Asian Marinated Salmon

I've been on an Asian and Mexican food kick lately and this salmon recipe certainly does the trick. The strong flavors of the marinade help to make the salmon taste less salmon-y. Since I'm not a huge fan of fish just yet I love the fact that the flavors all blend to make something delicious! And yes, salmon-y is now a word if you were still stuck on that.

My sister, Liz, originally made this for my family awhile back when I was even less of a fish fan. I've been meaning to make it ever since (which has been a LONG time) because it was *delicious* the first time. Way to go, sister, for making me like things I didn't think I liked!

I served mine up with some rice and vegetables. YUM! There are certainly other ways to serve it up as well but the rice is nice because it soaks up all the marinade. Then you have delicious fish on top of delicious rice. That's pretty awesome, right? The answer to my rhetorical question is YES! It it is very awesome.

ASIAN MARINATED SALMON
recipe adapted from A Chookie Chookie
prep time: 10 minutes plus 1 hour to marinate; cook time: 15-20 minutes
serves: 6

INGREDIENTS

• 2.5 to 3 pounds fresh salmon fillets, cleaned
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons Sriracha (chili sauce)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh ginger
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 lime, zested and juiced
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 3 green onions, finely chopped
• sesame seeds and chopped green onions to garnish, optional

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small bowl, mix the soy sauce, Sriracha, ginger, garlic, lime zest and juice, honey, red pepper flakes, and 3 green onions. 
2. Cover bottom of glass baking pan with parchment paper and place the salmon fillets in the pan, skin side down. Pour the marinade on top of fillets and lift the salmon slightly to make sure the marinade reaches all sides of the salmon. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate about 1 hour to marinade.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the plastic wrap from the salmon and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the fish turns opaque and flaky.
4. Serve with sesame seeds and green onions to garnish, optional.

Hearty Turkey Chili

Chili is one of my favorite quick and healthy meals that fills your belly on a cool day. It's like comfort food but without the added fat that a lot of comfort foods have. Plus, *bonus* that turkey also tastes delicious in this dish. There are so many beautiful flavors that you will not miss the beef at all. Promise.
Read more »

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Tomato soup is the perfect pair for grilled cheese. It's like peanut butter and jelly. They just go together. Or like ice cream and chocolate syrup. Bread and butter. Turkey and stuffing. Pancakes and syrup. Wow...apparently the only pairs I can come up with are food related. Such is life.
Read more »

Beet & Corn Risotto

I have the tendency to say I don't like something then never try it because I told myself I don't like it. It's really a silly thing. I'm working on cracking that bad habit. I've already figured out I like eggs and cherries after many many years of thinking I didn't like them. Two major wins and bonus that they are healthy too!
Read more »

Carrot Top & Basil Pesto

I'm not going to lie...this is a weird sounding one. I got some pretty strange looks from my family when I told them I was going to make carrot top pesto. Even my sister, who I have to admit makes some weird stuff of her own, looked at me like I was out of my mind. I questioned my sanity for a brief moment. My official conclusion was that I was sane...at least in regards to this pesto.
Read more »

Balsamic & Orange Roasted Carrots

Who here likes to be fancy? ME! ME! Actually, it's more that I like to pretend to be fancy. It's a fine line between real and pretend fancy so pretending to be fancy is 99% of the way there. Either way, these carrots will make you seem super fancy. Why? First, because I say so. Of course that's a legitimate reason. Second, because balsamic vinegar. Fancy. Third, you add orange zest into anything and it's *for real* fancy. Even the word "zest" sounds fancy. Fourth, we grew these multi-colored carrots in our garden and WHOA are they fancy.
Read more »

Spicy Fish with an Avocado & Greek Yogurt Sauce

I'm honestly new to this whole "fish" thing. My mom loves fish and probably would have made it more as we were growing up if my sister and I weren't so darn picky. Unfortunately for her she pretty much lost that battle and lived a fish-free life for the most part. But guess what?? I like fish now! Kind of. In small quantities as least. I can really only eat about half a fillet of fish before I get tired of it and have to try and pawn it off on my husband or save it for another day. Progress is slow. But, hey...progress is progress.
Read more »

Asian Tacos

Well, I had been leaving you in suspense since I posted my flour tortillas as to what we ate in them. The time is finally here to announce and it is certainly delicious...ASIAN INSPIRED TACOS!!! Yay! Can you even believe it?!? What a wonderful idea.
Read more »

Veggie Packed Peanut Butter Pasta

This pasta dish is CRAZY good. Seriously. Don't believe me? My sister and her husband along with my *adorable* niece were here a couple weekends ago from Ohio and we made this pasta dish together. While eating, the conversation went something like this:

Sister: This is soooo good. The best thing I ever ate.

Me: I know, right?

Brother-in-law to my sister: Steph sent you this recipe, right?

Sister: Yeah I should have it in my email.

Brother-in-law: Ok, good. Just wanted to make sure.

Read more »

Fresh Whole Wheat Pasta

I'm addicted to pasta. It's a real problem. Don't judge. You'll understand once you make it. At least I'll tell myself that. It will help me sleep at night.
Read more »

Roasted Corn & Bean Salsa

I love summer. First of all, working in the schools as an occupational therapist I get the summer off (minus a few weeks of summer school). Woo hoo! Second, Michigan feels like it has about 8 months of winter so summer is a nice break from cold. And snow. And cold. And snow. You get the point. If you don't understand, I envy you because you must live somewhere warm where everyone thinks winter is a myth that us Northerners make up. Well, winter is real, folks. It's real and it's horrible. Unless you like snow up to your head. Then it's wonderful. Third, and most of all, summer has the most wonderful options for beautiful fruits, veggies, and herbs!
Read more »