Oven-Roasted Salmon & Rice with Coconut Tomato Sauce
oven-roasted salmon over basmati rice with a spiced, creamy coconut tomato sauce
servings: 4
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup white basmati rice*
- kosher salt
- 2 tbsp ghee
- 1 large shallot, finely chopped
- 1 red fresno chile pepper, finely chopped
- 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 1 (13.5 fl oz) can coconut milk
- 1 ½ lbs skinless salmon, cut into 1” pieces
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 limes
- garnish: cilantro + freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Combine the basmati rice, 1 ½ cups water, and a good pinch of salt in a 2 qt saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover with a lid, and cook for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the rice stand (covered) for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450°F.
- Heat another 2qt saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the ghee and let it melt. Add the shallots and chile peppers. Season with a pinch of salt. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring often. Add the garlic. Cook for another minute.
- Stir in 1 teaspoon of the smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon of the coriander, ½ teaspoon of the cumin, and all of the cardamom. Add the tomato paste. Stir well and let cook for a few seconds. Whisk in the coconut milk and a pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for about 10 minutes, or until thickened.
- Meanwhile, combine the salmon, olive oil, honey, juice of ½ a lime, remaining 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon of coriander, and ½ teaspoon of cumin, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Toss to combine.
- Arrange the salmon on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roast on the top rack for 6 minutes. Turn the oven to high broil and broil for 1-2 minutes, or until slightly charred and cooked though.
- When the rice is done cooking, fluff it with a fork and then stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon of ghee and the juice of ½ a lime. When the sauce is done simmering, stir in the juice of 1 lime.
- Plate the rice with the salmon on top. Spoon the sauce over everything. Garnish with cilantro and freshly cracked black pepper.
Notes
I’ve listed instructions for white basmati rice (I’ll typically buy this brand). However, note that brown basmati rice will need to cook longer, typically 35-40 minutes.