Grilled Salmon & Zucchini with Red Pepper Sauce

From EatingWell: May/June 2009 — Subscribe Now!

Jazz up simply grilled salmon and summer vegetables with a zesty sauce based on the classic Spanish romesco. Made with roasted red peppers, tomatoes and almonds, this sauce is a great match for any seafood, poultry or vegetables. Using smoked paprika brings out the flavors from the grill. Serve with: Grilled baguette.

READER'S COMMENT:

"It was the sauce... not only an excellent pairing with salmon, I poured it over grilled veggies and steak 4 days later and kicked that dish up as well. No sherry or red wine vinegar so used Rice Wine vinegar - AN OUTSTANDING SIX STARS (...

Grilled Salmon & Zucchini with Red Pepper Sauce Recipe

4 servings

Active Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Nutrition Profile

Ingredients

1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted (see Tip)
1/4 cup chopped jarred roasted red peppers
1/4 cup halved grape tomatoes , or cherry tomatoes
1 small clove garlic
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar , or red-wine vinegar
1 teaspoon paprika, preferably smoked
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
1 1/4 pounds wild-caught salmon fillet , (see Note), skinned and cut crosswise into 4 portions
2 medium zucchini , or summer squash (or 1 of each), halved lengthwise
Canola or olive oil cooking spray
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley , for garnish

Preparation

Preheat grill to medium.
Process almonds, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, oil, vinegar, paprika, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a food processor or blender until smooth; set aside.
Coat salmon and zucchini (and/or summer squash) on both sides with cooking spray, then sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Grill, turning once, until the salmon is just cooked through and the squash is soft and browned, about 3 minutes per side.
Transfer the squash to a clean cutting board. When cool enough to handle, slice into 1/2-inch pieces. Toss in a bowl with half of the reserved sauce. Divide the squash among 4 plates along with a piece of salmon topped with some of the remaining sauce. Garnish with parsley, if desired.

Tips & Notes

Note: Wild-caught salmon from the Pacific (Alaska and Washington) and Pacific cod are more sustainably fished and have a larger, more stable population. For more information, visit Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch (mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp).
Tips: To toast chopped or sliced nuts, stir constantly in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.
To skin a salmon fillet, place on a clean cutting board, skin side down. Starting at the tail end, slip the blade of a long, sharp knife between the fish flesh and the skin, holding the skin down firmly with your other hand. Gently push the blade along at a 30° angle, separating the fillet from the skin without cutting through either.

Nutrition

Per serving: 280 calories; 13 g fat (2 g sat, 7 g mono); 66 mg cholesterol; 8 g carbohydrates; 32 g protein; 2 g fiber; 601 mg sodium; 871 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (35% daily value), Magnesium & Vitamin A (20% dv).

1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1 1 2/ vegetable, 4 lean-meat, 1 fat