Dish in Demand: Salmon Florentine at La Bella Vita

The salmon florentine at La Bella Vita at the Samoset Resort encapsulates the restaurant’s Italian roots. We share the details, ingredients, and recipe here.

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Richly furnished with wooden touches, romantic lighting, a wood-fired brick oven, and artwork inspired by the boot-shaped peninsula, Samoset Resort’s restaurant, La Bella Vita, pulls out all the stops to deliver an authentic Italian dining experience. The gorgeous views of the Atlantic Ocean and golf course, combined with the mouthwatering menu – think antipasti dishes, pizza, homemade pasta, filet, and chicken and veal piccata – make La Bella Vita a destination in itself.

But when it comes to picking one dish as the guest favorite, La Bella Vita Executive Sous Chef Leucio Pacelli says it’s got to be the salmon florentine. Why? Pacelli surmises that it’s the black garlic puree – made with fermented black garlic mixed with a balsamic reduction – that complements the risotto perfectly. Here’s the recipe to recreate this dish at home.

The Recipe

Ingredients

Salmon
1          8 oz. salmon filet
TT      salt and pepper

Kale Pesto
1 c.         kale
¼ c.       basil leaves
½ tsp.   garlic, chopped
½ c.       extra virgin olive oil
¼ c.       walnuts
TT          salt and pepper

Kale Pesto Risotto
5 c.          vegetable stock or salted water
¼ c.        yellow onion
2 Tbsp.  extra-virgin olive oil
1 c.          dry white wine
3¼ oz.   Arborio rice
4 oz.       heavy cream
2 Tbsp.  kale pesto
1 Tbsp.  Parmigiano Reggiano
TT           salt and pepper

Black Garlic Puree
5 cloves    black garlic or roasted garlic
¼ c.            balsamic reduction

Directions

For the Kale Pesto
1. Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth.

For the Kale Risotto
1. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, add yellow onion and stir until it just starts to get soft.
2. Add Arborio rice, stirring continuously for at least 3 minutes.
3. Add white wine and continue stirring until mostly absorbed, then keep adding the stock (about a cup at a time) while continuing to stir.
4. Spoon in pesto and cheese and mix.

For the Salmon
1. Season both sides of salmon with salt and pepper.
2. In a grill pan over high heat, sear salmon for about one minute. Flip salmon over and cook in the oven at 350 degrees until medium.

For the Black Garlic Puree
1. Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth

Putting it All Together
1. Place garlic puree to one side of plate and drag across to create a teardrop.
2. Place risotto in center and place salmon on top.
3. Drizzle butter over salmon and a small drizzle around the plate. Add desired vegetables.

Where to Stay Samoset Resort