moved, and we find every opportunity we can to bring it to the table.
A platter of brownies? put 'em on the fish.
Cheese and crackers? put 'em on the fish.
How about strawberries and grapes? put 'em on the fish.

It makes me smile every single time.



The Ingredients.
serves 2

I took this picture prematurely. I ended up adding more ingredients than are pictured (I told you I was lousy at food photography!)

2 salmon fillets (slightly frozen is okay)
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/2 tablespoon lime juice
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried minced parsley (if you have fresh, chop up 1-2 teaspoons)
2 cloves minced garlic
aluminum foil

The Directions.

Use a 4-6 quart slow cooker. Spread a length of foil onto the countertop, and put the salmon fillets directly in the middle.
In a small bowl, melt the butter in the microwave, then stir in lime juice, pepper, garlic, and parsley. Brush this mixture all over the top of your fish. Fold the foil over and crimp the sides to make a packet.
Put this packet into the bottom of an empty slow cooker. Cover, and set to high for two hours.
Your fish is finished when it flakes easily with a fork.
Serve with steamed broccoli and quinoa (or something similar).

on a fish plate.

The Verdict.

The salmon gets infused with a nice mild citrusy flavor---it's not too limey, and if I didn't know better, I'd probably think it's lemon. And yup, if you'd rather use up the lemons on your tree, go ahead and use them! It's all good.
This was enough fish for me and Adam and the girls, but would really only fill up two adults. I'm pleased that there was enough flavor that no one at the table asked for tartar sauce!

I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend. I'm so happy to spend another fall crockpotting with you!

Fish. It's what's for dinner. In the crock.
parmesan tilapia
cioppino
fish chowder
lobster bisque
mahi mahi
sweet and spicy salmon
fillet of sole with pesto
barbecued shrimp (snuck that one in there! :-) )

september 7, 2008 flashback: fruit leather

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Orange Honey Tilapia Slow Cooker Recipe

Fish! It's what's for dinner.

I love making fish in the crockpot. I love making pretty much anything in the crockpot, but the ease of making fish is just so wonderful, I'm surprised everyone doesn't cook fish this way.
It's easy.
It's moist and flavorful.
It doesn't heat up the house on a hot day.
it doesn't stink up the kitchen.
and clean up is practically non-existent.

SCORE!

I had a bunch of frozen tilapia in the house that I bought in bulk, and needed a new recipe. My kids hands-down favorite tialpia is Parmesan Tilapia, but I wanted a super low-fat dinner to counteract the gobs of Cheesy Creamed Corn I ate the other day.

The Ingredients.
serves 4

4 tilapia filets (frozen is just fine)
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 (10-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
aluminum foil
salt and pepper to taste at the table

The Directions.

Use a 6-quart slow cooker. Lay a length of foil on your countertop and place the fish directly in the middle. Dribble balsamic vinegar and honey over the top of each fillet, and place a handful of drained mandarin oranges on top (my kids like to drink the juice!).

Fold over foil and crimp the edges to form a packet. Put the foil packet into your slow cooker, and put the lid on (if you'd prefer to have one fish fillet per packet for serving, divide the sauce and the oranges). Cook on high for two hours, or until fish flakes easily with a fork. If your fish was frozen, it may take another 30 minutes or so, but you should still check it after two hours. Season to taste with some salt and pepper at the table.

The Verdict.

We all loved this, and I was able to share my grandfather's story about mandarin oranges really being boneless baby goldfish. It's a bit odd---but the kids loved the story the same way I did when I was growing up!

more fish in foil:
fillet of sole with pesto
salmon with a sweet and spicy rub

and more on the way!

ps: my friend Sean started a new endeavor called Punk Domestics. If you liked the idea of making homemade yogurt, I think you'll get a bunch of great ideas. He's also looking for submissions, if you're interested!

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Cedar Planked Salmon Cooked in the CrockPot

Day 338.

I bought a cedar board a while ago, and planned on using it in the summer, but never got around to it. This is a fun way to cook fish in the crockpot---it's different, and the cedar provides a hint of smokey and woodsy flavor to the fish. My kids love fish, and each ate a bunch, which thrilled me so much we got frozen yogurt for dessert.

The Ingredients.

--1 singe-use cedar plank, cut to size
--1 lb salmon
--2 limes
--1 tsp cumin
--1 tsp salt
--1 tsp garlic powder
--1 tsp rosemary
--1 tsp onion powder
--1 T honey

The Directions.

Have your amazing husband (or other handy-type person not scared of saws) cut the cedar plank to size. He cut the board to fit the 6 quart crockpot, but it fit in the 4 quart, too.

Soak the plank in water for at least an hour.

While it is soaking, combine the dry spices in a bowl. Rub the salmon on all sides with the spice rub, and then drizzle on the honey. Top with slices from 2 limes, and slide it all into a plastic storage bag. Refrigerate while the board is soaking---at least one hour, but overnight in the refrigerator is fine.

When the time has passed, put the wet cedar plank into the bottom of your crockpot. Put the salmon (with the lime slices) directly on the board.

If you are using a great-big-huge crockpot, put a sheet of foil over the salmon and scrunch it down to create a smaller area for the steam and heat.

Cover and cook on low for 2 hours. Check the salmon---it should flake easily with a fork. If it doesn't, cook on low for an additional 30 minutes and check again.

The Verdict.

Moist, delicious fish. I've cooked fish in the crock numerous times now, and each and every time I'm blown away at how easy it is and how the fish remains moist and flaky---without a hint of fish smell in the house.

The cedar plank was fun, and it certainly is dramatic to serve the fish that way, but if you don't have one, the fish will be just as good wrapped in a foil packet.

other crockpot fish recipes:
foil packet tilapia
fillet of sole with pesto
salmon with a sweet and spicy rub
lemon and dill salmon with spinach

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