Adriano got an upgrade to business class for most of his flight to Italy, a new prince has been born, our capital – Wellington – is shaken to the core by quakes and this is day two of being at work without my boss or co-worker and I am as busy as ever and have had a headache all day. Good and bad things happen and life goes on. It’s probably the sore head that is making me feel philosophical. And now the question is – will a glass of wine help or worsen the situation? I am sure my headache is from tight neck muscles and wine is a muscle relaxant so wine it is.
The recipe tonight has no specific ingredient amounts because it’s not really necessary to be precise. I have a special fondness for stacked food. Like with tarts and layered sweet treats, it is that visual thing – stacks look pretty. I love polenta as a base because it is FODMAP friendly and cuts out beautifully to form any shape you want. I then fried up a few courgettes and added some cream cheese I had in the fridge which made a nice firm mixture to sit on top. Then came slices of delicious smoked salmon and, of course, a sauce is necessary. Sour cream is a great combination with salmon for its tartness. I sprinkled capers on top and a few toasted pine nuts for their buttery crunch.
This is a simple but good-looking dish that will be appreciated by all.
Update: I drank the wine and my headache is gone for the first time today. Remember this, folks next time you have a headache from tight muscles – drink wine. But not if you are about to drive. Stay close to your bed.
Salmon & Courgette Stacks
Ingredients
Polenta – BUY HERE
Courgettes
Cream cheese
Parsley
garlic-infused olive oil BUY HERE
Salt & pepper
Smoked salmon BUY HERE
Capers
Pine nuts BUY HERE
Sour cream
Lemon juice
Method
1. Chop up the courgettes and fry in a little rice bran oil and garlic-infused olive oil.
2. Add about 1 tbsp of cream cheese and season.
3. Finely chop some parsley and add most of it to the courgettes.
4. Cook the polenta according to the instructions on the packet.
5. Turn out onto a wooden board and flatten to about 1″/2.5cm thick.
6. Cut out rounds and place on a serving plate.
7. Place spoonfuls of the courgette mixture on top of the rounds.
8. Layer slices of salmon over the courgettes.
9. Mix the sour cream with a teaspoon or two of lemon juice, season and add the rest of the parsley.
10. Place a spoonful of the sauce on top of the salmon.
11. Sprinkle with capers.
12. Toast the pine nuts and sprinkle over as well.
I like the use of polenta, here.
Polenta is one of my favourite grains.
My hubby is away next week and this is just my kind of dinner – simple and delicious. Great photos as always.
It’s funny how our meals change when the husband is away. Dario and i have been eating quite differently without Adriano.
Ha I always go for the win Suzanne. This does look beautiful and I love a stack too!
Thanks. I am having a glass of wine tonight too. I think of it as pleasurable medicine now.
I like stacking food too – all that height makes it look more dramatic. Great combo of flavors – salmon and polenta play so nicely together. Good tip on the wine!
It is about the height. Flat food is so hard to photograph and make look good even if it might taste good. Wine is my new medicine.
Glad your headache went away
I share your love for stacked food, it is just elegant.
I loved reading the thought process that went into the recipe, beautifully done.
P.S. so sorry for not visiting and commenting these past couple of weeks, life has been a little crazy
Thanks, Sawsan. I know what you mean about being busy. I have a new job and it is more consuming than the last one and so certain things have to fall by the way. Thank you for popping in.
Your photos look beautiful! I actually went gluten-free to combat my headaches, so I’ll have to try this recipe!
Thank you, Sarah. I hope the gluten-free diet cures your headaches. But remember the wine as a back up.
What gorgeous looking stacks. Love how they come with a polenta base – I love polenta. I do find wine most medicinal in almost every circumstance. I keep hearing of people getting upgrades – I’m in line waiting for my turn! xx
I think he got the upgrade because he was a passenger alone but we have had luck before as a family. But then again we travel a lot so I guess the chances are higher. I wonder if one day we can buy the business class tickets outright. LOL.
I’m with you on the wine front.
I like this because it is simple and gives you the independence to play around. Very delicious!
You are right. It is completely flexible – a whatever-you-have in the fridge dish.
Looks so good with polenta..
Thanks, Ash. Polenta is a special favourite.
I thought of you when things went all wibbley wobbley over there. I’ve only been in one mediumish earthquake in Japan and I don’t want to do it again.
This is a beautiful dish of food!
Wibbley, wobbley – I love that. Thank you for thinking of me. I think the earthquakes are moving up the country which means us next.
Your stacks look amazing! I could eat a whole plate! Glad the wine helped…I’ll file that info away for my next headache 😉
Yep, the magic touch of wine. I am imbibing again tonight and the headaches haven’t reappeared since.
Beautiful stacks, I love the presentation and your polenta base!
Polenta is a great firm base for this kind of stacking.
We loved this dish and I will definitely make it again. I used some Parmesan in the polenta as I didn’t have cream cheese to put with the courgettes. Thanks so much for sharing. No headaches but we enjoyed a spot of red with it anyway.
The Parmesan sounds like a great addition.