Happy New Year! Oftentimes, people make resolutions to improve their lives in the coming year. Thinking about eating healthier in the New Year? Maybe spending more time with your family and friends? How about trying not to get too stressed about things? Is even mentioning these options feeling a little stressful? Never fear! I've got a recipe to share with you today that helps with all of those resolutions while being the perfect blend of elegance and ease:
Imagine spending less than half an hour and having tender chunks of spicy-sweet salmon melting in your mouth. It's a healthy fish cooked in healthy oil with a healthy coating that will keep your cook time to about twenty minutes. With all of that in one dish, you don't need to stress about a fancy dinner. It nearly makes itself! Just grab your favorite nonstick skillet (make sure it's safe to put it in the oven) and gather your ingredients. You can even prep the salmon in advance and split the work. And when the work is done, your pan is going to look like this:
Mmmmm! Salmon is one of my favorite meals and this particular recipe is one of my favorite ways to prepare it. Add a rice or lentil dish, salad, or mixed roasted vegetables and a glass of wine and you've got a great meal that will have you celebrating the New Year and your cleverness!
Spicy Maple-Walnut Salmon
- 1/4 c. chopped walnuts
- 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp. ground chipotle pepper
- 1/4 tsp. onion powder
- 1/4 tsp. cracked black pepper
- 2 T. pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp. soy sauce (or tamari for gluten free option)
- 1 T. olive oil
- 2 salmon fillets — each weighing about 6 ounces
Add the first eight ingredients (walnuts through soy sauce or tamari) to a small mixing bowl and stir until well combined.
Place your salmon fillets on a plate and spoon the mixture over each piece of fish, distributing it as evenly as you can. At this point, you can place them in the refrigerator, uncovered, until ready to cook.
Preheat your oven to 425°F.
Heat the oil in a large oven-safe, nonstick skillet set over medium-high heat. When your pan is nice and hot, add the pieces of fish and let them cook undisturbed for about 2 minutes.
Transfer the pan to the oven and continue cooking the fish for about 5-8 minutes, depending on desired doneness and thickness of the fillets. Serve the fish with the extra pan juices drizzled over the top.
- Yields: 2 servings (Recipe is easily multiplied)
- Preparation Time: 20 minutes