Elegantly simple, roasted salmon topped with juicy salsa makes a perfect dish. This is a technique for cooking fish that chefs often use. Searing the surface, then finishing the fish in a hot oven gives it good color and keeps it succulent. Just remember that the pan will be very hot when it comes out of the oven--and make sure that it doesn?t have a rubber or plastic handle.
1 tsp canola, grapeseed, or olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
| | 1 1/2 lb salmon fillet with skin, cut in 4 pieces
Fresh Garden Salsa (see below)
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1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Season each piece of fish with a pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper.
2. Heat the oil in an ovenproof medium skillet. When a drop of water dances on the surface of the pan, add the pieces of fish skin side up. Cook until they are seared and have a golden crust, 3 minutes. Using tongs, turn the fish skin side down. Slip the skillet into the oven and roast until the fish is pearlescent in the center, 8 minutes for a 1"-thick fillet. Transfer the salmon to a serving platter or individual plates. Add 1/2 cup of the salsa to each plate and serve.
Makes 4 Servings
Per Serving: 228 calories, 15 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 23 g protein, 0 g carbohydrates, 0 g fiber
Fresh Garden Salsa
1 sm zucchini squash
1 sm yellow squash
4 med plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped (about 11/2 c)
1 sm roasted red bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 roasted poblano chile pepper, seeded and chopped (see below)
| | 1 sm red onion, finely chopped
1 Tbsp chopped fresh oregano, or 1 tsp dried
Juice of 1/2 lime
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
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1. Dice the zucchini and squash into uniform pieces by cutting off the bottom and standing each up on a cutting board. Vertically slice off a strip about 3/8" thick by about 3/4" wide. Rotate the vegetable and cut off 3 more strips. Cut each strip lengthwise into3/8"-wide strips. Stack these strips and cut them crosswise into 3/8" cubes. Transfer them to a bowl and combine with the tomatoes, bell and poblano peppers, and onion.
2. Mix in the oregano and lime juice. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Let the salsa sit 15 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Roasting a Poblano Chile
Use tongs to hold it over an open flame. Keep turning the pepper until the skin is blistered and charred all over, about 6 minutes. Place the pepper in a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and set it aside to steam for 15 minutes. Slip off the thin peel. If not wearing plastic gloves, wash your hands immediately, scrubbing well under the nails. Slit the pepper lengthwise. Be sure to remove the stringy ribs as well as the seeds.
Makes 2 cups
Per Serving: (1 Tbsp): 6 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 g protein, 1 g carbohydrates, 0 g fiber
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- SOOOOOO GOOD!