Heart-Healthy Recipe - Pecan Crusted Salmon

Fish is a great option if you are looking for foods that are good for your heart. Many types of fish, like salmon, are full of heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for your heart health and your arteries - and pretty much all of the rest of you too! Be sure to choose wild-caught fish to avoid the toxins that can build up in factory-farmed fish. This recipe combines tasty and heart-healthy salmon with the tang of mustard and lemon, and the sweet crunch of pecans.

Enjoy, and of course let us know how you like it!

Pecan Crusted Salmon
(4 servings)

Image via WikipediaIngredients:
2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh basil leaves
1 1/2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
2 oz dry vermouth or white wine
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
4 salmon fillets
2 Tbsp butter, melted
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a bowl, mix together the basil, mustard, salt, pepper, vermouth or white wine, and lemon juice.
• Smooth the mixture over the salmon, covering top and bottom, then arrange salmon fillets in a shallow baking pan or sheet, making sure you leave enough room between each one so they bake evenly.
• Mix the melted butter and pecans together, then spoon even amounts over each fillet, spreading out slightly to cover the top of the fillets.
• Put the salmon in the preheated oven and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked all the way through. Remove and serve hot.

Bonus Tip: You can cut the salmon fillets into smaller finger-food size and use the same recipe, just decrease the cooking time to about 12 to 15 minutes, depending on how small the pieces are.

More Healthy Salmon Recipes:

• Recipe - Baked Salmon With Balsamic Reduction (nhlcookingfromscratch.blogspot.com)
• Pesto Salmon Over Lemon Pasta Recipe (thedailymeal.com)
• Coriander Crusted Salmon Over Spinach Salad (philadelphia.cbslocal.com)
• Recipe - Honey Mustard Salmon (salubriousuk.wordpress.com)
• Healthy Salmon Recipe (lindawagner.net)
• Healthy Cooking on the Cheap: Heart-Healthy Recipes (eating.health.com)

The Best Way To Cook Your Freshly Caught Fish

A freshly caught fish can be cooked in a thousand and one ways. Any fisherman worth his salt has his own unique way of cooking a freshly caught trout, salmon or whatever fish he caught. But even if you're not a fisherman, you can reap the healthy benefits of a meal of tasty fresh fish. Most markets nowadays offer a wide selection of fish to choose from. Here are some tips to get the best out of your fish, no matter which cooking method you choose.

Image via Wikipedia1. Frying

Breading and frying a freshly caught fish is as good as it gets. The smell of butter emanating from the frying pan and the flair a fisherman puts in flipping his catch is worth its weight in gold, almost. For the novice cook, make sure that the butter is hot but not burning. Also, make sure that the fish is well coated in batter. Season your batter to your heart's content, salt and pepper never goes wrong. You may want to try other herbs and spices with the batter for a more delicious fish.

2. Grilling

At first glance, grilling would seem to be the easiest way to handle your fish. A newbie might assume that grilling fish is the same as grilling steaks or burgers. However, unlike fowl or cattle, fish tends to secrete most of its juices when cooked. On a grill the delicious juice drips into the coals.

Image via WikipediaTo prevent losing the moisture, first coat the fish with oil. The oil will seal a part of the moisture inside. Second, keep an eye on the fillets and turn them as soon as a cut would reveal that the fresh fish is cooked halfway through. After being flipped, watch the fish carefully. Remove the fish as soon as it is cooked through.

An option to basting the fish with oil is to wrap it in aluminum foil. The aluminum foil will keep the moisture and marinate the fish in its own moisture. Placing herbs and spices inside the foil with the fish enhances the grilling process and the fish itself. Plus this provides for easy cleanup which is great if you are grilling outside or at a campfire.

3. Baking

Baking is the best option for the cook who does not want to watch over the fish continually during cooking. You can prepare the marinade and pre-heat the oven, then pop the fish into the oven for a predetermined amount of time. You may want to check on the fish from the time to time, ensuring that you don't overcook it.

Whatever fish you caught or found, a good recipe and proper cooking will for sure enhance your find. But always remember the first rule of cooking - don't overcook your fish.

And be sure to check back later this week for some tasty fish recipes!