If you read my last post, you know that I have recently taken up grilling. In that post, I shared about my experience smoking two racks of ribs and a brisket for 16 hours, with the help of my cousin.
Since then, I have been pushing myself to experiment with new dishes and am enjoying the learning process very much. Cooking outdoors, and then dining al fresco on my patio with friends and family, has been wonderful on these warm, summer evenings. In this post, I'm excited to share about a Mediterranean meal I created.
Mediterranean Night
Branzino and Asparagus
The evening started with this raw asparagus and branzino that I was fortunate to find both fresh and on sale. The fish monger was kind enough to butterfly the fish for me.
After getting it home, I stuffed it with fresh, thyme sprigs and lemon slices and salted the fish both inside and out. I then put the fish and the raw asparagus on the grill, while I prepared the rest of the meal.
Cucumber and Tomato Salad
Next, I prepared the salad. I sliced Persian cucumbers and home-grown tomatoes and seasoned them liberally with lemon, pepper and salt. I then added a handful of mixed greens and fresh, chopped dill, and tossed everything in olive oil. Not only was this salad very simple to prepare, it was light and refreshing; the perfect composition for a warm, summer day.
Garlic Rice with Fresh Dill
For a little bit of starch, I steamed some rice with a tiny bit of puréed garlic and then topped it with fresh dill.
Grilled Asparagus
Now, back to the grill. I had placed the asparagus directly on the grate to ensure some contact with the flames. This imparted a bit of char and cooked it in no time at all. A quick squeeze of lemon, drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle of maldon salt, and it was ready to go.
Whole Grilled Branzino with Thyme and Lemon
I used a cast iron sear plate, made for my barbecue grill, to cook the branzino. I cooked the fish at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, with the lid down, for a total of about 10 minutes, flipping it halfway.
The fish came out beautifully. The skin crisped up perfectly and, at least to the touch, the fish felt well-cooked. It was time for the moment of truth though ...
Ahhh...success! The fish was indeed cooked just right. This meal was so delicious and very easy to prepare. In addition, it took under 30 minutes to make; that's including both preparation and cooking time.
If all of that isn't inspiring enough, it also provided three meals (feeding two people for dinner, with leftovers for one the following day). Finally, the total cost for all the ingredients was under $20. This meal is a winner in my book. Stay tuned for more on my grilling adventures.
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