Valentine’s Day Grilled Sweet and Spicy Salmon
Salmon can make a good choice for Valentine’s Day dinner in with your sweetheart. It’s light but rich and heart healthy. This recipe is a little sweet and a little spicy, which may be the right mix for your Valentine’s Day celebration. Salmon makes a great grilling food. By using the grill, clean up will be a breeze. Who wants to be scrubbing pots and pans on a holiday? Keeping the skin on your salmon helps it retain moisture and prevents the meat from breaking apart on the grill. You can cut back on the molasses if it’s too sweet, or cut back on the jalapeños if it’s too spicy.
Salmon is a great choice for a protein after gastric sleeve, lap band, or gastric bypass surgery because it provides not only provides high quality protein (17 g protein in a 3 oz portion), but also omega 3 fatty acids, selenium, vitamin B12, niacin, and phosphorus. Besides adding a kick of spicy flavor, the jalapeños provide ample amounts of vitamin C and capsaicin, which has shown promise in aiding weight loss (another benefit for gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band patients). While mercury and other contaminants can a problem with some salmon, wild caught salmon such as Alaskan salmon and coho, are in the lowest risk category.
Add some grilled asparagus as a side and some fresh strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries for dessert, and your heart healthy Valentine’s Day celebration will be complete.
Ingredients:
juice from one lime
¼ cup molasses
1 ½ tbsp jalapeños, deseeded and chopped
4 salmon fillets with the skin on (about 5 ounces each)
salt and pepper
olive oil
Directions:
- Puree lime juice, molasses, and jalapeños in a food processor until smooth.
- Sprinkle salmon fillets with salt and pepper.
- Preheat outdoor grill to medium high heat. Brush grill with oil.
- Place fillets on the grill skin side up. Cook 5-6 minutes or until the fillets easily release from the grill.
- Flip salmon and continue cooking another 6-8 minutes until it is cooked through and opaque. Brush salmon with the sweet and spicy jalapeño marinade, and cook an additional 2 minutes or until salmon reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees.
- Serve and enjoy!
The above recipe idea is provided by Dr. Shillingford’s staff to encourage heart healthy dinners that are good for you and high in protein to help with your weight loss success after your gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, or lap band surgery. Dr. Shillingford, M.D., P.A., specializes in laparoscopic weight loss surgeries including gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap bands. Dr. Shillingford’s practice is located in Boca Raton, Florida and serves patients from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Plantation, and all of South Florida. Dr. Shillingford’s surgical weight loss patients are often seeking information on healthy meal preparation after their lap band, sleeve gastrectomy, or gastric bypass surgeries. This recipe is elegant enough for a special Valentine’s meal, and simple enough for a healthy weekday dinner.
Pinterest board: Holiday Ideas for the Weight loss surgery community
