Sunshine Salmon

In my humble opinion, fish is great fast food. It should not be cooked overlong or it will be dry and unpalatable. I confess, salmon is my favorite. It’s a happy medium between the lighter flounder or sole or the heavier Nile perch so it’s often my go-to fish. Though I do have a wonderful Nile perch recipe for another day.

If you purchase good quality fresh salmon, you are way ahead of the game since that is what shines through in any fish recipe.

DH and I have discovered a wonderful source for fresh salmon in our local Osher Ad, a nice supermarket in Jerusalem and elsewhere but any place you know the fish is fresh is fine.

This is a 4 ingredient recipe and produces a succulent harmony of flavors.

Starting with the fresh salmon, wash it off and pat dry with paper towels. It really is worth doing so that your sauce will stick properly.

In a bowl mix together maple syrup (preferably not the fake stuff- real maple syrup has a totally different taste), orange juice or concentrate and deli mustard (not yellow mustard). Put salmon in a baking tin and brush maple syrup mixture all over the salmon fillets.

Bake salmon at 350 degrees for 25 minutes and switch oven to broil for 3-4 minutes till top of salmon turns light golden brown. Immediately remove from oven and plate and serve. Alternatively, this is almost as delicious at room temperature. Your choice. The fact that you can eat this dish hot or cold (or room temp) adds to the versatility and you are not under the gun serving it and making sure everyone has arrived. Of course, if your kids are Israeli, you may have to heat it up. What? Cold fish? As an Anglo, I love it cold or hot so either way is great by me if the fish is good.

Sunshine Salmon

6 pieces fillets of salmon, washed a patted dry with a paper towel

3 generous tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons brown mustard 
1 tablespoon orange juice concentrate  – I prefer the concentrate for this dish since it is thick, gives a punch of flavor and won’t run all over the fish, it stays put

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl, stir together the maple syrup, mustard and o.j. concentrate. Take a baking pan and coat with oil spray or line with parchment paper to prevent the salmon from sticking. Brush the salmon all over with the mixture.

Bake the salmon in the hot oven for approximately 25 minutes (know your oven, if it cooks hot or cooler, you may need less or more time). With the salmon still in the oven, switch from bake to broil for 3-4 minutes or until light golden brown. Serve hot, cold or room temp. This can be plated with two tone lettuce, a fan of pear or apple brushed with orange juice and a dollop of mayo. It’s pretty and tasty.