Today's sheet pan recipe is terrific for beginners. A center-cut salmon filet is cut into several individual pieces and placed to one side of a baking sheet. On the opposite side are your vegetables of choice. With this recipe, I choose zucchini and red onions. I like the way roasting both of them brings out their natural sugars and gives the dish a dash of sweetness. Of course, you can substitute other vegetables. Just be sure to cut vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower into smaller pieces of about 1 inch. Brussels sprouts would make a nice addition, but they should be halved or quartered.
This dish is cooked under the broiler, which means it's ready in no time. Temperatures of broilers vary, but they're typically 500 to 550 degrees. Be careful not to get your food too close to the broiler element. Six inches from the heat element is desirable.
If there's one thing about salmon that I always stress, it's that it shouldn't be overcooked. Invest in a thermometer and cook it to about 130 degrees. At that degree of doneness, the fish will be moist and tender.
This recipe serves two generously with salmon leftovers. The leftover salmon is terrific on a salad.
Soy-Glazed Salmon With Veggies and Citrus
1 pound center-cut salmon filet cut into 3 to 4 pieces with skin
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium tamari or soy sauce
1 tablespoon canola oil, plus more for drizzling on vegetables
1 medium red onion, peeled, cut into quarters
2 to 4 cups vegetables of choice in pieces (broccoli, snow peas, carrots, zucchini)
Salt and ground black pepper, optional
1 mandarin orange, peeled, segmented and diced
1 green onion, sliced, optional
Heat the broiler to low. Line a sided baking sheet with foil.
Use paper towel to pat salmon steaks dry; place to one side of the baking sheet.
In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, tamari and oil. Drizzle about half of the soy mixture over the salmon filets. Place onion and other vegetables on the baking sheet opposite the salmon, drizzle with some oil and, if you like, season with salt and pepper.
Broil about 10 minutes or until salmon is cooked through. Remove from oven and drizzle some of the remaining soy mixture and let rest about 2 minutes before transferring to plates.
To serve, slide a spatula between the skin and the salmon and transfer to a plate. Arrange vegetables on plate and top salmon with diced mandarin. Garnish with green onion, if desired. Once plated, spoon any additional pan juices over salmon and vegetables if desired.
Makes 2 generous servings with leftovers.
Food on 01/30/2019