Mexican Spiced Salmon with Black Rice, Avocado & Orange Salad

Step 1

1 Cook the rice: Heat a large pot of salted water to boiling on high. Once boiling, add the rice and cook 27 to 29 minutes, or until tender. Remove from heat. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water to cool slightly. Return to the pot.

Step 2

2 Prepare the ingredients: While the rice cooks, wash and dry the fresh produce. Cut off and discard the peel and pith of the orange; medium dice the orange. Pick the cilantro leaves off the stems; discard the stems. Using a peeler, remove the green rind of the lime, avoiding the white pith; mince the rind to get 2 teaspoons of zest (or use a zester). Quarter the lime. Pit, peel and medium dice the avocado; toss with the juice of 1 lime wedge to prevent browning. Peel and mince the shallot; place in a medium bowl with the juice of the remaining lime wedges.

Step 3

3 Toast the pepitas: While the rice continues to cook, in a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the pepitas; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until toasted and fragrant. (Be careful, as the pepitas may pop as they cook.) Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Wipe out the pan.

Step 4

4 Cook the salmon: While the rice continues to cook, pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper on both sides. Coat the skinless side of each seasoned fillet in the spice blend. In the pan used to toast the pepitas, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned fillets, skinless sides down, and cook 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked through. Remove from heat.

Step 5

5 Make the vinaigrette: While the salmon cooks, season the shallot-lime juice mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Slowly whisk in 2 tablespoons of olive oil until well combined.

Step 6

6 Make the salad & plate your dish: While the salmon continues to cook, add the lime zest, avocado, orange, toasted pepitas and vinaigrette to the pot of cooked rice. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to thoroughly combine; season with salt and pepper to taste. Divide between 2 dishes. Top with the cooked salmon fillets. Garnish with the cilantro. Enjoy!

Step 7

1 Cook the rice: Heat a large pot of salted water to boiling on high. Once boiling, add the rice and cook 27 to 29 minutes, or until tender. Remove from heat. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water to cool slightly. Return to the pot.

Step 8

2 Prepare the ingredients: While the rice cooks, wash and dry the fresh produce. Cut off and discard the peel and pith of the orange; medium dice the orange. Pick the cilantro leaves off the stems; discard the stems. Using a peeler, remove the green rind of the lime, avoiding the white pith; mince the rind to get 2 teaspoons of zest (or use a zester). Quarter the lime. Pit, peel and medium dice the avocado; toss with the juice of 1 lime wedge to prevent browning. Peel and mince the shallot; place in a medium bowl with the juice of the remaining lime wedges.

Step 9

3 Toast the pepitas: While the rice continues to cook, in a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the pepitas; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until toasted and fragrant. (Be careful, as the pepitas may pop as they cook.) Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Wipe out the pan.

Step 10

4 Cook the salmon: While the rice continues to cook, pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper on both sides. Coat the skinless side of each seasoned fillet in the spice blend. In the pan used to toast the pepitas, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned fillets, skinless sides down, and cook 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked through. Remove from heat.

Step 11

5 Make the vinaigrette: While the salmon cooks, season the shallot-lime juice mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Slowly whisk in 2 tablespoons of olive oil until well combined.

Step 12

6 Make the salad & plate your dish: While the salmon continues to cook, add the lime zest, avocado, orange, toasted pepitas and vinaigrette to the pot of cooked rice. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to thoroughly combine; season with salt and pepper to taste. Divide between 2 dishes. Top with the cooked salmon fillets. Garnish with the cilantro. Enjoy!