It’s January so everyone is getting back into routine, trying to eat healthy and being their best self. This dinner will help with all of those things. It’s delicious, healthy, quick and easy! The glaze is so good you will want to put it on everything.
Balsamic + Salmon + Asparagus= Divine
Balsamic Glaze This glaze comes together in just a few minutes. Simply combine all of the ingredients in a microwave safe dish and microwave for 90 seconds, and you have a smooth and delicious sauce! You can marinate the salmon ahead of time, but it is not necessary.
Maple Syrup Maple syrup adds the sweetness to this sweet and savory glaze. I use quality maple syrup (not cheap pancake syrup). You can substitute maple for equal amounts of honey.
Corn Starch Corn starch thickens the glaze. If you can’t use cornstarch, try using arrowroot (the same amount) or tapioca starch (use twice as much).
Salmon Not only is salmon delicious, it has so many wonderful health benefits. We try to eat it once a week, and it usually ends up being a sheet pan dinner. It cooks up perfectly and the house doesn’t smell like salmon for days from pan frying it.
Asparagus Try to find asparagus that is as thick as a sharpie. The thinner ones cook way too fast, and the thicker stalks can be a bit fiberous. I like to trim the ends and cut the asparagus in thirds to make them more bite sized. If you leave them whole, they may seem over cooked and limp if you cook them too long. Smaller cuts of asparagus are much more forgiving.
Sheet Pan Dinner Sheet pan dinners are my best friend. Simple to put together and easy to clean up. You wouldn’t guess that this is a one pan dish when you taste it, which makes it even more amazing. For another sheet pan dinner, try our Herb Dijon Chicken and Vegetables.
Pairing Open up a bottle of Chardonnay, Prosecco, Gruet Brut or Pinot Noir for this dish. Serve it with mashed or roasted potatoes or a simple bowl of rice.
Recipe
Balsamic Maple Glazed Salmon and Asparagus
Ingredients
- **Balsamic Maple Glaze**
- 2 Tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar
- 2 Tbsp. Whole Grain Mustard
- 3 Tbsp. Maple Syrup
- 1 tsp. Cornstarch
- 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- **Sheet Pan Dinner**
- 4 filets of Salmon (6-8 oz.)
- 1 lb. Asparagus, ends trimmed and cut into thirds
- 1/2 Red Onion, thinly sliced
- 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
- 1/4 tsp. Kosher Salt, plus more for garnish.
- Black Pepper, for Garnish
Directions
- Step 1 Preheat oven to 425F. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil for easy clean up.
- Step 2 Combine all ingredients for the glaze and whisk thoroughly until corn starch is dissolved. Microwave for 1 1/2 minutes or until thickened. Let cool.
- Step 3 Once the glaze has cooled, place salmon and 1/4 cup glaze in a Ziploc bag. Marinate for at least 10 minutes.
- Step 4 Place the asparagus and red onions on the sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss until evenly coated.
- Step 5 Place Salmon on the sheet pan, nestled between the asparagus and onions. Drizzle the remaining glaze over salmon, and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Roast for 15 minutes or until salmon is cooked to desired temperature and vegetables are crisp on the edges.
- Step 6 For crispier edges, broil the salmon on high for a few minutes (keep a close eye on it so it doesn’t burn).
- Step 7 Serve with roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes or rice. Enjoy!
About the Author
Lauren is a classically trained, professional chef. A culinary school graduate, she has spent time working organic farms in the Italian countryside and was the pastry/sous chef at a high profile restaurant in Dallas prior to becoming a full-time personal chef. Her cooking style is often referred to as “rustic.” Being a personal chef, she is not bound by a single type of cuisine and has had the opportunity to experiment with hundreds of regional recipes from all over the world.
