It’s taken a little while for me to post this blog entry.  I have just come back from Italy and it was such a hectic trip but we had a fantastic time.  I will write more about it in my next blog post as it was so great for those on a gluten free diet!

Now on to the subject of this blog, salmon!  It’s a tough call but I think I would say that salmon is my favourite fish.  It is so versatile and always tastes amazing!  Salmon is a fantastic fish to include in your diet.  It is a great source of Omega 3 (Linolenic acid) fatty acid.  Omega 3, 6 and 9 are the essential fatty acids which cannot be made within the body.  These polyunsaturated fatty acids play a vital role in the Cardiovascular and Nervous System so it is important to include them in your diet.  It is hard to obtain enough omega 3 in your diet naturally so including an oily fish certainly will help but you certainly shouldn’t eat oily fish every day.

I must admit, when it comes to fish I am not a very talented cook.  It is only over the past few years that I have started cooking fish at home.  When I lived in the UK I was spoiled by Marks and Spencer being just across the road and if I wanted any fish I would pick up one of their ready-made dishes which you can stick in the oven for 30 minutes and it tastes great!  Unfortunately we don’t have that here in Dubai, although Markies in Mall of the Emirates now have a much bigger food section which I love!  I bought a fish cook book 4 years ago and attempted to cook monkfish in my griddle pan but set off the fire alarm so had security knocking on my door which seriously put me off cooking fish for a while!!

After my run in with security I stuck to always ordering fish when I was out in a restaurant but after a few recipes from Hemsley & Hemsley and The Body Coach I am getting a bit more adventurous.  We always tend to stick to the Body Coach’s recipe for Salmon fish cakes which is so tasty but it was time to try something new.  Cajun spiced swordfish used to be one of my favourites when I was dining out in Scotland so why not try it with salmon.

Ingredients

Serves 4

4 salmon fillets (skin off or on)

 

Cajun Spice Mix

1tsp paprika

1tsp oregano

1tsp cumin

1tsp onion powder

1tsp garlic power

½ tsp cayenne

½ tsp thyme

1 tbsp olive oil

 

Avocado Salsa

1 avocado

Large handful of cherry tomatoes

200g black eyed beans (half a can drained)

1 small 198g can of sweetcorn

4 spring onions

Juice of ½ lime

Sprinkling of cumin

 

Method

1. Combine the dry spice ingredients and then mix in the olive oil to form a thick paste. Add more oil if required.
2. Coat each side of the salmon fillet in the paste.
3. Heat a griddle pan or George Foreman grill which is what I used.
4. Grill in the George Foreman grill for 6-8 minutes depending on how well done you like the salmon or around 4 minutes on each side if you are using a griddle pan.
5. While the salmon is cooking prepare the salsa by chopping the avocado, spring onions and cherry tomatoes. Drain the black eyed beans and corn and mix in a small bowl with the other ingredients.  Add the lime juice and cumin to taste.
6. Serve the salmon and avocado salsa with some green leaves .

Enjoy!