This Salmon Is Tasty and Healthy!

It is obvious that most of my recipes are on the fattening side. I am trying to make some dishes that are healthier. Last night, I made salmon for my son Danny and me, and it was delicious. Besides being so tasty, it looks beautiful too. And the prep time and cooking time combined was 15 minutes!

For 2 people:

1 pound salmon fillets, cut into 2 pieces (Ask the seafood monger to take the skin off.)

1 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoons of soy sauce

For 4 people:

2 pounds of salmon fillet

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons soy sauce

Preheat the oven to broil, and put the rack in the oven as close as you can to the broiler element- about 6 inches below (It is essential for the salmon to cook close to the flame or heating element in order for the salmon to get a good glaze. Then cover a baking sheet with sides with aluminum foil.

Whisk the honey, and the soy sauce in a small bowl. Place salmon on prepared baking sheet. Brush with sauce on top of salmon. Broil until salmon is browned and glazed on top, about 5-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the salmon. (I like the salmon when it no longer is rare in the center) 

Warning:  Watch the salmon carefully while it is cooking, because any time you cook food close to the broiler element or the flame, your food could catch fire! 

Note: You may add ½ teaspoon of fresh grated ginger to the sauce or a very light sprinkling of ground ginger, if you like the taste of ginger. I added the fresh ginger, and it does give the recipe a distictive Asian flavor.

About 25 years ago, I had eaten shrimp oreganata out, and I really loved it.  I decided it was time for me to come up with my own version.  This recipe is so easy to make, and it turns baked flounder, haddock, halibut, or scrod into a special dish.  I make this for holiday meals because my daughter Randi really likes it a lot.  It looks very impressive when you bring it to the table, and what’s so great is that it is so easy to prepare.

• 1 to 2 pounds fresh flounder or other mild fish fillets
• fresh lemon juice from 1 to 2 lemons or 1-2 tablespoons frozen Minute Maid lemon juice, defrosted
• garlic powder (just as good!) or fresh crushed garlic
• Kosher salt
• fresh ground pepper
• dried oregano
• fresh romano or parmesan cheese, shredded or grated (I prefer the shredded)
• plain dry bread crumbs or my favorite to use -  (Colonna brand Italian bread crumbs)
• extra virgin (healthier) or light olive oil

Preheat oven to broil- high setting.  Put your oven rack in the middle of the oven or slightly below the middle. Put fish fillets on a lightly oiled foil lined sheet pan.  Sprinkle fish with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.  Drizzle fish all over with lemon juice.  Next, sprinkle bread crumbs over fish so fish is nicely covered with crumbs.  Next, sprinkle garlic powder over crumbs, then oregano, then a little more kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.  Next, sprinkle shredded or grated cheese lightly on the bread crumbs . Finally, drizzle olive oil over the crumbs to dampen. (I sprinkle a little more garlic powder on at this point.)  Put sheet pan in oven (on middle rack) under the broiler.  Broil until lightly browned and bubbly about 8-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish.

Note:  Watch the fish carefully as it broils.  If the topping on the fish starts to burn, turn the oven off of broil, and finish cooking at about 400.

Serving suggestion:  Serve with a salad of fresh baby spinach with sliced fresh strawberries and walnuts with a lemony vinaigrette and  fresh corn on the cob for an amazing and healthy  summer meal! (See my recipe for the lemon vinaigrette.)