Does anyone else out there have a “go to” meal? I think everyone should have at least one meal they can pull out of their mental file and know it will be perfect without much fuss. My “go to” meal is teriyaki salmon with noodles and sauteed asparagus.

Salmon. What can I say about salmon? Besides being one of the healthiest fish to eat because of the omega 3 fatty acids it provides, salmon tastes fantastic! Just a few seasonings and lemon brings out the natural flavor of salmon. Adding a nice teriyaki sauce just enhances the flavors and brightens up the fish. I have tried a lot of different teriyaki sauces but have fallen in love with a spicy teriyaki sauce from Culinary Circle called Shanghai -Inspired Five Spice Teriyaki Marinade & Dipping Sauce. The sesame and ginger in this sauce are well balanced and does not overpower the salmon.

There are several types of salmon (pink salmon, king salmon, sockeye and more) each with a different taste, coloring and fat content. Pink salmon is the most common and has a lower fat content than others like king salmon which has a very high fat content. I prefer pink salmon and look for well marbled fillets which helps keep the salmon moist while cooking. To add another layer of moisture buy salmon with the skin still in tact which will also retain moisture in the fish. No matter what type of salmon you choose it takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and will be both delicious and healthy. So if you need a “go to” meal to add to your mental file for a quick and easy dinner, think about teriyaki salmon. Your family and friends will love it.

Teriyaki Salmon

Ingredients:
2-3 fresh salmon fillets
1 tsp old bay seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
½ tsp dill
½ tsp parsley
½ cup teriyaki sauce
½ stick of butter melted
½ tsp smoked paprika
Juice of 1 lemon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Rinse salmon and pat dry. Place on a broiler pan or in a long casserole dish. Pour lemon juice and melted butter over each fillet.  Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, old bay seasoning and smoked paprika. Bake for 8 – 10 minutes. Remove from oven and top with teriyaki sauce. Bake an additional 5-7 minutes.  Remove from the oven and let salmon rest for 3 minutes then……

Enjoy!