Dappered

Affordable Men's Style

  • Don’t Miss Anything
  • Start Here
  • Essentials Shop
  • Latest Deals
  • Style Scenarios
  • Reviews

Make It For Your Date: Salmon w/ Wasabi Sauce & Baby Bok Choy

May 27, 2014 By Sarah | | Heads up: Buying via our links results in us getting a commission (not always, but just about), which helps keep the lights on around here. We also take your privacy rights seriously. Head here to learn more.

Salmon with Wasabi Sauce & Baby Bok Choy from Martha Stewart

We all know the saying “The quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”. This can also be a fairly speedy route to the female heart as well. Staying in and making your date dinner (or making it together) rates high on the romance scale. You get to show off your creativity and appreciation for nuance and details, even if it’s a simple dish. It’s no different from putting an outfit together. That’s what this series is all about. She or he will be left impressed, and you won’t need the skills of Wolfgang Puck.  

  • Familiar Ingredients: mayo, cilantro, lime juice, ginger, oil, salmon, soy sauce
  • Not So Familiar Ingredients: wasabi paste, mirin, baby bok choy
  • Number of Pans/Pots you’ll need to make this dish:  One blender, immersion blender, or food processor for the wasabi sauce, one large skillet.

Whenever you can present an entire vegetable cooked (think whole young carrots, or a full head of baby lettuce in a salad), the dish always tends to look fancier. A chopped up hash of vegetables can be delicious, but that just doesn’t have the wow factor of a full veggie laid out on a plate. Baby bok choy is perfect for fancy presentation. And our girl Martha paired it with some salmon. Simple, elegant, and easy. Plus the sauce is DELICIOUS. I mean, there’s mayo in it. Come on now. But it’s light, and really flavorful. I could see it making a great dressing in an Asian slaw. Hmm.

This is a great springtime meal that falls on the light side, but you can make it heavier by adding something starchy, like brown jasmine rice. Coconut Rice with Edamame would pair really well, and would make for some great next day leftovers with the salmon.

So here’s the recipe, be gone, and cook! No, wait… first a few explanations and tips.

Salmon and Baby Bok Choy on DapperedMeat and veggies. Rejoice Paleo People!

Wasabi Paste – If you’ve had sushi, you know what this is. Wasabi paste (or Japanese horseradish) is the bright green stuff you mix with your soy sauce which causes that delightful “burn” in your sinuses. You can buy tubes of pre-made wasabi paste, which will last a while in the fridge. Or you can by wasabi powder, and just reconstitute it with water. 

Salmon – Buy salmon out of the butcher case at your local grocer. If they don’t already have 6-8oz fillets in the case, the butcher can cut the salmon fillets down to match the thinner cuts shown in this recipe. Or, you can buy larger fillets and cut them up yourself. Opt for boneless fillets, if available.

Baby Bok Choy – You’ve likely seen this veggie several times at the grocery store, hanging out among the cabbages and root vegetables. Time not to pass it up. This Chinese cabbage is flavorful, has a nice texture cooked, and pairs deliciously with soy sauce.

Baby Bok Choy on DapperedCheck out these babies.

Mirin – This is a rice wine, sweeter and lower in alcohol content than sake. It’s a staple in Japanese cooking, and a little goes a long way. You can easily find this item in the Asian food isle at the store. I’ve never taken a straight chug out of a bottle of mirin. Anyone have experience with this? Do tell.

Final Note: Since this dish has some Japanese inspired elements, why not pair this with some sake? No, I’m not talking about the hot sake you order at a sushi joint and pound as sake bombs. I’m talking about sake meant to be consumed chilled, and slowly. There’s a huge variety out there. If you need some guidance, K&L Wine has some good write ups and scoring on several sakes. You might also try a local wine shop. There will often be a sake section, albeit small, but likely stocked with finer sake.

Sarah is a self proclaimed foodie and regular contributor to theprettyguineapig.com. Her addiction to massive amounts of wasabi while eating sushi has been cause for concern for her husband. She’s survived thus far. For more MIFYD posts, click here. And if you love a good horseradish burn, proclaim your love in the comments. 

Filed Under: Etc. Tagged With: make it for your date

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION …

Want to share your thoughts on this article? Join the discussion on Facebook, hit us up on Instagram, or reply on Threads.

DON’T MISS ANYTHING

Subscribe via email to get articles in your inbox. You can also follow us on Threads, Facebook, and Instagram.

NEW HERE?

Well, welcome to Dappered. Here are what we consider the most useful posts on the site if you're looking to put a little more effort into your appearance. Just want to see our favorite menswear products? Shop our essentials here.
Half off GAP Khakis, Half off J. Crew Cords, & More – The Thurs. Men’s Sales Handful

Half off GAP Khakis, Half off J. Crew Cords, & More – The Thurs. Men’s Sales Handful

It’s a pretty good weekend if you need some new pants.

Style Scenario: Feels Like Fall – Dressed Up

Style Scenario: Feels Like Fall – Dressed Up

The final of three style scenarios welcoming in the prime season for dressing well.

Win It: The Baltic Aquascaphe Classic

Win It: The Baltic Aquascaphe Classic

The prop-closet-cleanout continues. Win this watch. Automatic, assembled in France, and 39mm.

Follow Dappered on Instagram »

MEN’S FASHION OR AFFORDABLE STYLE?

Fashion is temporary and expensive. Style is timeless and affordable. Dappered® helps you work the retail system so that you can be comfortable, look sharp, and save money.

Want to share a great product? Email Us.
For a fit perspective, see Joe’s measurements
Make sure to read our affiliate disclosure.

CONNECT WITH DAPPERED

Thanks! Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS

MOST POPULAR ON DAPPERED

  • Half off GAP Khakis, Half off J. Crew Cords, & More – The Thurs. Men’s Sales Handful
  • Monday Men’s Sales Tripod – Macy’s Watch Sale, $10 off UNIQLO Chinos, and more
  • Style Scenario: Feels Like Fall – Casual (nothing over $100 edition)
  • Steal Alert: J. Crew 30% off Suits and Blazers
  • Style Scenario: Feels Like Fall – Dressed Up
  • Win It: The Baltic Aquascaphe Classic

Copyright © 2023 Dappered.com | Dappered, LLC | Dappered® is a registered trademark of Dappered, LLC

Dappered does not collect or sell its users personal information | Disclosures: Privacy and Affiliates, Gilt.com, FTC

WPE

We work with partners that use cookies to understand how visitors use our site. Find out more.