These mildly spiced salmon tacos served with sweet and spicy pumpkin seeds will bring a party together. Make a small quantity of salmon go further when you pair it with a fresh red cabbage slaw featuring citrus and cilantro. Drizzled with some bright lime yogurt, the flavours come together perfectly.
Sustainability status
Wild salmon from the Pacific Northwest and Alaska are considered among the most sustainable, as the fishery is subject to limited harvests. With salmon stocks in decline, supporting managed fisheries such as these can help maintain populations into the future. That may also mean eating salmon less often than we do now.
Salmon is a favourite
Salmon is the most popular variety of fish in Canada and the second most popular in the US.
Salmon Tacos with Red Cabbage and Orange Slaw with Lime Yogurt
Ingredients
- 1 tsp (5 mL) cumin
- 1/2 tsp (2 mL) sweet smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp (1 mL) garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
- 1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) cayenne powder
- 3 Tbsp (45 mL) pumpkin seeds
- 1 tsp (5 mL) maple syrup
- 3 cups (750 mL) grated red cabbage
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) cilantro
- 1 serrano pepper, seeded, deveined, and sliced thinly
- Pinch of salt
- 2 Tbsp (30 mL) apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp (5 mL) maple syrup
- 2 oranges, segmented, pith removed, and 1/4 cup (60 mL) juice reserved
- 1/4 cup (60 mL) natural yogurt
- 2 tsp (10 mL) freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 tsp (5 mL) lime zest
- 2 - 6 oz (170 g) pieces wild sockeye salmon, skin on
- 1 Tbsp (15 mL) extra-virgin olive oil
- 8 - 6 in (15 cm) corn tortillas
- 8 lime wedges
- 1 bunch cilantro
Nutrition
Per serving:
- calories416
- protein25 g
- total fat15 g
- sat. fat2 g
- total carbohydrates51 g
- sugars15 g
- fibre6 g
- sodium282 mg
Directions
01
Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C).
02
For spiced pumpkin seeds, prepare rub in small bowl by mixing spices together. In separate bowl, combine pumpkin seeds with 1 tsp (5 mL) rub and 1 tsp (5 mL) maple syrup and stir to coat thoroughly. Reserve remaining spice rub for use on the salmon. Lay spiced pumpkin seeds on parchment-lined baking sheet and roast in preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown and toasted. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
03
For slaw, in large bowl, combine cabbage, cilantro, and serrano pepper and season with pinch of salt. In small bowl, whisk together vinegar, 1 tsp (5 mL) maple syrup, and orange juice; pour over cabbage mixture. Allow to stand for 30 minutes to 1 hour in refrigerator.
04
Remove salmon from fridge and allow to come to room temperature while you prepare lime yogurt. In small bowl, combine yogurt with lime juice and lime zest and set aside in refrigerator until ready to serve.
05
Coat salmon with olive oil on both sides and rub gently with remaining spice mixture. Allow to stand for 20 minutes at room temperature.
06
Wrap tortillas loosely in damp dish towel and warm in oven at 250 F (120 C) while you grill salmon.
07
In frying pan or grill pan on medium-high, place salmon fillets skin side down and cook for about 5 minutes on one side, then carefully turn and cook for about 2 minutes, until flesh has turned from translucent to opaque and flakes gently with fork. Remove from grill; gently peel away skin and discard. Cut fish into 8 smaller pieces.
08
To assemble, in tortilla, place some slaw; top with a piece of salmon, a few orange segments, and some spiced pumpkin seeds. Drizzle with a touch of lime yogurt and serve with additional lime wedges and cilantro.
READ THIS NEXT
SEE MORE »
Pickled Radish and Cabbage Slaw
Crunchy, with sharp and satisfying flavour, this hearty salad is a great accompaniment to tacos (including the ones in the next recipe). Cabbage is high in fibre and vitamins C and K. Higher consumption of cruciferous vegetables such as radishes and cabbage is linked to lower rates of cancer. Make ahead Unlike a typical green salad, this one can stand up to an hour or two in the fridge, so if you want to make it ahead of time, go for it. The cabbage will soften up and some water will be released; just drain any excess before serving.
Chicken Taco Lettuce Wraps with Tomatillo Salsa Verde
These taco-inspired lettuce wraps are full of vibrant flavour tempered by subtle heat, all topped off with a zingy tomatillo salsa. Shredding the chicken helps to make a small quantity of chicken feed a crowd, and the texture pairs well with the light wrapper. The bright salsa features heart-healthy tomatillos, which contain phytochemicals called withanolides, which studies have found can help inhibit cancer cell growth. Quick shred If you have a kitchen mixer with a paddle attachment, you can use it to quickly and easily shred chicken for taco lettuce wraps. After chicken has rested, add it to the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Reserve any pan juices that may have accumulated in the baking dish. Turn mixer on to a low-to-medium speed and process the chicken for 30 seconds to 1 minute, so that chicken is just separated, being careful not to overprocess. Add in cooking juices and mix through with spoon. To shred chicken by hand, use two forks to gently pull meat apart before combining with pan juices.
Pinto Bean and Pasilla Pepper Dip
This rich bean dip is delicious warm or cold. It’s also a good source of protein, iron, and potassium. A single serving of this dip will help Dad get 19 percent of the recommended daily value of dietary fibre. Dried pasilla peppers impart a smoky, earthy fruitiness balanced with mild spice from a hint of hot paprika and cayenne. And those canned tomatoes add a nice hit of lycopene to an already healthy dish. Epazote (Eh-pah-zo-tay) Epazote has a history of use as a medicinal herb throughout Latin America and is a frequent ingredient in bean dishes because of its antiflatulent properties as well as its pleasant aromatic taste. Its flavour has no direct comparison but is reminiscent of oregano, tarragon, or licorice. There is a pungency to the scent, which some have described as having notes of kerosene, but it imparts a pleasing, earthy, and herbal quality to dishes. Dried epazote added to beans can help reduce their gas-causing properties. Epazote contains saponins, which can be toxic in copious quantities, so sparing use is recommended. Look out for it at specialty culinary stores. If you can’t find it, try cilantro, fennel, or oregano.
Eggplant-Crusted Mushroom Quiche with Arame
Lime juice and ginger add a tropical whiff to this French-Japanese mashup, where seaweed tendrils and Dijon mustard bring out the umami flavours in mushrooms and eggplant. The ingredients might seem to be strange bedfellows, but they work. The result is somewhere between a quiche and a soufflé, with a gluten-free eggplant crust featuring punchy mustard and citrus. This makes for a hearty vegetarian main for brunch, lunch, or dinner with a side salad, or a filling side dish. Fresh or dried If you don’t have fresh thyme and parsley, use 1 tsp (5 mL) dried thyme (divided) and 1 Tbsp (15 mL) dried parsley. The flavours won’t be as pungent, but a little flavour is better than none.