History
There are several historic recipes that a household can make for its observance of Maundy Thursday. Lamb, rosemary buns, and Swabian Maultaschen are just some examples of foods that you’ll see Christian families eating during their celebration of the first day in the Holy Triduum. This recipe is one of many household recipes for Maundy Thursday.
One explanation for the name Gründonnerstag (Green Thursday) is that it emphasizes the traditional practice on Holy Thursday where faithful Christians would historically partake in a day of bodily cleansing in preparation for Easter. Many viewed eating healthy meals of green vegetables and herbs to be part of this cleansing process.
So in keeping with Holy Thursday’s German name of “Green Thursday,” it is common throughout German-speaking countries and elsewhere in Europe for families to eat green food on this Church holiday.
Green Recipes
The use of green herbs in Maundy Thursday meals is probably derived from from the Jewish Passover meal that included bitter and green herbs, yet there is another connection to be made with the concept of fresh green foods.
Since Holy Week and Easter traditionally fall during the early springtime in Europe and North America, the celebration of early plant growth and new life is both related to the season in which the holiday falls and a remembrance of the new life that Christ gives us through the Sacrament that he instituted on this day.
After enduring a long winter, fresh greens are surely a welcome and refreshing change of pace or addition to one’s palate!
When making this meal, feel free to add and subtract “greens” as needed. Our family observes the Lenten fast, so adding a festive pesto topping to fish is one way that we can switch things up in the last days before eating meat again on Easter. Additionally, we love the nod to German cuisine that comes from eating roasted asparagus, but steamed broccoli or sautéed Brussels sprouts would work, as well. Finally, don’t forget to add a side of fresh garden salad greens!
Green Pesto Salmon Recipe
Ingredients
6 salmon filets
2 cups fresh basil leaves
5 cloves garlic
1/2 cup nuts (pine nuts, almonds, or cashews work great)
1/3 cup olive oil
salt and pepper
1 cup spinach
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make the pesto. Combine the basil, garlic, and nuts in a food processor. While the food processor is running, add the olive oil slowly and steadily until the mixture is emulsified. Season with salt and pepper.
- Roughly chop the spinach.
- Stir the pesto, spinach, and breadcrumbs together in order to form the topping for the salmon. Season the mixture with more salt and pepper as desired.
- Coat each piece of salmon with the pesto crumb topping, dividing the mixture equally between the filets.
- Spray the coated salmon pieces with olive oil spray, place them evenly onto your baking sheet, and place into the preheated oven.
- Bake the salmon at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish. You want for the topping to brown slightly and for the fish to cook through.
Green Pesto Salmon
Ingredients
- 6 salmon filets
- 2 C fresh basil leaves
- 5 garlic cloves
- ½ C nuts (pine nuts, almonds, or cashews work great)
- ⅓ C olive oil
- salt and pepper
- 1 C spinach
- ½ C breadcrumbs
- olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make the pesto. Combine the basil, garlic, and nuts in a food processor. While the food processor is running, add the olive oil slowly and steadily until the mixture is emulsified. Season with salt and pepper.
- Roughly chop the spinach.
- Stir the pesto, spinach, and breadcrumbs together in order to form the topping for the salmon. Season the mixture with more salt and pepper as desired.
- Coat each piece of salmon with the pesto crumb topping, dividing the mixture equally between the filets.
- Spray the coated salmon pieces with olive oil spray, place them evenly onto your baking sheet, and place into the preheated oven.
- Bake the salmon at 350° F for 15-20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish. You want for the topping to brown slightly and for the fish to cook through.
[…] Maundy “Green” Thursday with this easy homemade pesto over your chioce of fish or […]