Tag Archives: salmon

Black and White Sesame Seed Salmon

Dinner, , , , , , , , ,

Salmon with black and white sesame seeds

This is a very easy, but visually interesting meal. You could pair it with a baby spinach or rocket salad, with fennel and grapefruit (to use up the grapefruit in the recipe) and Sweet Potato Fries with Garlic Aioli out of the Air Fryer.

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp black sesame seeds
  • 1 Tbsp white sesame seeds
  • 1 Tbsp grapefruit juice
  • 1 tsp honey
  • pinch of sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 salmon fillets
  • Coconut oil

Directions

  1. Season the salmon fillets with sea salt and freshly ground pepper
  2. Mix the black and white sesame seeds, grapefruit juice and honey together in a small bowl
  3. Spoon the sesame seed mix onto the top of the salmon fillets (skin side down, do not put the sesame seeds on top of the skin). Spread the sesame seeds out to form a crust on top of the salmon fillets
  4. Fry in a little coconut oil over a moderate to low heat until the salmon fillets are cooked half way through – skin side down first. Turn over and cook until cooked through. About 2 minutes on each side.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: Marisa Nadler – July

Dukkah Crusted Tuna

Dinner, , , , , , , ,

Dukkah crusted tuna

Dukkah (duqqa) is an Egyptian mix of nuts and spices. There is no definitive recipe, with the exact mix of nuts, herbs and spices varying from home to home and shop to shop. Dukkah can be used as a topping for meat (we have used this version with tuna, salmon and chicken), or as dip with bread or vegetables. It is very simple to make, and can keep for a couple of weeks in an air tight container.

Ingredients

  • 2 tuna or salmon fillets
  • Coconut oil for pan frying

For the dukkah:

  • 1/2 tsp Cloves
  • 1 tsp Fennel seeds
  • 1 tsp Coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp Cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • 1/4 tsp Turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp chili flakes
  • Handful of chopped pine nuts, toasted
  • Handful of chopped almonds, toasted
  • Handful of chopped cashew nuts, toasted
  • 1/2 tbsp White sesame seeds
  • 1/2 tbsp Black sesame seeds
  • 2 tbsp Honey
  • Juice of 1 orange
  • Sea salt
  • Black pepper

Directions

  1. Toast the seeds in a a pan for around 30 seconds or until fragrant.
  2. Transfer the seeds to a spice grinder (or mortar and pestle) and grind until you have a coarse powder.
  3. Transfer to a little bowl, add all other ingredients and mix.
  4. Place a generous amount of dukkah on the tuna or salmon fillets (top side only)
  5. Fry the fish fillets – skin side first – for a couple of minutes until done.
  6. Serve with Korean carrot salad and (cauliflower) rice.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: Bony King – Wild Flowers

Salmon Coconut Curry

Dinner, , , , , , ,

Salmon Coconut Curry

We lived in India for two years and love Indian food. This curry is inspired by the food of Southern India, and is full of flavour, but not spicy. It uses chili only to create flavour rather than heat, and you remove the chilies after the dish is cooked. It is mild enough for children to eat, but extra chilli could be added if you prefer to add some spice.

Ingredients

Spice paste

  • 1/2 onion, sliced
  • 3 cm ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 100 ml coconut milk

Curry 

  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 6 green cardamon pods
  • 4 cloves
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1/2 large onion, sliced
  • 3 whole green chilies, pricked all over, whole
  • 120 ml coconut milk
  • 150 ml water
  • 250 gr salmon fillets, cut into pieces (can also use salmon trimmings)
  • 15-20 curry leaves
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1/2 tsp amchar (mango powder)
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • fresh coriander to garnish

Directions

  1. Place all of the spice mix ingredients into a blender. Blend well to form a spice paste.
  2. Heat 1 Tbsp of coconut oil in a moderate heat pan, add the mustard seeds, cardamon pods, cloves and cinnamon stick and fry until fragrant.
  3. Add the onion, and fry gently until soft.
  4. Add the spice mix, salt and chillies to the pan and stir well. Cover and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. Add the coconut milk, water, salmon fillets, curry leaves, pepper, garam masala, and mango powder. Stir to combine and then let it simmer for around 5 minutes until the fish is cooked through.
  6. Stir in the lemon juice and garnish with some fresh coriander.
  7. Serve with rice or cauliflower rice.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: Anoushka Shankar – Traces of You

Grilled Salmon with Green Mango Salad

Lunch and Light Meals, , , , , , , , , , ,

Grilled Salmon and Green Mango Salad

This is a very fresh, summary dish inspired by our recent trip to Thailand. While the mango salad takes a little bit of preparation work, there are no difficult techniques. Coconut Aminos and Kaffir lime leaves might not be familiar to you, so we have included some notes on these ingredients below.

Ingredients

  • 2 Salmon fillets
  • Sea salt
  • Black pepper
  • 5 red shallots, finely chopped
  • 2 cm fresh galangal, finely chopped
  • 1 red chilli, chopped (deseeded when using a hot chilli)
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1,5 tbsp coconut aminos
  • 1/4 tsp maple syrup
  • Splash of water
  • Squeeze of lime juice
  • 1 raw green mango, peeled and cut into thin strips of 3 cm long
  • Handful fresh coriander, roughly copped
  • Few Thai basil leaves
  • 3 kaffir lime leaves, finely chopped and with the middle stem of the leaf removed

Directions

  1. Season the fillets with sea salt and black pepper.
  2. Fry the fish in a little coconut oil for a couple of minutes until done and set aside.
  3. Fry the shallots, garlic, galangal and chilli in the same pan as the fish for about three minutes.
  4. Add the coconut aminos, maple syrup, water and lime juice and give it a stir.
  5. Take the pan of the heat and add the mango, coriander, basil and kaffir lime.
  6. Mix well and serve with the fish.

About Kaffir Lime Leaves: The kaffir lime is a fruit native to tropical Asia including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. It is used in Southeast Asian cuisine. If the recipe calls for kaffir lime leaves and you can’t find any, skip the leaves. Don’t substitute. The fragrance is so distinct that it is irreplaceable.

About Coconut Aminos: Coconut Aminos is a Gluten Free replacement for Soy Sauce. It often comes as a shock for people who are new to their Gluten Free lifestyles that Soy Sauce contains Gluten (wheat is often the first ingredient), but not all soy sauces are created equal. There are Gluten Free Soy Sauces available (including from popular Soy Sauce brand Kikkoman), but Coconut Aminos is also a useful replacement, and available from good Health Stores.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: John Legend – Love in the Future

Fig Salad with Grilled Salmon

Lunch and Light Meals, , , , , ,

Fig salad with grilled salmon

A super easy and quick lunch or light dinner this recipe brings out the flavours of the mediterranean with moorish figs and crisp toasted pine nuts. The addition of salmon fillets is an optional way to complete it for a full meal.

Ingredients

  • 1 bag of salad leaves
  • Olive oil
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Sea salt
  • Black pepper
  • Handful of toasted pine nuts
  • 5 ripe figs, halved
  • 2 Salmon fillets
  • Coconut oil

Directions

  1. Wash the salad and place in a bowl.
  2. Add a splash of olive oil and a little balsamic vinegar and mix with the salad.
  3. Add the toasted pine nuts and a little sea salt.
  4. Cut the figs in half and dip the flat side in a little bowl of balsamic vinegar.
  5. Heat a little coconut oil in a frying pan and fry the figs for a couple of minutes flat side down.
  6. When the figs start to caramelise, take them out of the pan, cut the halves in 3 parts and add them to the salad.
  7. Season the salmon with sea salt and black pepper and fry skin side down first for a couple of minutes. When the fillets are halfway cooked, turn them over and cook the other side a little shorter than the skin side.
  8. Serve the salmon with the salad.

About Figs
Figs are the fruit of the ficus tree, which is part of the mulberry family (Moraceae). Figs have a unique, sweet taste and a soft, chewy texture. They are filled with slightly crunchy, edible seeds. Their natural sweetness meant that, before the days of refined sugars, they were often used as a sweetener.

Figs are native to the Middle East and Mediterranean and are one of the world’s oldest trees. The fig tree can be traced back to the earliest historical documents and features prominently in the Bible.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: St South – Slacks

 

 

 

 

Grilled Salmon with Avocado Guacamole Salsa

Lunch and Light Meals, , , , , , , ,

Grilled Salmon with Avocado Tahini Dip

This recipe uses a slightly simpler version of a traditional guacamole. For this recipe we do not use a blender so it’s not completely smooth but a little more chunky. Use the chilli if you like it spicy, otherwise omit.

Ingredients

For the fish

  • 2 wild salmon fillets
  • Salt and pepper
  • Sumac powder
  • Coconut oil

For the guacamole:

  • 1 ripe avocado, chopped into cubes
  • 1 garlic glove, finely chopped
  • 1 small red onion, finely chopped
  • 2 spring onions, finely chopped
  • Fresh coriander, chopped
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tsp group cumin
  • Salt and pepper
  • Olive oil
  • 1 red chilli (optional)

Directions

  1. Start with the guacamole. Put all ingredients in a large bowl and mix and mash until you have a chunky consistency. Set aside.
  2. Season the fish with salt and pepper and a little sumac.
  3. Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the salmon for a couple of minutes (skin side first) until it is half way cooked. Look at the side of the fish and you will see the line come up.
  4. When the fish is half way, turn and fry for another minute or two. If you like your fish well done, just cook it a little longer.
  5. Transfer to a plate, top with the guacamole and a splash of olive oil.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: Woods – With light and with love