Baked Salmon with Asparagus

I was in Paris last week, in the 14th arrondissement, on a street filled with fresh fruit and vegetable shops, cheese shops, meat and fish so fresh I couldn't decide what to buy. So, I spent a a very enjoyable hour looking around and deciding on a meal for some friends. First, I made an entrée of toasted goat cheese (the recipe will be up in a few days); and then this beautiful plate. Salmon with sauce à l'orange, buttered asparagus and grilled polenta. 

Sauce à l'Orange

Ingredients

1/3 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups orange juice

2 T vinegar

1/2 cup water

bouillon cube (optional)

Preparation

Bring the water and sugar to a boil, creating a simple syrup. Add vinegar, orange juice, and bouillon cube. Continue heating until reduced by thirty percent. Serve over whatever dish you are making. 

Grilled Polenta

Ingredients

1/2 cup dry polenta

2 cups water

pinch of salt

2 T cream

1 T butter

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese. 

Preparation

Bring the water to a boil. Add salt, and whisk in polenta. Turn down heat to low and cook until thick, stirring occasionally - about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cream and butter. Pour into a shallow, wide container and refrigerate at least one hour. Then, using a glass or a cookie cutter, create 4-6 circles. Set aside. Heat a pan with a bit of butter. Sear polenta slices until slightly browned. Serve as a side dish. 

Buttered Asparagus

Ingredients

1 L salted water

1 L ice water, in a bowl

3 asparagus per person (12-18)

butter

Preparation

Blanch the asparagus. Prepare a bowl of ice water. Bring salted water to a boil. Dunk in asparagus and let cook for 2 minutes. Take out and immediately transfer to ice water. Let cool completely. Cut asparagus in half lengthwise. Heat butter in a pan. Lay asparagus halves in the pan and cook until heated through, about 5-8 minutes. Serve as a side dish. 

Baked Salmon Filets

Ingredients

4-6 filets of salmon (about 200 g each)

1/4 cup orange juice

1/4 cup olive oil

salt

Preparation

Lay salmon filets on a baking sheet. Heat oven to 200 degrees celsius, 380 degrees fahrenheit. Sprinkle with salt. Pour olive oil and orange juice on salmon. Bake for 15 minutes or until just done through. Check  halfway through. Drape with orange sauce and serve hot.