Yummy and Easy Salmon Recipes!

We love salmon, but sometimes I can get bored of our "typical" salmon preparation (maybe throw a little lemon, garlic, and other spices and bake). I've been trying recently to find new, yummy, and easy ways to prepare it!  Easy is definitely an important part of my weekly menu these days with a lot going on at work and of course a busy one-year old :)

The two recipes I tried were very different, which is nice because it adds some variation to my menu options!  Of course, neither of these were original from my brain (which I am getting better at, but just not for these :)), so of course I'll give credit where it is due...the first is Baked Salmon with Tomatoes by Cooking Light (my tummy is still full from eating this tonight :)) and the second is Salmon with White Beans by Martha Stewart.  Here are the recipes (the Cooking Light recipe actually came from my desktop calendar, not online, so there isn't a link :)):

Baked Salmon with Tomatoes - Cooking Light

This is actually the dish made with shrimp - which is what the recipe originally called for (I forgot to take a photo before we ate, darnit!)

Ingredients:

• 1 piece (3 oz.) French bread baguette
• 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons butter, divided
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• Salmon (however much you want, I made about 1 lb.) 
•  You can also make this with shrimp (what the original recipe called for) or probably any other white fish.  We really liked it with salmon though :)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided
• 2 medium tomatoes (cut into 1/4-inch slices)
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Place bread in a food processor and pulse until fine crumbs measure ~1.5 cups.
• Combine the breadcrumbs, parsley, and garlic.
• Heat 1 TBSP butter and 1 TBSP oil in a large skillet over medium-heat.
• Add the breadcrumb mixture; cook 3 minutes or until golden brown and garlic is fragrant, stirring frequently.
• Coat a baking dish (or individual gratin dishes) with remaining 1 TBSP oil.
•  Arrange salmon on the dish and sprinkle with 1/8 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper, sprinkle with half of the breadcrumbs.
• Top with tomato slices, sprinkle with remaining salt (1/8 tsp), pepper (1/8 tsp), and breadcrumb mixture.
• Take remaining 1 TBSP butter and place small cubes on top of salmon.
• Bake at 450 degrees for about 15 minutes or until the salmon is done.
• Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and enjoy!!

I wish I would have remembered to take a photo of it with the salmon, next time - because I'm sure I'll be making it again :)

Salmon with White Beans - Martha Stewart

Ingredients:

• 3 TBSP olive oil
• 2 cans (15.5 oz.) of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 TBSP finely grated lemon zest (1 lemon), wedges for serving
• 1/2 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• Salmon fillets (3-4)
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley

Directions:

• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat.
• Add beans, zest, and rosemary and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add broth and salmon to skillet and season with salt and pepper.
• Cook and cover until salmon is opaque, about 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle with parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
• Enjoy!!

I think the beans really make this dish - they get great flavor with the zest and rosemary!!  

I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as Ben and I did!  And Annie...she LOVED both :)  And sometimes she is kind of picky of the proteins I make at home! :)