Stamppot Seared Salmon, Mash, and Kale Recipe

In a large stockpot, cover the potatoes with water and bring them to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat, cover the pot, and simmer the potatoes for about 10 minutes. Add the kale and leek leaves; continue to simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 10 more minutes, stirring twice toward the end. Even though the kale and leaks will not be underwater when they are first added to the pot, the steam from the potato water will cook them.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it is shimmering and fragrant. Sear the salmon pieces skin side up in the hot oil until a golden brown crust has formed. Turn the salmon just once. Scrape the bottom of the frying pan with the spatula as you turn the salmon, so you don't lose the crust. Continue cooking, skin side down, until the fish is opaque when flaked with a fork. Sprinkle the salmon with dried dill.

Pouring away from you to avoid the hot steam, drain the vegetables in a colander. Return vegetables to the pot and mash them together with the milk, butter, salt, and pepper. Divide the potato mixture into serving bowls. Separate the seared salmon from the skin and place atop the potatoes. Serve drizzled with balsamic vinegar if desired.

When serving, each serving is about 5 ounces salmon plus 1 cup mashed vegetables.

Variations and Substitutions

If you don't eat dairy, you can mash the potatoes with olive oil and unsweetened rice or almond milk instead of butter and milk.

Cooking and Serving Tips

To make this recipe a breeze, wash, peel, and chop all the vegetables before you start cooking anything. Leek greens can be sandy at times, so chop them first, then swish them around in a bowl of water to rinse all the sand off.

The salmon skin tends to stick to the skillet, which makes it easy to separate it from the cooked fillet. Just slide a spatula between the two and they will separate easily.

Use the leftover white parts of the leek to make a low-FODMAP leek-infused oil, or try re-growing your leek greens by propping them upright in a glass of water.