Eat, Drink, and Go!

How’s that for alliteration? I know I don’t have to say how long it’s been since I’ve written, but again, I’m sorry! I have been cooking, just not spending the kind of time I usually like to due to, ya know, life! Anyways, last night I made a great, healthy salmon and quinoa dish that I had to share with you. Well, the how-to part, obviously not share the actual dish since you weren’t there last night 🙂

It started and ended with a very tasty Asian smoked tea rub from Whole Spice.

I used that in both the quinoa and the salmon. I love a good spice blend that you can use to enhance more than one aspect of your dish. I got the quinoa going by toasting it with some of the spice blend, then boiling it with half water, half vegetable stock. The ratio of liquid to quinoa is 2:1, so I did one cup water, one cup vegetable stock, and one cup quinoa.

Get it to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer until the liquid is gone. I popped some kale and corn with an EVOO drizzle and a little salt and pepper in the oven to roast.

Takes about 15-20 minutes on 350, you want the edges of the kale nice and brown. Meanwhile, I rubbed the smoked tea spice blend on both sides of the salmon.

Got the sautée pan nice and hot with a little nonstick EVOO spray (my pans have been sticking like crazy lately, even the nonstick ones!) then placed the salmon skin side down to get the skin nice and crispy.

Let it get good and seared on a mid-high heat and cover to seal in the flavors, about 4 to 5 minutes. Flip once before it’s done.

Look at that sear!! I love the skin when it’s extra crisp. This came out perfect!! I laid down a bed of quinoa and the roasted corn and kale and then topped with the salmon.

How simple is that?? This kind of cooking is really just about timing. The kale and quinoa take longer than the salmon, so get them going first. Then when there’s ten minutes left, get your salmon ready and going. It is such a sense of accomplishment when everything finishes together and makes you look all-pro as you plate away!

Ta-da! It was so light and delicious and I could feel how nourishing all that healthiness was for my body!!