Category: Salmon

Pan-Fried Firecracker Salmon


Great with a few spuds and/or vege / salad

I don’t think I could ever go back to just eating plain fish, spuds and vege. Thankfully, with scrumptious marinades like Pan-fried Firecracker Salmon from Two Chubby Cubs you don’t have to. The ginger, chilli powder and siracha give this recipe plenty of ‘attitude’, but my normally heat averse teenage son accepted the challenge and duly cleaned his plate, so do give this a try even if you don’t like it hot.

For some other brilliant ways to give salmon an exciting makeover, check out sticky mango roasted salmon, tandoori salmon with mango salsa and salmon with chilli ginger sauce. All three taste amazing and are a doddle to cook.

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Silky Salmon Tagliatelle


This is a great option for using up leftover cooked salmon during Christmas week

Jamie Oliver includes some excellent suggestions for how to use up leftover salmon in his Save with Jamie Book and Silky Salmon Tagliatelle is a luxurious pasta dish that can be ready in about 20 minutes.

Who has leftover salmon you might ask? Not me, so I pre-cooked some salmon fillets in the oven. But I suppose Jamie is appealing to those who cook 1.5kg (approx.) sides of salmon, so this recipe is a good option to rustle up if you have any leftovers from Christmas. The calorie count for this is quite high, but you can reduce it by only serving 50g of tagliatelle per person rather than the (excessive) 80g.

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Salmon and Broccoli Tray Bake


This recipe is more practical than imaginative

In my opinion, the best meals are created on the hob (or stove, depending on your lingo). But for convenience, ‘traybakes’ have their place, particularly on weeknights when you’re mentally and physically shattered after being at work. Salmon and Broccoli Tray Bake from the Hairy Dieters is a no-fuss, no-frills recipe but does contain a nice marinade to make it vaguely interesting.

Sorry, I can’t get more excited about this meal. It does what it says on the tin, or the tray rather. I much prefer the Hairy’s salmon with chilli ginger sauce and their Spanish-style chicken bake, which as traybakes go, is pretty awesome.

Salmon fans…. check out the salmon section of this blog for more recipes.

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Sticky Mango Roasted Salmon


This can be ready in under 20 minutes

With a clever topping you can transform a plain piece of fish into something rather more exciting. Sticky Mango Roasted Salmon from Justine Pattison is a great example. Just a teaspoon of mango chutney and a sprinkling of cumin seeds gave this fish an exotic makeover and the oven takes care of the rest.

I don’t think having this with cherry tomatoes is sufficient for a main meal on its own. I added new potatoes to mine, but you could serve it with mash, green vege or even some couscous. Just factor in the extra calories and don’t go daft on the carbs and this quick meal is an ideal midweek dinner option to complement your healthy eating plan.

If you’re looking for similar ideas to lift a piece of salmon, have a look at tandoori salmon with mango salsa and salmon with chilli ginger sauce.

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Tandoori Salmon with Mango Salsa


Goodness on a plate

Tandoori Salmon with Mango Salsa from Pinch of Nom is just perfect for summer evenings when you want to tuck into something healthy and fresh without stuffing your face. You only have to look at your plate to know that this is a well balanced meal, bursting with flavour from the spices which coat the salmon and the tangy salsa.

I had some broccoli leftover in my fridge which I used to bulk this out, but you can use any small serving of steamed veg if you’re feeling peckish. This is a great salmon-based dish but my personal favourite is still Salmon with Chilli Ginger Sauce. Both would make excellent additions to your healthy eating plan.

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Salmon with Chilli Ginger Sauce


This is great with new potatoes / mash, or vegetables / stir-fry veg

Any page in a cookbook that is battered is testament to how good the recipe is. Salmon with Chilli Ginger Sauce, from the Hairy Dieters’ first book, is literally covered in stains because I make it so often at home.

It’s not even a difficult or a ‘messy’ meal to make, I guess I’m just prone to being clumsy in the kitchen. You might question whether it’s worth purchasing a jar of stem ginger in syrup if you’re not into baking, but even if you’re not, I’d get it for the purposes of this meal alone as it will keep in your fridge for a while.

The chilli ginger sauce with the dark soy sauce, orange juice and zest is mouthwatering. The Hairy Dieters suggest serving this with some rice or potatoes, and some vegetables. I prefer to serve it with just a pack of stir-fry veg to keep the calories down. This is a really quick, satisfying and delicious meal. Enjoy!

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Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Salmon – don’t forget the chives!


Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs

There’s something luxurious about having smoked salmon for breakfast or brunch, it’s super quick to prepare and won’t set you back £10 or more from a café if you make it at home. Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Salmon from the Hairy Dieters recommends serving it with half an English muffin to keep the calories to 354 per portion. Personally, I can’t see the point and think the eggs and smoked salmon are sufficient on their own for less calories.

But one thing I don’t think should be optional is serving this meal with freshly snipped chives. I love them, even if I invariably end up wasting half the packet. While this recipe is good, my favourite remains Poached egg, smoked salmon and spinach – truly the breakfast of kings! Continue reading “Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Salmon – don’t forget the chives!” →

Poached egg, smoked salmon and spinach – the breakfast of kings!


Smoked salmon and spinach

Poached egg, smoked salmon and spinach from the Hairy Dieters is truly the breakfast of kings! Whether you’re on a diet or not, this recipe is a proper treat and is super healthy at just over 200 calories.

Be generous with the nutmeg and black pepper, don’t overcook the spinach (it only needs about a minute in the pan) or your egg as the runny yolk into the salmon and spinach is pure heaven in your mouth.

Good quality smoked salmon can be expensive, but Sainsbury’s are currently selling 100g of Harbour Smokehouse Salmon for only £2 per pack. Fill your boots and make Posh Prawn Cocktail while you’re at it! Continue reading “Poached egg, smoked salmon and spinach – the breakfast of kings!” →

Posh Prawn Cocktail – old school with a new school twist


Posh prawn cocktail

When you think of prawn cocktail, you normally envisage a bland, unhealthy starter plastered on a tired, drink-stained pub menu. But this ‘Posh Prawn Cocktail‘ recipe from the Hairy Dieters’ inaugural book turns an old school ‘classic’ into a tastier, more refined version at a fraction of the calories of the original.

Not only does it taste the business, if you get your skates on it can be ready in just 15 minutes, making it ideal for a mid-week lunch that you can take into work. Just don’t eat it out of a wine glass (as the Hairy Dieters suggest below) otherwise your colleagues will think you’re a twat. I used a trusty tupperware box to transport mine and even doubled up my portion, which still only comes in at 278 calories! The cost of ingredients might be higher compared to other bog-standard lunches but this meal is a healthy treat that you’ll love. Continue reading “Posh Prawn Cocktail – old school with a new school twist” →

Smoked Trout Salad – OMG you must try it!


Trout

Smoked Trout Salad from The Hairy Dieters is unbelievably good – I’d be delighted to be served this even if I wasn’t trying to shed some timber – and you’ll be the envy of your friends and workmates if they see you tucking into it! The celeriac ‘fries’ add a nice touch but they are a bit faffy to prep, so if you’re in a hurry you can leave them out and still enjoy this food porn without any detriment.

My local supermarket isn’t posh enough to stock trout, but it’s just as good with hot smoked salmon flakes which is what I used in the photo above. They are expensive at around £3.75 per 100g pack but this dish is soooo worth it. The quantities will serve 4 at an incredible 135 calories per portion, or you can afford to enjoy a lunchtime feast for only 270 calories if serving 2. You know it makes sense!

You’ll have plenty of celeriac leftover so why not have a go at making The Hairy Dieters’ Corned Beef Hash which is also in their ‘Fast Food’ book, a celeriac puree to accompany a chicken-based dish, or Jamie Oliver’s quirky but fantastic ‘Zombie Brain’ dish which features in his ‘Save with Jamie’ book. I’ll try and blog about them at some point. Continue reading “Smoked Trout Salad – OMG you must try it!” →