The Best Salmon Recipe

Cooking for my family and having them around the dinner table is pure joy for me. I love cooking and whatever it is that's on the menu, I put my own touch to it by modifying the recipe.

Family dinners are priceless

Every family is looking for a way to reconnect at the end of the day, a chance to share the daily highlights or lowlights, share a laugh, maybe even learn something new about each other or the world. Dinner’s the perfect time and place, but we all know that some nights somewhere between work, after-school activities and the dishes, the best parts of dinner get lost. Our busy life seems so jam-packed that dinner starts to feel like another item on the to-do list instead of what it really is, a chance to connect.

As a business owner working long hours, keeping house and solo parenting leaves me little time in the kitchen and to be honest after a twelve hour a day on my feet, I like to prepare fast and simple dishes during the week. On Sundays however, I love whipping up a storm for my family and friends. Having my family and friends around the table is pure joy for me.

This salmon recipe I took from a cooking class I attended some time ago by the Wholefood Alchemist, Julie McKie, is my favourite salmon dish and so easy to do. It was a success when I whipped it up recently for a family event and a special person, Chef Pietro Gatti.

When you're cooking for a remarkable Italian chef like Pietro Gatti, I guess it's normal to feel a little nervous and believe me, I was. But the salmon was to die for and I must say it was one of the best dishes I've ever made. Oh, yes, I got a thumbs up from the chef himself.

When you're cooking for a remarkable Italian chef like Pietro Gatti, I guess it's normal to feel a little nervous and believe me, I was. But the salmon was to die for and I must say it was one of the best dishes I've ever made. Oh, yes, I got a thumbs up from the chef himself.

Here's the recipe, enjoy!

Whole baked salmon fillet, tangy tahini dressing, walnut, pomegranate and herbs

Preparation time: 10 - 15 minutes - Cooking time: 20minutes

Ingredients:

Salmon

1.2 - 1.5kg salmon fillet, skin on, pin-boned

2 tbs olive oil

Salt and pepper

Tangy tahini dressing

1 garlic clove, crushed

2 1/2 tbsp tahini

3/4 cup (200g) greek yogurt or goats yogurt

1 tbs honey

Juice of 1 lemon

Walnut, pomegranate and herbs

1 1/4 cups (125g) chopped toasted walnuts

1 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley and mint leaves

Seeds of 1 pomegranate

Method:

Salmon

Preheat the oven to 200cc. Place the salmon, skin side down, in a large paper lined roasting pan. Drizzle with oil and season. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes (depending on the size) or until just cooked, then set aside to cool. Don't overcook.

Tangy tahini dressing

To make the dressing, whisk the garlic, tahini, yogurt, honey and lemon juice together in a bowl, then season.

Walnut, pomegranate and herbs

Mix chopped walnuts with herbs together and place in a bowl. In a separate bowl place pomegranate seeds.

Drizzle the dressing over the salmon and top with the walnuts, parsley and pomegranate seeds to serve.

Tips:

- Once cooked, you may flake apart the flesh with a fork and use it in salad or pasta sauces.

- This recipe can also be made with single portions of salmon fillets; follow the same method and recipe, but keep an eye on the fillets while cooking as they will only need around 8 - 10 minutes in the oven.

Come inside my kitchen and see how much fun I have cooking.