Simple Salmon

One doesn't usually think of Galesburg, Illinois as a great place for seafood, but we're very lucky to be the home location for Sitka Salmon Shares.  David and I have been enjoying our first delivery of our share of sockeye salmon, which came with this simple and delicious recipe.  Our garden has an abundance of cherry tomatoes and basil at the moment, so this was perfect.

SALMON, CHERRY TOMATOES, AND BASIL IN FOIL

adapted from recipe from  Sitka Salmon Shares

1 lb. salmon fillet

12 or so cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

10 big basil leaves

2 T. olive oil

Preheat oven to 500 degrees.

Cut salmon fillet into 2 equal pieces.  Lay out two sheets of aluminum foil large enough to completely wrap around each fillet.  Brush each sheet of foil with olive oil and place fillets, skin side down, on the foil.  Sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.  Layer salmon first with the sliced cherry tomatoes and then the basil leaves.  Drizzle remaining olive oil equally over each.  Close each foil package tightly, making sure all edges are crimped together tightly.

Place the foil packets in a metal baking dish or jelly roll pan.  Cook salmon for about 10 minutes (medium rare) or 13 minutes (well done).  Remove from oven, and let the package cool for a couple of minutes before opening.