If You Cook It, They Will Come

On occasion, we like to offer up some interesting recipes from our winery partners. We're regularly asked about pairing wines with food, and we know these recipes pair perfectly with items that we have on our shelves.

Merry Edwards produces some of the best Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, period. Their Dolce Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, like much of the Merry Edwards collection, typically rates over 90 points in Wine Spectator. Merry Edwards wines also do very well in restaurants; in the 24th annual poll by Wine & Spirits Magazine, released in April 2013, Merry Edwards was ranked #4 Pinot Noir, #6 Sauvignon Blanc and #8 brand among the top 50 in restaurants.

With that kind of a background, don't we recommend scanning their web site recipe page when you're hungry. Here are two of our easy-to-make favorites:

Potato Crusted Salmon

Ingredients
1 russet potato, peeled and grated
4 6.5-ounce wild salmon fillets, pin bones removed and skin off
2 tablespoons tablespoons olive oil
pinch kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a small bowl, mix the grated potatoes with some salt and pepper. Pack a 1/8 of an inch layer of the potato on the inside side of each fillet. Heat a large pan with the olive oil on medium high heat. When hot, add the salmon fillets potato side down. Cook until the potatoes are golden brown and cooked through, about 6 minutes. Flip and finish cooking to desired doneness, about 3 minutes for medium rare. Pair with the Merry Edwards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. Serves 4

Crabmeat Mango Salad

Ingredients

6 ounces fresh ripe mango, diced into small cubes

1 tablespoon of chopped white onion

1 tablespoon chopped red bell pepper

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

4 ounces jumbo lump crabmeat

6 ounces spring mix salad

Spring Mix Salad Dressing

Crabmeat Mango Sauce

Make the dressing for the Spring Mix Salad (see ingredients below) and toss with spring mix. Pile the spring mix in the bottom of the plate. For the best visual results use a shallow bowl. Pair with the Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc.

In a separate bowl, make the Crabmeat Mango Sauce (see ingredients below). Add the mango, white onion, red bell pepper and cilantro and crabmeat. Toss lightly. Place dressed crabmeat on top of the spring mix or use a mold to make it into a preferred shape.  

Spring Mix Salad Dressing

Ingredients

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon plum sauce

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and toss with the spring mix.

Crabmeat Mango Sauce

Ingredients

4 ounces mayonnaise

1 teaspoon horseradish

1 ounce Dijon mustard

Mix all ingredients together and see above.

Many of the wines we have for sale include the company web site, or QR code, or other identifier on the label. We all need cooking inspirations on occasion, and exploring the Merry Edwards web site, or the web site of another wine that you enjoy, can provide that inspiration.