Grilling In: Slammin’ Salmon Marinade

With the new year in full swing, I have been trying to make a conscious effort to get back to healthier eating. I think our family eats relatively healthy… with the exception that we tend to be carb-loving fools and could really benefit from cutting back on the pasta and bread in our house. I am trying to incorporate more meat-free nights, embrace those whole grains, encouraging lots of fruit and veggie eating, and adding lots more fish into our diet. I am hoping to share a few of the ways that we are working on our healthy eating in our house as well as share the recipe success stories from our kitchen.

I love grilled fish and once a week  I have been trying  to prepare a marinade for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. In the winter months, I rely on our little indoor grill a lot to get that delicious grilled flavor without being outside and braving the cold. A few holidays ago, I spent my Christmas money on a Cuisinart 5-in-1 griddle at a home goods store. It was the last one on the shelf and missing the griddle portion of it so I got it for a 75 percent discount. I ran home with it and couldn’t wait to start making fancy panini sandwiches on it and grilling our food on it. At the time, we had an electric stove and it was the perfect way to enjoy our grilled foods in the winter.

Now that we have a gas stove, I have longed for a grill pan to rest on top of my burners. Of course, it isn’t anything I truly need so I continue to give our little Cuisinart a good workout in our kitchen. It is a handy little gadget that has served us well in the winters and you can’t beat a fancy panini and soup night in these cold winter months.

My new favorite salmon recipe is this Slammin’ Salmon marinade that is perfect for quick cooking and getting dinner on the table in a hurry. This marinade is rich and flavorful with a good balance of sweetness on the fish. I paired this with my easy microwave lemon broccoli and brown rice for a filling and satisfying dinner.  Everyone absolutely love this marinade. My husband & I loved it for the flavor it added to our salmon, my daughter loved it because it is pink, and my son…well, he will eat just about anything.  This recipe is definitely a keeper for our family. Below is our modified version of this delicious marinade! Give it a try and see if you can’t find a new way to appreciate seafood in your house.

Slammin’ Salmon Marinade (Adapted from AllRecipes.com)

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/4 cup olive oil
8 (4 ounce) skinless, boneless salmon fillets

Stir balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and soy sauce with salt, brown sugar, ground ginger, paprika, pepper, and red pepper flakes until the salt has dissolved. Stir in garlic, sesame oil, and olive oil until well combined.. Pour marinade into a resealable plastic bag or glass bowl. Add salmon to marinade and gently toss to coat. Place into refrigerator and marinate 2 to 4 hours. Prepare your grill for medium-high heat. Drain excess marinade from salmon fillets. Grill until firm and opaque, about 4 minutes per side (may need shorter cooking time depending on the thickness of your salmon fillets).

Looking for other fun ways to enjoy adding seafood into your diet? Be sure to check out our recipe for Balsamic & Rosemary Salmon, Marinated Grilled Shrimp,  & Herb Baked Tilapia for some great weeknight dinners that are sure to please even the pickiest eaters!

What is your favorite way to incorporate fish into your family’s diet?  Feel free to share your favorite recipes and links!