Sockeye Salmon with Hatch Chile Corn

Sockeye Salmon with Hatch Chile Corn

Sockeye Salmon with Hatch Chile Corn
🌶️ 🐟 🌽

Fresh corn and Hatch chiles are two of the best flavors of late summer, and they pair beautifully with wild sockeye salmon. Here, the corn is sautéed in butter with roasted chiles, tomatoes, garlic, and lime, then served alongside pan-seared salmon with divinely crispy skin.

If you’re not familiar with Hatch chiles, they’re grown in New Mexico’s Hatch Valley and are prized for their earthy, slightly sweet flavor and wonderful smoky character when roasted. Depending on the variety, they can range from mild and mellow to quite hot. I roast mine over the flame on my backyard grill until the skins are blackened and blistered; see my Hatch Chile Tuna Melt for the roasting method.

Sockeye Salmon with Hatch Chile Corn Recipe

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Edamame Pasta e Fagioli

Edamame Pasta e Fagioli

Edamame Pasta e Fagioli
With Bacon and Carrots

This easy, satisfying soup takes a cue from pasta e fagioli, the Italian combination of pasta and beans. Here, the beans are edamame—young soybeans—which pair surprisingly well with smoky bacon, carrots, garlic, and rosemary in a rich savory chicken broth. Small elbow macaroni completes the pasta-and-bean combination, while a finishing drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and red pepper flakes brings everything together.

I use the refrigerated, shelled edamame from Trader Joe’s. They come vacuum-packed, fully cooked, and ready to eat hot or cold, making them especially convenient for this soup. Since they only need to be heated through, they go in toward the end. Edamame are also a good source of protein and fiber, adding a nutritious boost to this simple soup.

Edamame Pasta e Fagioli Recipe

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Hatch Chile Tuna Melt

Hatch Chile Tuna Melt

🌶️ Hatch Chile 🌶️
🐟 🥪 Tuna Melt 🐟 🥪

Every August, big displays of fresh Hatch chiles begin taking over the produce departments at my local Las Vegas supermarkets—a sure sign that Hatch chile season is in full swing. I bring mine home and roast them over the flame on my backyard grill until the skins are blistered and smoky, then peel and chop them for recipes throughout the season. One of my favorite ways to use them is in this Hatch Chile Tuna Melt.

Hatch New Mexico Green Chile

Instead of mixing the chopped Hatch chiles into the tuna salad, I layer them between the tuna and the cheese so their flavor stands on its own. As the American cheese melts, it envelops the roasted chiles, creating a creamy, smoky layer that transforms an everyday sandwich into something memorable. Crisp, buttery grilled sourdough provides the perfect contrast to the cool tuna salad, made simply with Duke’s mayonnaise, crunchy celery, diced red onion, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.

Served with a few tangy pepperoncini on the side, this sandwich captures the best flavors of late summer. The bright acidity of the peppers cuts through the richness of the tuna and melted cheese. If you’ve been waiting for the perfect way to celebrate Hatch chile season, this golden, crispy tuna melt is a delicious place to start.

Hatch Chile Tuna Melt Recipe

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Egg Drop Soup with Spinach, Tofu & Chili Crisp

Egg Drop Soup with Spinach, Tofu & Chili Crisp

🥚 🍲 Egg Drop Soup 🍲 🥚
with
Spinach, Tofu, and Chili Crisp

Egg Drop Soup is one of those wonderfully simple dishes that proves a handful of everyday ingredients can become something truly satisfying. Soft wisps of egg are suspended in a fragrant broth seasoned with fresh ginger and white pepper, while firm cubes of tofu and fresh spinach transform it into a light meal rather than just a starter. It comes together in about 15 minutes, making it an excellent choice for lunch, a cozy dinner, or whenever you’re craving something warm and nourishing.

Offer chili crisp on the side so everyone can season their own bowl to taste. A drizzle of the aromatic chili oil and a few crispy bits add color, texture, and a pleasant kick without overwhelming the delicate broth. It’s an easy way to personalize each serving while letting the delicate flavors of the broth, tofu, spinach, and ginger shine.

Egg Drop Soup Recipe

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Sea Bass all’Acqua Pazza with Saffron

Sea Bass all'Acqua Pazza

Sea Bass all’Acqua Pazza
With Saffron
🇮🇹 🐟 🇮🇹
Grilled Garlic Pugliese Bread

Inspired by the coastal cuisine of southern Italy, Sea Bass all’Acqua Pazza is a beautiful way to prepare a delicate fish in a light, aromatic broth of cherry tomatoes, olives, garlic, white wine, capers, and lemon.

While traditionally made with Mediterranean fish such as branzino or other local catches, this version features Chilean sea bass, prized for its buttery texture and ability to remain tender and moist while gently poaching. Saffron is my addition, bringing a subtle floral aroma and golden hue to the broth while complementing the sweetness of the tomatoes and richness of the fish.

The name acqua pazza translates to “crazy water,” referring to the simple yet intensely flavorful cooking liquid. As the fish gently cooks, its natural juices mingle with the tomatoes, wine, and aromatics, creating a savory sauce meant to be enjoyed down to the very last spoonful.

And for that, you absolutely need good bread. I served the sea bass with Pugliese bread, a rustic Italian-style loaf with a crisp crust and airy interior. The slices were brushed with olive oil, charred on the grill, and rubbed with fresh garlic before being placed around the rim of the dish.

The bread is more than a side—it is the perfect vessel for sopping up the saffron-infused acqua pazza broth, capturing every drop of the fragrant, tomato-rich “crazy water.”

Sea Bass all’Acqua Pazza Recipe

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