A fast and healthy meal…Really?!
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| Photos by PB |
Yes! Really. Look at that beauty above. I promise it's delicious and it will take just over 30 minutes. No joke.
I came across a recipe that inspired this dish in a daily email I receive. It's been lying in the back files of my mind for a few weeks now. I had some company coming that motivated me to try out this recipe I had in mind. Said company is also the photographer so I had to feed him. ;-)
Here are a few photos taken during the cooking process.
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| That's me! Showing that lemon who's boss. - Photo by PB |
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| Yum! - Photo by PB |
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| Photo by PB |
This dish is incredibly; simple, cost effective, delicious and healthy (if you substitute the Olive Oil for butter). From the photo above you can see how few ingredients and dishes there are. The process is simple as well. Coat the Salmon and sprinkle with bread crumb/pecan mixture. Pop it in the oven and you're good to go. While the Salmon cooks the Quinoa will cook in the same amount of time. All done at once and ready to enjoy!
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| Apply the breadcrumbs and press them in just a bit. Photo by PB |
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| All ready to hit the oven rack and bake! Photo by PB |
Now onto the Lemon Zested Quinoa. First, fresh lemon juice is one of my favorite scents and fresh lemon zest is one of my favorite flavors to finish a dish. There's nothing like smelling the fresh squeezed lemon or tasting that little pop of flavor from the finishing touch of zest. Second, Quinoa...What in the heck is Quinoa?!
That was my first reaction when I saw it start popping up on Food Network and in magazines. It always looked delicious, but I never knew what it was or how it tasted. A recent trip (my first time) to a Trader Joes gave me a chance to discover what it was. The most important thing to know about it is this...it's unique texture and light flavor are perfect. While its unique flavor is good, it's even better with a hint of lemon. I highly recommend giving it a try. It's a little pricy when you look at the amount you get, but trust me 1 cup cooked up makes a few healthy servings!
A little more in depth: Quinoa (which is actually a seed, not a grain) is quite nutritional. It has a healthy serving of protein, essential amino-acids and is gluten/cholesterol-free. A healthier substitute for rice, be sure to check it out.
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| Quinoa cooking. Photo by PB |
Time to get cooking...Enjoy!
Honey Dijon Salmon and Lemon Zested Quinoa
Honey Dijon Salmon
Ingredients:
4 Salmon fillets
1/4 cup butter, melted and cooled (or olive oil)
3 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
2 Tablespoons Honey
1/4 cup Panko Bread Crumbs
1/4 cup chopped Pecans
Olive Oil
Pepper
Directions:
1. Use Olive Oil to grease a 9x13 pan and preheat oven to 400º.
2. In a small bowl mix Butter, Dijon Mustard, and Honey.
3. In another small bowl mix the Pankp Bread Crumbs, Pecans and Pepper (to taste).
4. With a brush apply honey/mustard mix to the bottom of the salmon and place in the pan. Brush the top of the salmon with the honey/mustard mix.
5. Sprinkle, generously, the bread crumb mix over the salmon and lightly press onto salmon.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until an internal temperature of 140º.
Lemon Zested Quinoa
Ingredients:
1 cup Tricolor or Regular Quinoa
2 cups water
juice of 1 Lemon
3 Green Onions (just the green)
Zest of one Lemon
Directions:
1. Be sure to wash the Quinoa before you use it.
2. Mix the water and Quinoa in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
3. Once boiling, reduce heat and cook until tender, about 15 minutes.
4. After it's cooked add the lemon juice and onion. Remove from heat.
