Salmon with Cilantro and Lime - Foodie Friday and Pink Saturday

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...There's lots to learn about salmon and with a confidence held only by perfect fools, I've decided to summarize it for you in one short paragraph. Salmon, wild or farmed, ranges in hue from white or silver to pink and red. Pacific salmon are classed by size and in descending order you'll find the Chinook, Sockeye, Coho, Humpy and Chum. Those from Atlantic waters are actually Steelheads and are related to rainbow trout, so for our purposes they don't count. Salmon, however classified, will live from 2 to 8 years and return to the waters in which they hatched to spawn and die. Fisherman toss about numbers when speaking of salmon. They'll talk about a 1-2 or 2-3, and leave you to scratch your head or yawn. Here's the translation. They're talking about a biological pattern where time is spent in both fresh and salt water; the first number represents time in fresh water, the second time in the ocean. Should I buy wild or farmed salmon? Let conscience be your guide. Check with FishOnline - Fish to Eat , a database maintained by the Marine Leadership Council to see if environmentally responsible practices are used to catch the fish you want to eat. According to the group their is no problem with Pacific salmon. My favorite in the group is the Sockeye salmon - it's a 2-3. It retains its beautiful color when cooked and has oils that I think make it tastier than its counterparts. I think farm raised salmon has a mushy texture, so I'll buy wild as long as it's responsibly fished and certified. This recipe is really simple but it produces a really wonderful fish with subtle Southwestern overtones. Resist the temptation to overcook it. The fillets are broiled, so 7 to 8 minutes is perfect for a fillet that's one inch thick. I serve this with watermelon salsa and arroz verde. The meal bursts with color and flavor and it's good for you. The salmon is a five ingredient wonder that you can have on the table in 30 minutes. Here's the recipe.

Broiled Salmon with Lime and Cilantro...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
4 (6 to 8-oz.) Sockeye salmon fillets
1/2 cup cilantro, finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Directions:
1) Combine cilantro, oil, garlic and salt. Set 2 tablespoons aside.
2) Pour remainder over fish in bowl. Let stand, covered, 10 minutes.
3) Meanwhile, preheat broiler. Spray broiler rack with nonstick cooking spray. Place salmon on rack. Brush with 1 tablespoon of marinade. Then broil 4 inches from heat for 7 to 8 minutes, or until fish flakes when pierced with a fork. Brush with remaining tablespoon marinade. Transfer to a serving platter. Yield: 4 servings.

I'm sending this recipe to Michael at Designs By Gollum for Foodie Friday, the event she sponsors.

I'm also sending it to Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for her Pink Saturday Event.