Most lavender aficionados are keenly aware of the diverse uses of culinary lavender buds. Yet, often overlooked is the powerful flavor profile of lavender stems. For this recipe, we use the stems of a culinary favorite, Lavandula angustifolia ‘Royal Velvet.’
Ingredients
- Salmon fillet
- Olive oil
- Mayonnaise
- Salt
- Pepper
- Old Bay spice, or similar spice mixture
- 3-4 fresh or dried lavender stems
- Lemon slices
- Optional: honey or brown sugar
Instructions
Assemble needed equipment: Foil, water bath if using dried lavender stems.
Prepare the lavender: If using dried lavender stems, place them in a water bath to soak for at least an hour.
Prepare the salmon: Coat the top of salmon fillet with olive oil and the bottom (skin side) with mayonnaise. Season the top of fillet with salt, pepper, and Old Bay or seasoning mixtures of your choice. For a sweeter taste, add a little brown sugar or honey. Place lavender stems on a small sheet of foil, then place the salmon fillet on top of the lavender stems, skin side down. Add a lemon slices to the top of the fillet. Then fold the sheet of foil loosely over the top of the fillet.
Grilling: At 350ºF, grill the salmon until the internal temperature of the filet just reaches 145ºF. Remove from the grill.
Plating: Surround your salmon fillet with desired side dishes, such as roasted red potatoes and asparagus. Garnish with a sprig of fresh lavender, serve and enjoy!
LAVENDER TIPS: In this recipe, the fragrance of the lavender stems must be released without charring the stems. This is accomplished by using fresh or soaked stems, and placing them nearest the heat source. Trapped inside the foil tent, the flavor compounds adsorb to the surface of the fish as it cooks. You will need to experiment with the quantity of lavender stems needed to give you the desired level of subtle flavor. Also, the source cultivar of the lavender stems will make a difference to the flavor profile. You may just need to make this dish a few times with varying amounts and types of lavender stems to discover the combination that suits your preferences.
Contributed by
Michelle Lowe
Lowe’s Lavender Farm
Edited & formatted by
Michael Lemmers
RavenCroft
