Salmon with Chilli and Dill with sides of Sweet Potato and Broccoli

 It is summer in Melbourne - and you don't want to cook elaborate meals and sweat in the kitchen.  This is a nice, easy, filling lunch or dinner - ready in 30 minutes, with the sides.  I admit I went a bit crazy with the chilli flakes - but you can always reduce it if you think it is too much!

Ingredients:

4 portions of salmon fillets, with skin on

1/2  tablespoon oil - to massage into the salmon

2 teaspoons salt

1 tablespoon dill leaves, chopped

3 teaspoons chilli flakes

1 tablespoon oil - to cook the salmon

Method:

Wash salmon and pat it dry with a paper towel. In a large platter, combine oil, salt, chilli and dill leaves.

Mix well and apply on the salmon pieces and leave to rest in the fridge.  While the salmon is resting, cook the sides.

In a saucepan, heat oil.  Place the salmon pieces skin side down for 4 minutes.  Then turn it around and cook the two broad sides for three minutes each.  Lastly add a minute more to cook the narrow side of the fish. 

Sweet Potato side:

2 sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped

1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds

1 teaspoon dill seeds

1 tablespoon oil

1/4 teaspoon chilli powder

1/8 teaspoon turmeric powder

salt to taste

Method: 

Heat oil in  a saucepan and add mustard seeds.  When they crackle, add the dill seeds and the sweet potato pieces. Add the chilli and turmeric powder.  Mix well for a few minutes and sprinkle water.  Close the lid of the saucepan and let it cook. Add salt to taste and mix well.

Broccoli side:

1/2 a head of broccoli, trimmed and sliced lengthwise

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1/4 of a salad onion, sliced thinly and left in a bowl with salt and a few drops of lime juice or vinegar

Black pepper freshly ground - a generous pinch

Cumin seeds - freshly ground, a generous pinch

salt to taste

Method:

In a small bowl, mix balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and cumin powders.  Set aside.

Cook broccoli in the microwave for exactly 2 minutes.

Take the broccoli out and toss with dressing.

Squeeze out the juices from the onion and mix it in with the broccoli.

Toss once again and serve with the fish.