Ingredients for - Dukkah-Spiced Salmon with Lemony Couscous
How to cook deliciously - Dukkah-Spiced Salmon with Lemony Couscous
1. Stage
Make the yogurt sauce: In a medium bowl, stir the yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, mint, salt, and black pepper to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper. Cover with plastic wrap and chill it in the fridge for 30 minutes.
2. Stage
Heat the water: In a small pot over high heat, add the water. Cover the pot with a lid and bring it to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer. The boiled water will be used to cook the couscous.
3. Stage
Meanwhile, start the couscous: In a medium (10-inch) pan over medium heat, add the oil, cinnamon stick, and bay leaves. They will sizzle and start changing color after about 10 to 12 seconds. Add the shallots and cook them for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are translucent.
4. Stage
Add couscous and raisins: Add the couscous and raisins and toast them for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the salt, lemon zest, and boiled water. Once it comes up to a rolling boil, turn the heat down to a simmer, cover the pan with a lid, and cook for 7 to 8 minutes. At this point, the couscous won’t be cooked through.
5. Stage
Finish cooking the couscous: Remove the lid and stir in the lemon juice. Put the lid back on and finish cooking it for 5 to 7 minutes.
6. Stage
Preheat the oven: If you like your salmon well-done, I recommend preheating the oven to 400°F to finish cooking it after pan searing.
7. Stage
Season the salmon: Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel. Season both sides with salt and only the skinless side with dukkah. Use your hands to press gently to secure the dukkah onto the salmon.
8. Stage
Cook the salmon: In a large cast iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Gently add the salmon skin side-down and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the skin is crispy. Use a spatula to carefully flip the salmon, and cook it for 3 to 4 minutes. This should give you a medium-rare salmon. For a well-done salmon that is cooked through, but not dry, transfer the skillet into the preheated oven for 3 minutes.
9. Stage
Serve: Transfer the salmon onto plates and serve with the mint yogurt sauce and lemony couscous.