Hello!
Tonight I made use of the other half of my large salmon filet from Costco, and whipped up some Asian Salmon for dinner…made with salad dressing!
Truth! I picked up some Sesame Soy Ginger Vinaigrette at Trader Joe’s when I was in Minneapolis last weekend (word to you lucky Omaha peeps who are the proud new owners of a TJ’s!!!) and knew right away it would be delish.
I like using salad dressing for marinating and sauteing salmon in (or chicken, or shrimp, for that matter!), because it does a really great job of permeating the fish and giving it tons of flavor. Plus, it’s pre-made – you just have to grab it out of your fridge!
I marinated my filets for ~10 minutes, then cooked them up the same way I usually do - only this time, I added the remaining marinade to the skillet after I flipped the filets and took off the skin. It made the salmon nice and crusty!
It depends on the size of your filet, but I cooked mine for ~3-4 minutes per side, until it was still slightly bouncy and pink in the center. Like buttah, I tell ya’!
I placed my salmon on a bed of Asian CousCous Stir Fry…at least, that’s what I’m calling it!
I cooked up 1/3 cup Israeli CousCous in 1/3 cup + 1/4 cup chicken broth. Meanwhile, I microwaved some broccoli for 2 minutes, cut up 2 green onions and got 2 big handfuls of baby spinach ready.
When the salmon filets were done, I removed them to a plate and added another tablespoon of vinaigrette to the hot pan. I threw my spinach in and after it wilted, added in the broccoli, green onion and cooked couscous. Stir until everything is coated in the sauce, and you’re done!
I adored the Israeli couscous in here because it’s similar in texture to Japanese Udon Noodles, which fit in really well with the Asian theme of the dish!
That Sesame Soy Ginger Vinaigrette is incredible too - slightly salty, with little punches of sweetness. I just loved it! The tender veggies soaked it right up – YUM!
In other news, my inner nerd – the one who enjoys touring Living History Farms & southern plantations (ugh I miss NOLA), and aspires to be a Japanese historian – rejoiced when I found out that America: The Story of Us is on the History Channel tonight! I shall be learning how we got from the tiny settlements of Plymouth, MA, to fighting for our independence in the Revolutionary War…all while decorating sugar cookies. What fun! 
Night!
~~~~~
What were your favorite subjects in school?
Mine were home ec (obvi) and ceramics. My Mom and Dad still display all my random, clay creations on shelves in their house!! Funnily enough, I remember history class being snoozeville. I don’t know how I came to love it as much as I do now!
how amazing does that dish look? i would kill for a home-cooked meal – it has been so long!
ARE YOU FREAKIN’ KIDDING ME?????????? Omaha is getting a Trader Joes??????????????????????????
Mine were typing and english! Sooo much fun!
I love using dressings as marinades too. They have much better flavor combos than I usually come up with.
I loved foreign language (hence being a spanish teacher) and math. I took calculus for fun.
Mmm that looks good! Salmon is by far my favorite fish!
It’s okay – I’m a History major and I always hated history textbooks! It got better in college once we got to read books other than the cut-and-dried versions.
Even so, I’ve always liked history best on my own – bring on the family history stories, historical fiction books, visits to museums and historical sites, and documentaries! By the way – I’m going to be in D.C. this summer and am volunteering at Mount Vernon. I’m dying to wear a colonial costume! 
I love this dressing! TJ”s seriously has some of the best salad dressings, right?!?!
Your salmon always looks so incredible. You have me craving it now!!!!
Yum that looks TOO good! I loved math…big nerd here
History was always my favorite in school–I minored in it in college. I wish I had cable, so I could be watching America: The Story of Us.
I adored drama, english and anything to do with computers – it just seemed easy, like I wasn’t at school!! that meals looks delish!
This looks delicious! AND a Trader Joe’s in OMAHA?!!?!? AWESOME!!!
My fave subjects were English and history. I also liked my home ec classes a bunch! Our teacher was awesome!
Awww I must’ve missed that show!! Boo
I LOVE history!!!
Yours looks SO good! I love salmon when it’s “buttery” like that.. delish!
And salmon
Couscous is so tasty & easy to jazz up. I loved history
Oh my goodness, I love salmon! I could eat it every night, I’m sure! Great pictures!
Your pictures are always soooo scrumptious! I could eat’em!
I love salmon and that looks about as good as it gets. YOU did good and I am going to copy you, yet again!
Try using marinades for pasta salad, easy peasy! Lots of veggies added, awesome! Use Italiano por favor!
Israeli cous cous – LOVE that stufff!!
My favourite subject was history, cos my teacher was SO CUTE!! Yeah, I’m shallow
Oh that looks SO delicious! And your plate is adorable! Can you please tell us where you got it?
My favourite subjects in school were Spanish and Biology!
Your salmon looks great. I wish I liked it…I got frozen fillets from costco as well and could never get it to taste that great. My newest thing is cooking tofu though so I’m loving all your tofu ideas! (I used to only order it out).
I’ve never had the frozen filets from Costco – but frozen filets often taste very “fishy” to me. I buy the big, fresh filets from Costco, then individually filet and freeze whatever I don’t use right away. They always taste super fresh!
I was thinking the EXACT same thing this morning about how I love “SEEING” history in my travels (LOVED “Shelburn Farms” In Vermont, which is similar to your “Living History” museum), a million, jillion times more than EVER reading about it in books! LOVE IT:)
English and Art
I hated Math , Science and Gym
I am SO bad at cooking salmon but I LOOVE it. In fact I feel I hardly ever get it right, but follow the directions so so closely
Next time when you cook salmon can you cut into it and take a picture of the inside? ha. Sorry, weird request? That is the part I am always skeptical of, the insides of my salmon never look “right” to me!
Thank you for this post!! This looks so delicious, we are having it tonight!! We just moved away from Iowa, and though I miss Iowa terribly, I do love living near a Trader Joe’s!! You can’t beat their stuff. Thanks again for the post!
~Amy