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[1] Salmon skewers atop a chopped salad of greens with apples (photo © RA Sushi Bar & Restaurant).
[2] Top a salmon fillet with ponzu sauce, sliced scallions and sesame seeds (photo © McCormick).
[3] Something light: lettuce cups with fresh or pouch salmon. See the recipe below (photo © Chicken Of The Sea).
[4] Make the salad exciting, like this mesclun mix (photo © Burpee).
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Not everybody is heading out for a festive dinner on Valentine’s Day.
A reader writes: “My partner and I are on reducing diets, and will be spending Valentine’s Day at home. What can we make that’s special, yet low in calories?”
A piece of poached or broiled salmon—pink for Valentine’s Day—served with a couple of steamed green veggies and salad, is always an easy choice.
You can upgrade the salmon with shellfish: lobster, shrimp, scallops.
But it’s just as easy to make this “standard” healthful dinner more special:
1. Serve a different vegetable. Think beyond asparagus, broccoli, green beans and kale to serve vegetables you don’t eat often:
Dark, leafy collards; mustard, beet and turnip greens; and Swiss chard are are low in calories and high in nutrients flavor.
Asian vegetables—bok choy, snap peas and snow peas—are commonly available and have some crunch.
Edamame, a Japanese favorite, can be purchased frozen in the shell, and are fun to pop out of the shell.
2. Vary your green salad. Save the romaine for regular dinners, serve arugula and baby spinach.
Or, buy a bag of specialty greens, such as:
Asian or Italian salad mixes.
Baby greens (Dole’s mix includes arugula, endive, kale, mâche, mizuna, red and green chards and tatsoi).
Butter lettuces.
To take it further, you can add a garnish of edible flowers.
3. Re-format the salmon. If you frequently have grilled salmon, do something special with it, as in photo #1, or:
Salmon skewers.
A crunchy green salad topped with warm salmon, sliced into strips.
Lettuce cups with salmon (recipe below).
4. Toast the occasion. For 90 calories, you can enjoy a flute of champagne or other sparkling wine.
5. Dessert. You know the options: berries, fruit skewers, a slice of melon with a squeeze of lime. You can use a small heart cookie cutter to cut harder fruits into Valentine shapes.
You can have a cup of lemon sorbet for 130 calories (depending on brand), or half a cup, plus a berry garnish.
RECIPE: SALMON LETTUCE CUPS
Ingredients Per Serving
½ cup broccoli florets, cut into small pieces
1 cup Minute Ready to Serve Brown Rice (or substitute)
4 butter lettuce leaves
¼ cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
¼ cup carrot, shredded
¼ cup celery, thinly sliced or finely chopped
4 ounces cooked salmon (fresh or pouch)
1 tablespoon cashews, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish: snipped herbs of choice: cilantro, dill, parsley
Optional garnish: 1/8 teaspoon chia or sunflower seeds
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For A Condiment
On the side, you can serve a favorite condiment, like vinaigrette or flavored olive oil (basil, garlic, etc.).
Or, choose an international condiment, like:
Asian chile sauce (hot)
Chimichurri sauce
Gochujang sauce (hot)
Harissa sauce (spicy)
Pesto
Plain yogurt flavored with black pepper and garlic
Salsa verde
Savory chutney
Worcestershire sauce
For A Condiment
Preparation
1. PREPARE the lettuce leaves: wash and pat dry. Set aside.
2. WRAP the broccoli in damp paper towels and place on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high for 1½ minutes.
3. HEAT the rice according to package directions.
4. PLACE all ingredients except the salmon in a bowl, and toss to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. DOUBLE-stack the lettuce leaves so you have two cups of two leaves each. Spoon the vegetable mixture into the lettuce cups and serve immediately. Top with the salmon and garnish with the herbs and seeds.
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