Grilled Salmon with Saffron Sauce by Anis Nabilah

Grilled salmon with saffron sauce is an easy and healthy recipe to prepare. Every meal we make should be part of a balanced diet, combining protein, carbohydrate for energy, and vegetables for our vitamins.

This grilled salmon recipe combines all three core components of a healthy diet to provide you with a perfectly balanced meal. We use salmon for protein, potatoes for carbohydrates, and lots of vegetables such as onion, which provides natural sugar and is also a great source of iron; broccoli, which is rich in antioxidants; and carrots, which is full of beta-keratin. Salmon is an incredibly healthy fish. It is rich with Omega-3 oils, which provides healthy fat for our hearts. Finally, a touch of saffron in the sauce, also known as the magic spice, brings the flavours of this entire dish together.

Ingredients

• 1 salmon fillet
• 2 russet potatoes, cut into cubes
• ¼ head broccoli florets
• ¼ head cauliflower florets
• 1 carrot, peeled and cut into small cubes
• 1 large yellow onion, halved and sliced thin
• ½ cup brown shimeji mushrooms, roots removed
• 3 tbsp chives, chopped small
• 2 tbsp dill
• 1/6 wedge lemon
• 1 tbsp + 1 tsp garlic, blended
• 1 tsp sea salt
• ½ tsp cracked white pepper
• ½ tsp chili powder
• 1/8 tsp saffron
• ¼ cup coconut milk
• ¼ tsp sugar
• 3 tbsp grapeseed oil + extra if required
• ¼ cup water

Method

1. Place a pot of water on high heat and add a pinch of sea salt. Once the water starts to simmer, add cubed potatoes. Bring it to a boil until the potatoes are cooked. Once cooked, drain and set aside.
2. Squeeze lemon juice over both sides of the salmon fillet. This will give the salmon a nice refreshing taste, as well as a small kick of vitamin C.
3. Next, spread some dill over both sides on the fillet. Let it rest for a few minutes.
4. Heat 1 tbsp grapeseed oil in a skillet over medium heat.
5. Once the oil is hot enough, add in the salmon fillet. Let it cook for about eight to ten minutes. Flip it over after four or five minutes or once the surface of the salmon has browned to cook the other side. You want your salmon to be medium rare instead of well done, as it will be flaky and break apart if the fish is overcooked.
6. While the salmon cooks, in a pot filled about halfway with water, add broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. Add a pinch of salt and bring to a boil.
7. Once cooked, transfer your grilled salmon immediately to a plate.
8. Add 1 tsp blended garlic to the same pan you used to cook the salmon as it already has a lot of flavour. Sauté for a few seconds, and then add sliced onions. Stir to cook evenly.
9. Next, add chives and stir until thoroughly mixed.
10. Finally, add potatoes and stir everything through. If your ingredients look a little dry, add another tablespoon of grapeseed oil, followed by 1/8 tsp salt and cracked white pepper. Stir so the flavours are distributed evenly, and then plate your potatoes.
11. Add 1 tbsp grapeseed oil to the same skillet along with 1 tsp blended garlic. Stir to sauté for a few seconds.
12. Add chili powder and stir to combine, followed by ¼ cup water. Stir to make a sauce.
13. Next, add saffron, letting it cook for a minute.
14. Add coconut milk and stir, then add sugar to balance out the flavours. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and combined into the sauce. Turn off the heat and set aside.
15. Drain boiled vegetables and add them back to the pot, setting it over medium heat.
16. Add 1 tbsp grapeseed oil, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1/8 tsp white pepper and 1/8 tsp salt. Mix until all ingredients are combined.
17. Add mushrooms. Toss or stir to combine and cook.
18. Once mushrooms are cooked, the vegetables are ready to be served.
19. Serve your grilled salmon fillet with a few spoonfuls of potatoes, vegetables and sauce generously drizzled over the top of the salmon. Garnish with extra chives and dill, and a wedge of lemon on the side.

Extra tips

1. If you’re looking to prepare a healthy meal, not only do you need balanced ingredients, you should also be cautious of the type of salt you’re using. Sea salt is a great natural replacement for regular salt as it contains no artificial additives.
2. Grapeseed oil is rich with vitamin B complex! It also has a very mild flavour, making it a great alternative to olive oil if you don’t want the flavour of olives in your meal. You can also use canola or flaxseed oil.

I hope you like this healthy recipe! For more details on how to prepare grilled salmon with saffron sauce, check out this link for the YouTube video or watch it below. I’ve also shared a few more recipes that I hope you will enjoy.

Creamy Butter Crabs by Anis Nabilah

Chicken Curry by Anis Nabilah

Real Cooking Fried Rice by Anis Nabilah

Video courtesy of Anis Nabilah and Official Kartel TV.