SALMON AND GREEN BEANS POJARSKI WITH CUCUMBER HOT SAUCE

Salmon and Green Beans Pojarski With Cucumber Hot Sauce image

Provided by Jacques Pepin

Time 31m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

About 1 3/4 pounds salmon (to accommodate trimming and removal of skin); you should have 1 1/2 pounds of cleaned flesh
10 ounces fresh green beans
1 1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs (from 3 to 4 slices fresh bread)
1/2 to 3/4 (depending on size) of 1 whole jalapeno pepper, rib and seeds removed, and cut into 1/8-inch pieces (about 2 teaspoons)
3 large eggs
3 cloves garlic, peeled, crushed and chopped fine (about 3/4 teaspoon)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/3 cup shredded basil
Cucumber hot sauce (see recipe)
4 tablespoons corn or safflower oil

Steps:

Remove and discard any skin and sinew from the salmon and cut the flesh into 1-inch pieces.
Cut away any damaged spots on the beans, wash thoroughly in cold water, and cut into 1-inch pieces.
To make the fresh bread crumbs, break fresh bread into pieces and grind in the bowl of a food processor. You should have 1 1/2 cups. (Note: fresh bread crumbs are superior to dry bread crumbs. If, however, fresh crumbs are not available, use half the amount of dry crumbs - 3/4 cup for this recipe.) Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Place the green beans and hot pepper in the bowl of a food processor and process until finely chopped; the mixture should be rather granulated, not smooth and liquid. You should have about 2 cups. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
In the unwashed bowl of the processor, place the salmon and process for a few seconds, starting and stopping the machine, until coarsely chopped. Add to the bean puree with the eggs, bread crumbs, garlic, pepper, salt and shredded basil. Mix well.
Using a spoon, make patties weighing about 3 to 3 1/2 ounces each. Wet your hands if you feel they will stick to the salmon mixture and arrange the patties on a tray lined with plastic wrap. You should have 12 patties, 2 per person, and each patty should be no more than 1 inch thick and about 3 inches across. Set aside while you make the sauce.
To cook the salmon, use 2 large skillets, preferably nonstick. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in each skillet. When hot, add the patties and cook over medium to high heat for 2 1/2 minutes on each side. Set aside for a few minutes before serving with cucumber hot sauce.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 514, UnsaturatedFat 20 grams, Carbohydrate 23 grams, Fat 31 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 35 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Sodium 567 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams