Thursday, March 27, 2008

Cookin' Up For Spring!

I found a great recipe that seems super versatile and light for Spring. The variations are mine, but the basics came courtesy of a free subscription to All You magazine that started coming to me in January. This recipe is in their May '08 edition. Give it a try and let me know what you think. It's a winner for me!

Grilled Salmon With Yogurt Mint Sauce

1 ½ c. plain low fat yogurt

½ cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced

2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh mint leaves, plus some for garnish

1 small clove garlic, finely chopped or pressed

Salt and pepper to taste

4 (6 oz.) salmon fillets, about 1” thick

Pour yogurt into a strainer and set over a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for about two hours, to allow to yogurt to drain and thicken. Discard liquid in the bowl and spoon the remaining yogurt into another bowl. Stir in cucumber, mint, garlic, salt and pepper to taste.

Preheat grill on high, for about 10 minutes. Oil a grill rack or a fish tray. Sprinkle salmon lightly with salt and pepper. Place salmon, flesh side down, on oiled rack or tray and cook with grill closed for about 4 minutes. Turn salmon only once and continue to grill for another 4 to 6 minutes, till just cooked through.

Serve with yogurt sauce as topper or on the side. Garnish with some of the reserved chopped mint leaves.

My Variations:

1. Go Greek!

  • 2 Tbsp. fresh chopped dill in place of mint
  • 4 (4-6 oz. each) medium quality grilling steaks, pounded to tenderize
  • Pita bread on the side or with steak thinly sliced for a new twist on a traditional gyro sandwich

2. Spring Chicken!

  • 2 Tbsp. fresh dill in place of mint
  • 1-2 tsp. ranch dressing powdered mix in place of, or in addition to, garlic cloves (remaining packet will be used for marinade below)
  • 4 (4-6 oz.) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to tenderize
  • Marinate chicken overnight in equal parts of olive oil, white or wine vinegar and the remaining packet of powdered ranch dressing mix

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

i'm not a salmon person, nor is my family too keen on it, but i do have one question: if you grill salmon for 406 minutes, isn't it gonna be a bit overdone?? :)

haha, just had to be sassy, cause it made me laugh!!

(i will probably try your 'spring chicken' as everyone here loves chicken, and B loves dill!)

The Gang's Momma! said...

You sassy girl! Yes, it was a (gasp!!) typo. Do not cook your salmon anywhere, ever, for 406 minutes :) Holly, you crack me up. And really, you should eat salmon, it's sooo good for you and you can eat like a HUGE piece of salmon compared to a serving of beef or chicken in terms of nutrition per serving.

Livin' Life said...

YEA!!! All I can eat right now is chicken and fish so this sounds great. I am also allowed to have yogurt so I am looking forward to this recipe.

Carol said...

I seriously need to get in my kitchen and whip up some new things...we are so bored with our food choices!!!