Baked Salmon infused with Saffron

Baked salmon infused with saffron

A healthy, light and easy dish to make with a few simple ingredients. A no fuss, no mess meal that can be eaten with or without the barberry rice, but as I love barberry rice I have to admit they both balance and complement each other perfectly.

The pan fried garlic is also quick and turns the strong smell and taste of the garlic into a crispy on the outside and soft and sweet on the inside surprise.

The saffron definitely plays king here and dampens the strong smell of the salmon and the glistening barberries adorn and crown it.

Subscribe to my YouTube channel LK Bonabi to be alerted to videos of my recipes.

Ingredients

For the fish

Half of a whole salmon filleted length ways (minus the head)

1/4 tsp coarse ground black pepper

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground saffron diluted in 1/4 cup boiling water

2 tbsp olive oil

1/2 cup water

2 cloves whole garlic

For the rice

See recipe for Barberry rice with Crispy Base - Zereshk Polo ba Tahdig

For the garnish

1/2 cup dry barberry (washed thoroughly to remove grit)

1 tbsp white granulated sugar

1 tbsp diluted saffron

1tbsp dry dill

Method

Step 1

• Drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil in a roasting tin

• Wash the salmon and place in the roasting tin

• Sprinkle the salt and pepper

• Brush the top of the salmon with 1 tbsp on olive oil

Step 2

• Brush the salmon with the diluted saffron

• Pour any of the remaining diluted saffron over the salmon

• Add 1/2 cup of warm water to the roasting tin - take care not to pour over the salmon

Step 3

• Allow the salmon to rest for 15 mins in the fridge

• Pre-heat the oven at 200°C or Gas Mark 6

Step 4

• Place the salmon in the oven for 30 minutes (this depends on the size of the salmon)

• Switch the oven off and allow the salmon to rest for 5/10 mins in the oven

Step 5

• Pan the garlic in 1/4 cup of oil until lightly brown, place next to the salmon

• Remove the garlic from the pan

• Add the barberries, sugar and saffron and fry for 1 minute

For the garnish

• Remove the salmon from the oven and garnish with the fried barberries and sprinkle with dill

• Place the garlic next to the salmon

Serve with Barberry rice sprinkled with dill.

Note: you can layer the rice with dill when steaming if you want or just sprinkle over the rice and fish.

Enjoy. Noosh-e-Jaan :)

Baked salmon infused with saffron