Sesame-Ginger Salmon

I thought somebody drugged me yesterday. Seriously! My department at work went out for lunch together, to this great little place called Eastside Cafe. We shared 4 appetizers between 8 of us, I ordered a House Salad and the Beef and Goat Cheese Enchiladas, that came with cilantro brown rice and refried black beans. By the time I finished my meal, I thought I was going to burst. I was so full that I felt sick.

And then we ordered dessert. I had this fabulous brownie, topped with vanilla bean ice cream and drizzled with homemade caramel and chocolate sauce. I ate almost all of it. I was miserable on the drive back and contemplated purging to relieve my agony. Don't worry, I didn't do that. I thought that when we all got back to the office, that we would have a very unproductive afternoon, full of moaning and groaning and trying to keep ourselves awake to finish the day.

But, did that happen to me? Nope. I got back to the office and decided that I should go do inventory, or anything that would keep me up and moving around. Well, I definitely stayed up...I made a nifty inventory spreadsheet, inventoried the whole office, then I cleaned/organized the kitchen and the boardroom...  

What the hell?? I should be comatose at this point, but I'm running around like a crazy person and not feeling the least bit tired or sick anymore. I'm very confused. And then I'm convinced my food must have been spiked with a little sumthin' sumthin'. I do live in Austin...anything is possible! So, as the day winds down, I poke my head into my bosses office and tell her that I think my food was spiked with crack - as she can barely move or keep her eyes open. We're chatting and joking and then all of a sudden it hits me...

That brownie. The one with the ice cream and yummy sauces. Yeah...it wasn't just caramel and chocolate sauce on that brownie. It was caramel and chocolate ESPRESSO sauce. And I soaked up every bit of it with that brownie. No wonder I was running around like a crazy girl. But I was very focused and organized. So, my boss and I decided I need to get them to bottle some of it for me and I can just take a few shots if I'm feeling unmotivated, and it'll fix me right up. Sheesh.

But, you're probably wondering what that has to do with the scrumptious salmon pictured above. Absolutely nothing. I just felt that I had to share my adventure in the office with you. I thought you might like a little story. I hope it made you chuckle a little.

This salmon, however, is nothing to chuckle over. It is something to savor. It's no secret that I love salmon, I confessed my love for it yeterday. But Asian-inspired marinades and glazes just seem to be made for salmon. And this one is no different. The seasonings on the salmon are great, but the glaze....oh, the glaze just elevates it to a higher level of deliciousness. It's a good thing that most days I remember that I'm cooking for one. Because if there had been another serving, I likely would have eaten it. And since I have been doing so well on this weight loss journey (today aside...), that would have been unfortunate.

Healthy, it is. But not two servings-are-ok healthy. You feel me? I knew you would.

Now, get this on your summer menu and get it in your belly!

Sesame-Ginger Salmon

Source: How Sweet It Is

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs raw salmon
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
• 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 2 garlic cloves, grated or minced 
• 1 Tbsp freshly grated ginger
• 1-2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
• 4 green onions, sliced

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, combine the oils, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, vinegar, and brown sugar. Whisk to combined. Combine the salmon and marinade in a ziplock back and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat your broiler and line a baking sheet with foil and top with a wire baking rack. Spray the rack with nonstick baking spray.
3. Remove the salmon from the marinade and place it on the prepared baking rack. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 10-12 minutes, turning salmon about half-way through, until opaque and easily flakes with a fork. 
4. Meanwhile, prepare the glaze (recipe below).
5. Remove the salmon from the oven, top generously with the glaze, and top with sesame seeds and green onion.

Sesame Ginger Honey Glaze

• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp freshly grated ginger
• 1/2 tsp toasted sesame seeds

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth. Pour over salmon.