Being single is a BRAND! In my case a name brand and quite frankly, we don’t really need a significant other while we got food, right? YES, that would be correct. Considering that Valentine’s Day is coming up, I’ve prepared a meal that you can not only make to win over your loved ones but also to treat yo’self if you so happen to prefer your own company over others. Herb-crusted salmon with three easy sides are sure to win over hearts or break them if you so please, I ain’t judging. 

To my folks who don’t eat seafood, ya boi FEELS you! Fish can be intimidating to try BUT I promise you that a recipe like this is sure to please. An easy way to determine if fish is good is to just smell it. If it has a weird fishy smell it has probably been out for too long and you don’t want to eat that. Salmon that is firm to the touch, doesn’t have any smell and is a bright pink colour is the right piece for you.

Now on a day like Valentine’s you don’t want anything too heavy, especially considering all the chocolate we gonna be consuming cuz we depressed that we single, so fish is a light and tasty alternative to chicken and beef.

For my folks with an allergy, kk fine I give y’all a pass, you can try a small chicken breast. In this case, you would just need to bake it in the oven longer.

Ingredients:

• 2 salmon fillets
• 1/3 cup bread crumbs
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp capers, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp of lemon zest
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1 tbsp chopped basil
• 2 tbsp butter
• Lemon juice

Directions: 

1. You want to start off by drying your salmon fillets. This will ensure that your crust has a nice surface to stick on. Salt and pepper all sides of the salmon fillets and place them on a greased or parchment paper-lined tray. Preheat your oven to 350℃. In the meantime you can prepare the herb crust.
2. In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, olive oil, capers, garlic, lemon zest, parsley and basil. Make sure it is combined, and add salt and pepper to taste. 
3. Now, moving back to the salmon fillets, spread half a tablespoon of dijon mustard on the top of each salmon fillet. Then, using a spoon, sprinkle the bread crumb mixture on top and pat down using your hand or the back of the spoon.
4. Bake the fillet in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Halfway through, dollop small pieces of butter on top of the fish. Once it’s done cooking, squeeze a little bit of lemon juice on top. Serve immediately.  

AND VOILA, you are done! Did that seem hard? Of course not! My meals are simple and delicious. But wait, we can’t stop there. We love being extra so we must serve the fish with a variety of sides to satisfy our audience.

Sides: 

1. For a simple mashed potato side, boil 2 peeled and cut potatoes in boiling water. Once tender, drain the water and pour in 1/4 cup of milk and 3 tablespoons of butter. Generously add salt and a dash of pepper for a quick and satisfying starch.
2. For some delicious roasted veggies, wash and cut string beans or carrots. Season with salt, pepper, a dash of paprika and a squeeze of lemon juice. Drizzle on some olive oil and bake in a 350 degree oven for ten minutes or just until tender.
3. Similarly, season tomatoes on the vine with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Bake in a 350 degree Celsius  oven for 12 minutes or just until the skin starts to break and juices flow out. Broil under the high setting just until the skins turn brown.

Now for a simple lemon butter sauce:

1. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a pan
2. Add in 1 tablespoon of flour and cook until the paste is a nutty brown colour
3. Add in chicken or veggie stock until the sauce thickens to your preferred consistency.
4. Add in chopped capers, a little squeeze of lemon and some salt and pepper to taste! 

And with that you have a Valentine’s Day meal fit for a queen, or a king.