Almond Crusted Alaskan Salmon with Brown Rice and Kale

It's been snowing generously in the Northern Ohio past week.Beautiful blue sky and sun shine after nearly a week,is definitely warming.


Make Hay while the sun shines.Rising Sun peeking through the window Icicles ,ain't that pretty ?


In celebration of the sunshine,here is another one of the quick and healthy 30-minute meals, I love to make more often with combination of different whole grains and greens.Be sure to buy the best ingredients to get the most health value.
Wild Salmon
Thriving more naturally in Wild ,Alaskan salmon are considered the healthiest and nutritionally better than Farm-raised,for its higher in protein ,omega 3s and lower in lower in Pro-inflammatory Omega 6s.There are many other good reason to avoid the farm raised fish,read here.

Recipe :Almond Crusted Alaskan Salmon

Ingredients
2(6 ounce) Alaskan Wild salmon fillets
1/2 cup raw almonds
5-6 fresh or frozen cranberries
1 tablespoon dried herb mix or use some finely chopped fresh herbs(rosemary or thyme)
1/2 teaspoon hot chili powder
1/2 teaspoon each of ground cumin and coriander
1 big clove garlic,minced or grated
1 teaspoon ginger,minced or grated
3/4 teaspoon salt

Method
Process the almonds in a food processor or blender until coarsely chopped.Add the cranberries,salt and the spices ,pulse again until well mixed.
Preheat oven to 375F.Keep the salmon fillets in lightly grease baking sheet or large cast iron pan.Spread about a tablespoon of the mixture all over the top of the salmon fillets.Baked for 12-15 minutes until the fish is cooked through and the crust is toasted.Serve warm with any kind of whole grains.

Recipe : Spice Seasoned Brown Rice and Garlic sauteed Kale

Ingredients
For Rice
1 1/2 cup brown rice
few whole spices like cinnamon sticks,cloves,star anise or bay leaf
1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger,(keep whole do not slice)
1/2 teaspoon salt

For Kale
1 small bunch kale,rinsed and chopped
2 cloves garlic,finely chopped
pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

Method
Rinse the rice and soak in 2 1/2 cups of water for 10-15 minutes to quicken the cooking process.Add the whole spices,ginger,salt to the rice,partially cover and cook for 25-30 minutes until cooked through.

Saute the Kale,heat oil in pan at medium heat,add the garlic and saute for a minutes then add the Kale and 1/4 cup of water.Season with salt and pepper.Cover and cook until Kale is tender,about 5-6 minutes.Mix in the cooked rice and serve with the salmon.Remove the whole spices and the piece of ginger before serving.

Vegetable Stuffed Mushrooms

Mushrooms,the delicious edible fungi can be savored in so many ways as appetizers, in salads , main dishes or sides.The Vegetable Stuffed Mushrooms can be packed up with a variety of vegetables and flavored with different cheeses and herbs,to make a delicious appetizer or as a side.I served it with Penne Pasta in marinara sauce to make a fulfilling 30 minute meal.


Ingredients
10 large button or Crimini mushrooms,stems cut ,finely chop the stems for stuffing
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, finely minced
1 cup of vegetable like carrots,radishes and peppers,finely chopped
2 tablespoon fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro,finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon chilly powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
Salt as per taste

Method
preheat oven to 400F.
Wipe the mushrooms with damp cloth and twist off the stems, set the caps aside and finely chop the stems.
Heat oil in a pan,the chopped onions and saute until translucent about 1 minutes.Add the minced garlic,after few seconds add the spices,chopped mushroom stems, and rest of the vegetables and cook until soft , about 8 minutes. Stuff the mixture into the mushroom caps and lay a baking dish lightly greased with oil,drizzle with some low fat cheese if desired and bake for 15-20 minutes until lightly browned. Serve with Pasta or rice and greens.


Mushroom Nutrition facts:
A cancer fighting food with good source of Dietary Fiber, Protein, Vitamin C, Folate, Iron, Zinc and Manganese, and a very good source of Vitamin D, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus, Potassium, Copper and Selenium.
Vegetable Stuffed Mushrooms is my entry Weekend Wokking ,December's ingredient is Mushrooms,hosting WW this month is Marija of Palachinka

Sesame Chicken with Sauteed Cabbage Salad and Red Potato Oven Fries: A 30 minute Meal

It took me lesser time to cook this meal than to write down all the 3 recipes and put together the images along with the water marks.In other words this is a quick meal prepared under 30 minutes ;provided one can move and cook like Rachael ray in the kitchen,by quickly gathering all the ingredients and chopping ,mixing , baking and cooking all the dishes simultaneously .I was a regular viewer of Rachael show when I was a kitchen newbie,she is an inspiration for my quick cooking skills and home made meals to fit in our busy lifestyles.She took quick cooking to whole new level and charmed everyone with her bubbly personality and her favorite expressions "EVOO" ,Yum-O!,Delish! have become popular among foodies catch phrases.

Here is the recipe for a quick meal.For making this meal under 30 minutes,bake the chicken and fries together.When chicken is done,slightly increase the oven temperature for the fries.While it bakes ,cook the cabbage salad.
Sesame Chicken

Ingredients
1 chicken breast or 2 chicken tenders,sliced across(about 1/2lb)
1/2 teaspoon chilly powder
2 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoon Extra virgin Olive oil(EVOO)
1 tablespoon Sesame oil
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
2 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
2 spring onions ,chopped
Dash of hot sauce
Salt as per taste

Method
Preheat the oven to 375 F.Marinate chicken in all the ingredients except the sesame seeds and spring onions for about 5 minutes while the oven is preheating.
Spread the chicken in a baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes until chicken is tender.
Transfer in to the serving plate,garnish with toasted sesame seeds and chopped spring onions.

Sauteed Cabbage Salad

Ingredients
2 cups shred cabbage
1/2 cup sliced Red peppers
1/2 a small onion sliced
2 tablespoon soy sauce
1 clove garlic
pinch of chilly powder
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
salt as per taste
Method
Heat EVOO in a pan on medium heat and saute garlic for few seconds until aromatic.Add rest of the ingredients and saute on medium high heat for about 8-10 minutes .Serve immediately.

Red Potato Oven fries

Ingredients
2 medium red potatoes
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon Paprika and\or 1/4 teaspoon chilly powder
1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper

Method
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut potatoes into wedges and drop in to a mixing bowl. Drizzle the oil and mix in the seasoning,toss to coat all over . Lay on a baking sheet and bake for about 20-25 minutes until lightly crisp on top and cooked through.

I'm sending my Rachael inspired quick meal to Aartee's Sapadu ready event.Guess we all have our own way of saying "Dinner is ready!";I say "Khana Taeyaar hai"(in urdu)..how do you say it?