Roasted Salmon with Grapefruit Sauce
Ever since the new year started I’ve been trying to eat healthier. No, it wasn’t a New Year’s resolution, I just decided it was time. I mean, I’ve spent the past year stuck in the house eating and drinking all the bad (ie yummy) stuff like cookies, ice cream and cocktails. So, I decided it was time to make a change. Don’t worry, I’m still eating my healthy share of cookies, ice cream and cocktails, just not quite as often. I decided to start adding fish to our diet.
I told the boys once a week we’d be having seafood for dinner. Of course this was met with a loud angsty cry. See, A loves white fish while T loves red fish. And of course Hubs will eat any type of seafood I put in front of him. Kinda sounds like the beginning of a Dr. Seuss book doesn’t it? So, to appease everyone, namely the younglings, I promised I would rotate between the two colored fish. That meant that sometimes I’d make salmon and tuna while other times I’d cook up halibut or bass. It didn’t matter to me since I, like Hubs, will pretty much eat any kind of fish… except Rockfish. I hate Rockfish. So, that will never wind up on my table. But all the others, I couldn’t wait to experiment and have some really delicious seafood.
So, far we’ve had roasted, seared and grilled salmon. I’ve made tuna poke several times and I’m starting to buy a filet of halibut or bass just so there will be some ceviche in the fridge for lunch. It’s been great! And so healthy! I love going to the farmer’s market and coming home with some super fresh fish that will end up on our table that evening. (We had another salmon dish last night!) Even better, almost all the plates end up empty by the time dinner’s over.
While I’ll eat just about any fish you put in front of me, salmon is one of my favorites. It’s light and buttery, goes with almost anything and has so many options. You can sear it, grill it, roast it, poach it, even smoke it and still end up with a delightful plate of food. But it’s not just delicious, it’s also super healthy. Did you know salmon is a great source of protein? It’s also high in vitamin B, and a good source of potassium. But it’s those Omega-3 Fatty Acids that really make me smile. It’s because of those acids that I tend to grab the fattier filets. That fat not only means the fish will taste better, it’s great for your skin and hair, two things very important to me as I head into my 40’s.
What’s great about this salmon dish from Ellie Krieger is how easy it is to make any weeknight. But even better is the fact that we’re still in citrus season which means this dish is the perfect choice right now. Both sweet and sour, the grapefruit sauce really brings out the savory, buttery flavors of the salmon. And while they’re amazing all together, that sauce is spectacular all on its own. Seriously, it was all I could do not to lick the plate once the salmon was gone. But I wasn’t the only one, both boys lapped up that sauce as well. It was so darn good, I can’t wait to make it again. As a matter of fact, as long as there are ruby red grapefruits, I’ll make this dish. It’s just that good!
Notes
Adapted from Ellie Krieger.
Ingredients
- 4 (5 ounce) salmon filets, skins removed
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 ruby red grapefruits
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 shallot, minced
- 2-1/2 teaspoons honey
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons basil, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Sprinkle salt on salmon, place in a baking dish and roast until cooked through, about 18 minutes.
- While the salmon roasts make the sauce: Cut 1 of the grapefruits into sections, then remove each segment from its casing and cut the segments in half. Set the segment pieces aside. Juice the other grapefruit and set aside.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot and saute until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the grapefruit juice and honey and bring to simmer, stirring until honey dissolves. Continue to cook until sauce is reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and season with salt to taste. Right before serving, add grapefruit pieces and basil to the sauce. Place salmon on a serving dish. Spoon the sauce over the salmon and serve.
