Grilled Grape Leaf Wrapped Salmon Recipes

COLLARD WRAPPED SALMON

Steps:

• In roasting pan combine black pepper, san bai su, lemon juice, sesame oil and tahini. Whisk to combine. Using a sharp knife, score several diagonal lines along the length of fish, down to spine, on either side. Place fish in pan and marinate 2 - 4 hours at room temperature. After marination, preheat grill or broiler.
• Blanch greens in a large pot of boiling, salted water, just until the water returns to a boil. Refresh in ice water and drain. On a large baking sheet, arrange greens, overlapping, to form a rectangle as long as the fish and twice as wide as the fish. Place fish in middle and wrap the greens over so only the head and tail are exposed. Seal with a piece of butchers string or dental floss. Place fish on grill. Cook 7 - 12 minutes per side, until greens, head and tail blacken. It will take 2 spatulas, one at the head and one at the tail, to turn fish, don't be concerned about greens sticking. To test for doneness, try pulling out a dorsal fin from the top of the fish. If it slides out easily, it's done.
• To serve, place the whole fish on a serving platter. Using a dull knife and soup spoon, scrape of any remaining skin and remove fins. Spoon half reserved marinade over top. Cut along spine first and serve the top fillet. Lift tail, insert knife between bones and flesh, and run it along the length. All, or most, of the bones should easily lift out. Spoon on remaining marinade and serve second fillet.

GRILLED FETA WRAPPED IN GRAPE LEAVES

Steps:

• Whisk the olive oil, lemon zest, garlic, za'atar and Aleppo pepper in a shallow bowl or small baking dish. Add the feta and spoon the oil over the top. Set aside to marinate 1 hour.
• While the cheese marinates, place the grape leaves in a bowl of room-temperature water and let soak.
• Line a small baking sheet with paper towels. Drain the grape leaves and lay in a single layer on the towels; pat very dry. On a clean surface, overlap the grape leaves slightly to form a square. Place the block of feta in the center (reserve the flavored oil), then fold the grape leaves to cover the cheese like a present.
• Preheat a grill to medium high and prepare for indirect grilling: On a charcoal grill, bank the coals to one side; on a gas grill, turn off half the burners. Toast the pita over direct heat, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Brush the outside of the wrapped feta with some of the reserved oil and place on the cooler side of the grill (indirect heat). Cook until the grape leaves are crisp and slightly charred, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip and move to direct heat; grill until lightly charred on the second side and the cheese is warmed through, about 3 more minutes. Transfer to a board or platter and serve with the pita, olives, walnuts and/or apricots, plus any remaining flavored oil.

FLAXSEED-CRUSTED SALMON WITH A GRAPE AND WALNUT SALSA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350˚. Place the walnuts on a sheet pan and cook until lightly toasted, about 8 minutes. Transfer the walnuts to a cutting board and when cool enough to handle, roughly chop and set aside.
• Increase the oven temperature to 400˚. Line a sheet pan with foil. Using paper towels, pat the fish fillets dry. Evenly coat each salmon fillet with 1/2 tablespoon of the mustard. Season the fillets on all sides with salt and pepper and then sprinkle 1/2 tablespoon of the flaxseed on top of each piece of fish, gently pressing them into the flesh. Place the fish on the lined sheet pan and drizzle each fillet with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Transfer to the oven and bake until the fish reaches an internal temperature of 125˚, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining 4 tablespoons olive oil, the vinegar and honey. Season with a pinch of salt and a twist of black pepper. Add the walnuts, grapes, parsley and scallions and toss together.
• When the fish is done, remove it from the oven, top each piece with a generous amount of salsa and serve.

GRILLED BANANA LEAF WRAPPED SALMON

Steps:

• Make the dipping sauce: Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Let it sit for the flavors to develop while the fish cooks.
• Preheat the grill. Squeeze the lime juice into a large bowl and throw in the halves. Add the soy sauce, chiles, ginger, cilantro, and mint; season with salt and pepper and give it a good stir. Place the salmon in the center of the banana leaf and stuff it with the lime juice mixture. Fold the banana leaf over the fish to completely encase it and tie closed with kitchen string. Place onto a medium-hot grill. Cook until the fish is cooked through, about 35 to 40 minutes. Serve with the dipping sauce.

GRILLED FROZEN SALMON IN GRAPE LEAVES

Steps:

• Prepare a charcoal grill for medium-high direct and indirect heat: For gas grills (with 3 or more burners), turn all the burners to medium-high heat; after about 15 minutes turn off one of the middle burners. For charcoal grills, bank one chimney starter-full of lit and ashed-over charcoal briquettes to one side of the grill. Set up a drip pan on the other side to avoid flare-ups. (Be sure to consult the grill manufacturer's guide for best results).
• Meanwhile, stir to combine the tomatoes, butter, ouzo, 4 tablespoons of the olive oil, 1 teaspoon of the lemon zest and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small grill-proof saucepan; set aside.
• Stir to combine the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 teaspoon lemon zest with the oregano, red pepper flakes and 1 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Spread the mixture evenly over the flesh side of the salmon fillets.
• Lay one grape leaf veiny-side up on a clean work surface with the tip pointing away from you. Lay another leaf towards the top of the first so they overlap by about 1 inch. Repeat this with 2 more grape leaves if they are big or 3 more if they are small, creating a single line. Lay a salmon fillet on top of the grape leaf nearest you and then holding the leaf roll the salmon up in the overlapping grape leaves. Transfer to a plate and repeat to wrap the remaining salmon fillets.
• Grill the wrapped salmon over direct heat, turning halfway through, until the grape leaves are charred in spots, about 5 minutes. Move to the indirect side of the grill and put the saucepan with the tomatoes over the direct heat. Cover the grill and cook until the tomatoes have burst and the mixture is saucy, and the salmon is firm and opaque throughout, about 12 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish.
• Transfer the wrapped salmon to a serving platter. Stir the herbs into the tomato mixture and spoon over the fish. Serve with rice and a salad.

GRILLED SALMON WRAPPED IN LEMON AND BAY LEAVES

Steps:

• Arrange eight 24-inch-long pieces of kitchen string, side by side and 1 1/2 inches apart, on surface. Overlap bay leaves atop strings in rectangle about same size as fish. Top bay leaves with overlapping rows of lemon slices. Sprinkle fish skin with coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper; place fish, skin side down, on lemon slices. Sprinkle fish flesh with coarse salt and pepper; drizzle with olive oil. Top with overlapping rows of lemon slices, then bay leaves. Tightly tie strings, securing lemon slices and bay leaves to fish. Place fish packet in grilling basket; close basket (basket does not have to close completely in order to support fish). DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Chill salmon in basket. Bring to room temperature before grilling.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Grill fish in basket until just firm to touch and thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 135°F, holding basket sides together to turn fish, about 20 minutes per side. Transfer fish to platter, with string knots up. Remove strings, bay leaves, and lemons from top side. Drizzle with oil; serve.