Braised Moroccan-Style Salmon & Greens with Quick-Preserved Lemon, Pine Nuts & Red Quinoa

Braised Moroccan-Style Salmon & Greens

with Quick-Preserved Lemon, Pine Nuts & Red Quinoa

2 Servings
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Vegetarian
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These meals have 48g or less of net carbs (total carbs minus dietary fiber) per serving. They replace refined carbohydrates from sources like white flour, rice, and cane sugar with high-fiber foods like fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
600 Calories Or Less
Coming in at 600 calories or less per serving, these recipes are ideal for those choosing to monitor their caloric intake without sacrificing flavor. The US Food & Drug Administration uses 2000 calorie daily intake for general advice. The 600 calorie cap equates to 30% of the total 2000 calories per day based on 3 meals per day with 200 calories remaining for snack or beverage.
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These recipes feature grains such as barley, quinoa, farro, orzo, couscous and more, handpicked by our Culinary team in collaboration with our Registered Dietitian.
Pescatarian
These recipes feature a wide array of nutritious seafood options like salmon, cod, tilapia, crab, and shrimp. While these dishes never contain meat, pork or poultry, they may contain animal derived ingredients such as milk, butter, cheese and/or honey.
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From the Test Kitchen

You’ll be using quick-preserved lemon to add a beautiful, distinctly citrusy note to this North African-inspired meal. Cured in sugar, salt and lemon juice, preserved lemon has a softened peel and mellow pith. That means it’s edible in its entirety. In this recipe, you’ll make your own quick version using a Meyer lemon. It adds brightness to salmon braised in a bed of pine nuts, currants and vegetables. One of those vegetables is an heirloom cauliflower. Here, orange cauliflower is pictured, but keep an eye out for green or purple varieties.

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  • Nutrition
    PER SERVING
  • Calories
    700 Cals (est.)
fresh
ingredients
Braised Moroccan-Style Salmon & Greens with Quick-Preserved Lemon, Pine Nuts & Red Quinoa
Title
time-saving
tips & techniques
Prepare the ingredients:
1 Prepare the ingredients:

Wash and dry the fresh produce. Heat a medium pot of salted water to boiling on high. Remove the salmon from the refrigerator to bring to room temperature. Peel and mince the garlic. Separate the kale stems and leaves; discard the stems and roughly chop the leaves. Remove and discard the core of the cauliflower; cut the head into small florets. Pick the mint leaves off the stems; discard the stems. Roughly chop the capers. Halve the lemon lengthwise; remove the seeds. Thinly slice one lemon half (including the rind) into half moons; cut the remaining lemon half into 2 wedges. In a small bowl, combine the sliced lemon, sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt.

Cook the quinoa:
2 Cook the quinoa:

Once the pot of water is boiling, add the quinoa. Cook 18 to 20 minutes, or until tender. Drain thoroughly and return to the pot. Stir in the juice of both lemon wedges and a drizzle of olive oil; season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

Toast the pine nuts:
3 Toast the pine nuts:

While the quinoa cooks, heat a dry, medium pan (nonstick, if you have one) on medium until hot. Add the pine nuts and toast, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until golden brown and fragrant. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside. Wipe out the pan.

Cook the cauliflower:
4 Cook the cauliflower:

In the same pan used to toast the pine nuts, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the cauliflower; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes, or until browned. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Wipe out the pan.

Braise the salmon:
5 Braise the salmon:

Season the salmon with salt and pepper on both sides. In the same pan used to cook the cauliflower, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the garlic; cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until golden brown. Add the kale, toasted pine nuts, capers, currants, ras el hanout, cooked cauliflower and 1 cup of water; season with salt and pepper. Create 2 wells in the vegetables and nestle a seasoned salmon fillet into each well; tightly cover the pan with aluminum foil. Cook 7 to 9 minutes, or until the fish is cooked to your desired degree of doneness. Remove from heat.

Plate your dish:
6 Plate your dish:

Divide the quinoa and vegetable mixture between 2 dishes. Top each with a piece of braised salmon. Stir the mint (roughly chopping the leaves just before adding) into the quick-preserved lemon. Garnish each dish with the quick-preserved lemon and a spoonful of its juices. Enjoy!

Tips from Home Chefs

Prepare the ingredients:
1 Prepare the ingredients:

Wash and dry the fresh produce. Heat a medium pot of salted water to boiling on high. Remove the salmon from the refrigerator to bring to room temperature. Peel and mince the garlic. Separate the kale stems and leaves; discard the stems and roughly chop the leaves. Remove and discard the core of the cauliflower; cut the head into small florets. Pick the mint leaves off the stems; discard the stems. Roughly chop the capers. Halve the lemon lengthwise; remove the seeds. Thinly slice one lemon half (including the rind) into half moons; cut the remaining lemon half into 2 wedges. In a small bowl, combine the sliced lemon, sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt.

2 Cook the quinoa:

Once the pot of water is boiling, add the quinoa. Cook 18 to 20 minutes, or until tender. Drain thoroughly and return to the pot. Stir in the juice of both lemon wedges and a drizzle of olive oil; season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

Cook the quinoa:
Toast the pine nuts:
3 Toast the pine nuts:

While the quinoa cooks, heat a dry, medium pan (nonstick, if you have one) on medium until hot. Add the pine nuts and toast, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until golden brown and fragrant. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside. Wipe out the pan.

4 Cook the cauliflower:

In the same pan used to toast the pine nuts, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the cauliflower; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes, or until browned. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Wipe out the pan.

Cook the cauliflower:
Braise the salmon:
5 Braise the salmon:

Season the salmon with salt and pepper on both sides. In the same pan used to cook the cauliflower, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the garlic; cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until golden brown. Add the kale, toasted pine nuts, capers, currants, ras el hanout, cooked cauliflower and 1 cup of water; season with salt and pepper. Create 2 wells in the vegetables and nestle a seasoned salmon fillet into each well; tightly cover the pan with aluminum foil. Cook 7 to 9 minutes, or until the fish is cooked to your desired degree of doneness. Remove from heat.

6 Plate your dish:

Divide the quinoa and vegetable mixture between 2 dishes. Top each with a piece of braised salmon. Stir the mint (roughly chopping the leaves just before adding) into the quick-preserved lemon. Garnish each dish with the quick-preserved lemon and a spoonful of its juices. Enjoy!

Plate your dish:
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