Dinner in our house is one of the best parts of my day, but sometimes getting it on the table can be tricky. Cajun salmon with three bean salad is a recipe for nights when you need dinner on the table pronto. The key to this recipe is the homemade cajun seasoning.
It’s quick to mix together, but it really makes this dish. Cajun flavors can sometimes be a little spicy for kids so this seasoning mix has all the flavor with a little less heat. The seasoning is wonderful on the fish and it makes an unbelievably good salad dressing mix.
In the twenty minutes it take to get the salmon cooked you can get the bean salad tossed together. Add a side of crusty Italian bread and in no time you have a delicious and healthy weeknight meal. The bean salad is so good that if you are wanting a vegetarian dinner you could easily double the bean salad recipe and have enough for a main dish.
Cajun Salmon-serves 4
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 ¼ pounds salmon
Three Bean Salad
- 2 cups fresh green beans, cut into 1½ inch pieces
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup (about 2 small) shallots, sliced into thin rings
- 1 (16 oz) can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (16 oz) can black eyed peas, rinsed and drained
- 1½ teaspoons of reserved cajun seasoning
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup olive oil
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
First mix together the cajun seasoning. In a small bowl combine the salt, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, dry mustard and dried oregano. Set seasoning aside to use on the fish and in the salad dressing.
Second prepare the cajun salmon. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil on the salmon coating the tops evenly. Sprinkle on 2 teaspoons of the cajun seasoning. Place the salmon on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or foil. Put them in the oven to roast.
I like my salmon cooked through so I cook mine to 135 degrees which is about 22 minutes in my oven. If you like your salmon less firm then you will want to start checking it’s doneness at about 15 minutes. You want salmon to be anywhere between 120 degrees to 140 degrees on an instant read thermometer.
While the salmon is roasting make the three bean salad. Fill a large sauce pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add the green beans to the boiling water and cook them for 5 minutes. Once cooked, remove the green beans from the water and allow them to cool. Slice the tomatoes and shallots and rinse and drain the red beans and black-eyed peas.
Next, make the salad dressing. In a medium sized bowl whisk together the mustard, apple cider vinegar and 1½ teaspoons of reserved cajun seasoning. Then slowly drizzle in the olive oil while continuously whisking the dressing. Continue whisking until the dressing is emulsified into a vinegrette.
Finally mix together the salad. In a large bowl gently mix together the kidney beans, black eyed peas, green beans, shallots and tomatoes. Add salad dressing to taste and stir.
As you finish the salad the salmon should coming out of the oven. Add a side of some crusty Italian bread and you have a delicious dinner.
Cajun salmon with three bean salad is the perfect trifecta that I am looking for in weeknight dinners- quick, healthy and delicious. So if you are wondering what to make for dinner this week then this recipe is for you.
