This heart-healthy harissa glazed Alaska salmon with lemon mint quinoa is a delicious, healthy way to switch up your weeknight dinner routine! It’s full of flavor and ready in less than 30 minutes. (gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free)
This post is sponsored by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Lively Table running!
February is American Heart Month, so I’m going to put my dietitian hat on for a second and talk to you about heart disease. Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. Number one! That mean we need to be paying attention to our hearts, people!
Luckily, many of the risk factors for heart disease are modifiable. You can reduce your risk for heart disease by not smoking, including exercise in your routine, not drinking excessively, and by eating a heart-healthy diet.
The American Heart Association recommends consuming at least two servings of fish (with an emphasis on fatty fish like salmon) every week to reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Fatty fish like Alaska salmon is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which research has shown can improve heart health.
Another bonus? Alaska salmon goes well with so many different flavors and is easy to prepare quickly! I put together this super easy recipe for harissa glazed Alaska salmon with a quick three-ingredient harissa glaze that is just as delicious as it is simple.
In this delicious dinner, a harissa glaze gives the salmon a spicy-sweet flavor that is a great contrast to the bright, fresh flavors in the lemon mint quinoa. It’s a flavorful way to change up your dinner routine, and it’s loaded with nutrients – protein, fiber, heart-healthy omega-3s, and B-vitamins. The combination of protein, fiber, and fat make this meal both filling and satisfying.
This harissa glazed Alaska salmon recipe is perfect for healthy weeknight meals. It’s as simple as searing the salmon in a nonstick skillet, then brushing with the harissa glaze. You can make the glaze and cook the salmon while the quinoa cooks. Add a green salad or your favorite veggie, and dinner is served!
A delicious, easy to prepare meal that is so much more than just your standard fish for dinner – what could be better for getting you to that two servings of fish per week (and a healthier heart)?
As always, be sure to ask for salmon from Alaska at the seafood counter, or look for ‘Alaska salmon’ in the freezer aisle to ensure high quality, sustainable, wild caught seafood every time!
PrintHarissa Glazed Alaska Salmon with Lemon Mint Quinoa
This heart-healthy harissa glazed Alaska salmon with lemon mint quinoa is a delicious, healthy way to switch up your weeknight dinner routine! It’s full of flavor and ready in less than 30 minutes. (gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: main dish
- Cuisine: seafood
Ingredients
For the Lemon Mint Quinoa:
- 1/2 tsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup dry quinoa, rinsed
- 2 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 1/2 tsp lemon zest
- 3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3 tbsp chopped fresh mint
For the Harissa Glazed Alaska Salmon:
- 1 tbsp harissa seasoning
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 4 (4-6 oz) Alaska salmon filets
- Olive oil or oil spray for the skillet
Instructions
- Prepare the quinoa. In a medium saucepan, heat oil and garlic over low heat. Add quinoa, stirring, and cook about 1 minute to toast the quinoa. Add broth and lemon zest. Cover and simmer on low heat 15 minutes. Once quinoa is done cooking, stir in lemon juice and mint.
- While quinoa cooks, prepare the Alaska salmon. In a small bowl, stir together harissa seasoning, water, olive oil and honey. Rinse Alaska salmon filets and pat dry with a paper towel. Squeeze lemon juice onto salmon.
- Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat (medium heat if your stove tends to run very hot like mine). Spray or lightly grease the skillet. Place Alaska salmon filets flesh side down in the skillet and gently press with a spatula. Cook without disturbing 2-3 minutes, then flip. Brush Alaska salmon with harissa sauce. Cook an additional 4-5 minutes, or until skin is crispy and salmon is cooked to your liking in the middle, brushing with more sauce every minute or so.
- Divide quinoa among 4 plates. Place an Alaska salmon filet on top of each and serve.
Notes
- This recipe can easily be halved for two people.
- If you’d like to use harissa paste instead of harissa seasoning to make the glaze, omit the oil and stir together 1 tbsp of harissa paste, 1 tbsp water and 1 tbsp honey.
Keywords: salmon, seafood, main dish
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Confession time – I bought a jar of harissa simply because I saw it multiple times on the show Beat Bobby Flay, thank you so much for letting me know what to actually use it for!
Ha! Yes, this is a great use!