You may be asking yourself, "What the heck is a Florentine? This is too fancy for me." First, let me ease you by defining what a Florentine is.
A Florentine is a dish native to Florence, Italy where the dish is prepared with spinach. If you couldn't tell already, I really love spinach. It is such an easy green to incorporate into a variety of dishes. See, not so bad, right?! You can easily do this to any protein.
The first time I made this dish, I was helping my parents prepare dinner. We wanted something that was both healthy and luxurious at the same time. Alas, we stumbled upon the Florentine. What's special about this recipe is that it can be paired with virtually anything- pasta, mashed potatoes, a veggie side, what have you. It also makes a wonderful stand alone meal.
The key is the spinach, but what I like to do is add peppers to my rendition. It's probably not the most traditional approach from my understanding of the recipe, but it adds a sweet crunch to the dish. I also throw in a few mushrooms. The first time I made it, it lacked mushrooms. I think that these also added a little sumthin'-sumthin' to it. Mushrooms are high in both fiber and protein. They also promote better digestion, and get this, longevity! Who knew?!
It is super easy to make this meal in 20 minutes flat. It's light, creamy, and is absolutely perfect for a summer evening. Go and treat yo'self- indulge!
Some key tips:
1. As mentioned above, feel free to make this a stand alone dish or add a side to it. Mashed potatoes are my favorite, but pasta is also a fan fav.
2. The best way to conquer the fish is to do almost a "set-and-forget" method. Heating an oven to 325 and baking the fish in for 20 minutes is a surefire way to cook it right every time. Plus, it's healthier than pan frying (which could also work for this dish, if you want your fish to have a little crunch). I, personally, also think it brings out the fish's natural flavors.
3. Not a fan of fish? Wave it goodbye and add in other options like chicken breast, scallops, or shrimp.
4. Spinach tends to wilt when cooking. Add more than you think you need. It's the dish's foundation!
Salmon Florentine
Serves: 1
Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 6oz portion of salmon filet
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp salted butter
- 1/4 cup white onion, julienne
- 1/4 cup red bell pepper, julienne
- 1/4 cup portabella mushroom, sliced
- 1/2 oz cream cheese
- 1/2 cup half and half cream
- 1 cup spinach
- 3 Tbsp Parmesan cheese
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Garlic powder to taste
- Red pepper flakes to taste (optional)
Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Place salmon filet on parchment paper that has been placed on a baking tray. Salt and pepper to taste. Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil, butter, peppers, onion, mushrooms, and garlic powder and cook for about 4 minutes.
3. Add spinach. Season with salt and pepper. Cook down until spinach wilts
4. Add cream cheese, half and half, and Parmesan cheese. Mix until cream cheese is melted and mixture resembles creamed spinach. Place on simmer until fish is ready.
5. Place spinach mixture on plate with the salmon on top. Serve and enjoy!
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