Cashew Salmon with Apricot Couscous

By garciamoss

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt
• 3 scallions, sliced, greens and whites separated
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped dried apricots
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1 cup whole-wheat couscous
• 1 pound salmon fillet, preferably wild Pacific, skinned (see Note) and cut into 4 portions
• 2 tablespoons chopped toasted cashews (see Note)

Details

Adapted from eatingwell.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat grill to medium-high or position rack in upper third of oven and preheat broiler.
Combine yogurt, scallion greens, lemon juice, cilantro, cumin, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add apricots, ginger, the scallion whites and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add water and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in couscous. Remove from heat, cover and let stand until the liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
Meanwhile, rub salmon with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. If grilling, oil the grill rack (see Tip). If broiling, coat a broiler pan with cooking spray. Grill or broil the salmon until browned and just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Serve with the couscous, topped with the yogurt sauce and cashews.

Ingredient note: Wild-caught salmon from the Pacific (Alaska and Washington) are more sustainably fished and have a larger, more stable population. To skin a salmon fillet, place the fillet on a clean cutting board, skin side down. Starting at the tail end, slip the blade of a long, sharp knife between the fish flesh and the skin, holding the skin down firmly with your other hand. Gently push the blade along at a 30° angle, separating the fillet from the skin without cutting through either.
Kitchen tips: To toast chopped nuts, cook in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.
To oil a grill rack, oil a folded paper towel, hold it with tongs and rub it over the rack. (Do not use cooking spray on a hot grill.)