Salmon spinach pilaf

I like salmon, especially with rice. I’m obsessed with trying to cook them in the same pot. It turns out mediocre more often than not, but I’m stubborn and keep trying different iterations. Tonight was the closest I’ve gotten to something pretty good. I leaned into the #1 pilaf in our house - spanakorizo - and it paid dividends.

Tonight’s takes:

Husband: “Tastes like the spanakorizo I had growing up.” Later: “I agree with Helen - needs more flavour.”

Helen (6 years old): “Ummm, it’s good. It’s a little plain. Next time I want more flavour. It’s plain and classic - like in the old days when they didn’t have spices and stuff.”

Hector (3 1/2 years old): “Pretty good. I like the garlic.”

And this:

What I used:

• 1 package spinach

• 1 onion

• 3 garlic cloves

• 1 1/2 cup basmati rice

• juice and zest from 1 lemon

• 3 salmon filets

• salt

• olive oil

What I did:

Wilted spinach in a large pot on medium heat with lots of olive oil in in.

Sorry for the shit photo. Once wilted, removed spinach from the pot.

Added more olive oil to the pot.

Diced onion and garlic.

Added onions and garlic to the pot. Turned heat down to medium-low. Slowly cooked until onions translucent.

Added rice to the pot.

Cooked until just starting to smell toasty.

Added 3 cups water and a healthy pinch of salt. Added juice and zest from 1 lemon. Stirred to combine.

Nestled spinach in.

Added salmon fillets (they were still a bit frozen). Sprinkled salt on top of the salmon. Brought to a simmer. Popped the lid on and cooked for 20 minutes.

Done!

Next time:

It was pretty simple. Maybe the rice did need some more spice. I’m not totally sure what I’ll do next time. It did need something. One thing is for sure though, I’ll definitely punish myself and try a twist on this again.

😋😋

-Ellisa