Herb Smoked Salmon

10/16/2015

Until recently, I was always shopping for the cheapest salmon that I could find. I recently discovered however, that not all salmon is created equal. I really don't mind frozen salmon but I definitely prefer wild caught salmon to their farm raised counterparts. Both types of salmon are very nutritionally similar but I can taste the difference between farm raised and the wild caught.

Just in case you're curious about the nutritional value of salmon - I thought I would give you some facts.

Nutrition Facts
Salmon, Atlantic, raw
Amount Per 0.5 fillet (198 g)
Calories 412
Monounsaturated fat 7 g
Total Fat 27 g (41%)       Cholesterol 109 mg (36%)
Saturated fat 6 g (30%)                 Sodium 117 mg (4%)
Polyunsaturated fat 8 g                Potassium 719 mg (20%)
Total Carbohydrate 0 g(0%)           Dietary fiber 0 g (0%)
Protein 40 g (80%)                         Vitamin A (1%)
Vitamin C (12%)                             Calcium (1%)
Iron (3%)                                       Vitamin B-6 (65%)
Vitamin B-12 (106%)                       Magnesium(13%)

Wild caught salmon can be expensive so I take advantage when I find it on sale and stock up.

I have several ways that I like to prepare my salmon and usually the simpler the better. I make an herb smoked salmon recently and it was surprisingly simple and delicious.

Herb Smoked Salmon
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 clove garlic
3 Tablespoons fresh parsley
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 salmon filets

Combine 1 T. olive oil, paprika, fennel seeds and garlic. (Ideally this should be ground to a paste with a mortar and pestle BUT since I don't have one - I did it by hand.)

Stir in parsley, tarragon and salt.
Let sit for 20 minutes.