Who says a holiday roast has to be red meat or poultry? Take a page from my French husband’s family’s book of traditions and serve salmon!
I like to buy one single large fillet if possible, then serve it on the largest platter I can find. It makes for a pretty dramatic and colorful holiday meal centerpiece. Plus, roasted salmon is incredibly easy, quick (taking minutes, not hours like many roasts), and is versatile. Since we try to eat fatty fish twice a week in our home, this holiday favorite helps get us there, year-round.
My favorite roasted salmon strategy couldn’t be easier. Just brush the fillet with seasoned olive oil (which can be as simple as salt, pepper and oil), roast it quickly at high heat, then top it with a quick vinaigrette-style sauce. Mix together almost any combination of herbs, spices and aromatics with some acid (such as lemon juice or red wine vinegar) and oil, then spoon it over the just-roasted, piping hot fish. Delicious!
The hardest part about this dish? Not overcooking it! My advice is to take it out a couple minutes before you think it is done. It will be perfect. Or you also could use an instant thermometer and cook it to 135 F.
ROASTED SALMON WITH LEMONS, PRUNES AND OLIVES
Start to finish: 30 minutes
Servings: 6
For the salmon:
2-pound wild salmon or steelhead trout fillet
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
2 lemons, thinly sliced, seeds removed
For the topping:
3/4 cup prunes, pitted and halved
3/4 cup briny, green olives, pitted, lightly chopped or left whole, as desired
2 tablespoons capers
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon olive oil
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
Nutrition information per serving: 340 calories; 150 calories from fat (44 percent of total calories); 17 g fat (2.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 95 mg cholesterol; 520 mg sodium; 16 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 9 g sugar; 34 g protein.
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