Coconut cashew crusted salmon

by Running to the Kitchen on December 15, 2011

salmon 1 v2

It’s December and there is now half a pineapple sitting in my fridge.

I’m only off by a season or two.

I was just getting really sick of my normal salmon routine (a mustard, lemon & rosemary glaze in case you were wondering) and after ordering up my usual 3/4 of a lb. of the fish, I walked around the produce section trying to come up with a different idea.

I guess my mind was on a beach somewhere in the tropics because what ended up in my little basket was a pineapple, a tomatillo, a kiwi, a yellow pepper and a lime. Barbara Kingsolver would be thoroughly disappointed in me considering the average miles traveled for that assortment of produce was probably somewhere around 2,000 but sometimes you just need to throw “rules” out the window and live a little. Because obviously salsa for your salmon is liv-ing it up! Ha.

salmon 2 v2

I’m not sure which part was better, the coconut cashew crust or the “tropical” salsa but both were a welcomed change from the normal salmon nights in our house.

salmon 4 v2

I kind of just wish I were eating it with the beach, ocean and palm trees outside instead of the frozen ground, bare trees and dead plants in my backyard.

Wishful thinking.

5.0 from 1 reviews

Coconut Cashew Crusted Salmon with tropical salsa
 
Prep time

Cook time

Total time

 

Wherever you are, this will transport you to a tropical island without leaving your kitchen.
Author:
Recipe type: dinner, salmon
Serves: 2

Ingredients
  • ¾ lb. of wild Alaskan king salmon
  • ⅛ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • ⅛ cup breadcrumbs
  • ⅛ cup unsalted cashews, finely chopped
  • 1 kiwi, diced
  • 1 tomatillo, diced
  • ½ yellow pepper, diced
  • ½ cup diced pineapple
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • juice of one lime
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • salt & pepper

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment, aluminum foil or a silpat.
  2. Combine coconut, cashews and breadcrumbs in a dish and mix together.
  3. Season salmon with salt & pepper and spray with cooking spray.
  4. Coat salmon in coconut, cashew, breadcrumb mixture and lay on baking sheet. Spray again lightly with cooking spray before putting it in the oven.
  5. Bake for 12-15 minutes until cooked to your desired “doneness” (I prefer salmon more on the rare side and baked mine for 12 minutes)
  6. While salmon bakes, whisk together lime juice and sugar in a small bowl. Add diced vegetables, fruit and cilantro and toss to combine. (This can be made ahead of time as the flavors get better as it sits)
  7. Top baked salmon with salsa.

Notes
You’ll likely have leftover salsa, it makes a great dip for tortilla chips and would be equally delicious on top of chicken, steak or other seafood as well.

 

salmon 3 v2

 

Have you read the book “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle?”

Do you try to buy foods when they’re in season?

{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Julie @ Table for Two December 15, 2011 at 8:04 am

woah-oh-oh…this is deeeeeelicious looking! i love love salmon and i could eat a whole salmon steak myself — did i just say that? i love the colors you have on this dish :) so preeettty!! let’s run away to the beach — STAT!

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2 Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga December 15, 2011 at 8:10 am

lovely salmon…and the salsa…yum, I could put that over just about anything and be happy!

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3 Lindsay @ biking before bed December 15, 2011 at 8:17 am

I try to eat seasonally, but sometimes I just get a craving for something and so I pick it up anyway! My boyfriend has had the same tropical thoughts lately. He changed his alarm clock to a ringtone that sounds like kettle drum music from the Bahamas.

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4 Matt @ The Athlete's Plate December 15, 2011 at 8:25 am

I definitely buy seasonal food! It’s the only way to shop :)

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5 Claire @ Live and Love to Eat December 15, 2011 at 8:31 am

Three foods that I love but would never think to combine – beautiful photos!

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6 Tiff @ Love Sweat and Beers December 15, 2011 at 8:49 am

That does sound extra tropical. I bet the hubs would love it. I’m not a huge salmon person. Seriously, I prefer the stuff in the can. I know, I’m odd.

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7 Kate @ NaturaStride December 15, 2011 at 8:49 am

Great idea! I actually have some tilapia thawing as we speak, I bet this coconut crust would work with that as well – thanks for the idea :)

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8 Lee December 15, 2011 at 9:37 am

I buy in season food to an extent. I know that tomatoes and strawberries are going to taste bad in the winter and apples bad in the spring/summer so I don’t buy them then but there are some things that probably are seasonal that I buy all year.

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9 kari @ Running Ricig December 15, 2011 at 9:49 am

I usually only buy seasonal food, but not out of any kind of moral guilt, it’s because I’m cheap :) .

That looks freaking delicious. Too bad Mike hates seafood.

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10 Ulysses December 15, 2011 at 10:27 am

That salsa was really good!

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11 Kelly @ Foodie Fiasco December 15, 2011 at 10:59 am

*drool*

That coconut coating looks AMAZING. Do you think I could use it on tofu or tempeh? Thanks!

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12 Running to the Kitchen December 15, 2011 at 11:06 am

Yes, definitely! I bread tofu in coconut all the time. The cashews would be a nice crunch to the tofu texture.

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13 Anna @ On Anna's Plate December 15, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Haha…I started to get a little annoyed with ol’ Barbara by the end of that book. Props to her and her family for eating ONLY local and seasonal…but sometimes I need a banana or an avocado in the winter!!

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14 Running to the Kitchen December 15, 2011 at 12:06 pm

Haha yeah, there are bananas on our countertop at all times. That’s one thing I can’t give up. Sorry, Barbara.

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15 Cat @Breakfast to Bed December 15, 2011 at 12:22 pm

That looks fab. Gosh I love salmon. Have you ever done it en papillote? so juicy.

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16 Running to the Kitchen December 15, 2011 at 2:44 pm

Yes, so good! Giada also has a great recipe for it on top of puff pastry with pesto. That one is amazing although not the healthiest ;)

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17 Jen@FoodFamilyFitness December 15, 2011 at 2:14 pm

I try and buy foods when they are in season (only started doing that after reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle), because they are cheaper, but sometimes I do a little tropical purchasing :)

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18 janae@ hungryrunnergirl.com December 15, 2011 at 3:03 pm

I wish I had pineapple just sitting in my fridge. We try to buy by season because it is usually cheaper. What kind of camera do you use?

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19 Running to the Kitchen December 15, 2011 at 3:28 pm

I have a Canon T3 that I got this past summer.

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20 Jocelyn @ Peace Love Nutrition December 15, 2011 at 9:15 pm

This is all my favorite ingredients! Yumm

I definitely try to buy food while it’s in season!

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21 Paige @ Running Around Normal December 15, 2011 at 9:58 pm

Mmm! I need to pick up some salmon! I’ve never tried it with coconut.

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22 Baking Serendipity December 15, 2011 at 10:55 pm

I try to buy foods while they’re in season simply because they’re cheaper, but like you, sometimes give into cravings that are out of season. This fish looks wonderful…and has me craving a beach vacation!

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