Day 12: Grilled Salmon With Lemon-Orzo Pasta

This turned out to be a pretty cheap recipe. Salmon is usually more on the expensive side, but so good for you. You can get it cheaper than I do, but I prefer to buy it at Whole Foods where there are strict quality standards in place. I got a salmon fillet that fed 2 (plus a portion left over for my lunch tomorrow)  for $8. The orzo pasta was actually free! It used to be sold in bulk but apparently it wasn't selling well, so the last time I went to Whole Foods, I asked about it, and he gave me the remaining Orzo free. I got enough for at least 5 meals for 2.

This is one of our favorite meals. Taylor actually made the meal tonight because I had a lot packed in. The salmon turned out perfect. The pasta...well, let's just say Taylor learned that he is not yet a good enough cook to eyeball things. Actual quote- "I wanted to be like you and just estimate the right amounts." Well, at least the pasta was still edible. Quite lemony- but overall, okay.

The Orzo recipe comes from the cookbook:  "Essentials of Healthful Cooking" by Williams Sonoma.

Lemon Orzo with Parsley

1 1/2 c. orzo
Kosher salt
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (Taylor accidentally decided to omit the zest and add more lemon juice- not recommended)
1 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh flat-leaf (Italian) parsley (yes, this came out of the freezer- read yesterday's post for more info)


In a large saucepan over high heat, bring 3 cups water to a boil. Stir in the orzo and add 1 teaspoon salt, cover, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the water is absorbed and the pasta is tender, about 15 minutes.
Add the butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and parsley and stir to blend. 

Makes 6 servings

Calories: 220, Protein: 6g, Fat: 4.5 g, Carbs: 38, Cholesterol: 10, Fiber: 1, Sodium: 180.

For the salmon, we just rubbed a little bit of olive oil on the fillet and topped it with a salmon seasoning rub that actually came from Sam's Club. I don't have the name or anything because it came from Sam's in a big jar so my mom shared some of hers with me. 

Here's the pic:

 

::Tip of the Day:: Eat more salmon! Wild salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and iron, and it’s a high-quality source of protein. Salmon is one of the few food sources naturally rich in vitamin D, which is needed to absorb calcium, maintain proper levels of calcium in the blood, and promote normal bone growth.