Cake, Batter, and Bowl

Pear Glazed Salmon with a Potato, Parsnip, and Bacon Hash

Main Dishes

Some foods are so versatile that they are perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Bacon is definitely one of these ingredients, but I just realized that hash browns also fall into this category. Shreds of crispy golden brown fried potatoes just make everything better! I was recently spending a lazy Sunday morning trying to brainstorm a unique way to serve salmon, since we’ve in a bit of a rut with it, and realized over my omelet and coffee that I should try serving salmon with a breakfast twist – over hash browns!

The dish really came together wonderfully. I mixed turkey bacon and onions with shredded potatoes and parsnips and then fried them up in a bit of oil until they were golden brown. While the hash browns were cooking, I baked the salmon fillets, which were topped with a quick pear and ginger sauce. The sweet tender salmon was perfectly complemented by the savory crisp hash browns. Mmm, I’m definitely going to be making this again, but with a bit of fresh parsley on top for a touch of color!

Pear Glazed Salmon with a Potato, Parsnip, and Bacon Hash
Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
6 slices turkey bacon, chopped
4 medium potatoes, peeled and shredded
1 parsnip, peeled and shredded
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup canola oil
1 Barlett pear, peeled, cored, and chopped
1 tablespoon fresh chopped ginger
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
4 salmon fillets

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350˚F. Spray a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and cook bacon over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes or until crispy. Drain on paper towels.

Mix shredded potatoes, parsnips, onion, and 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl; mix in cooked bacon. Heat 2 tablespoons canola oil over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet and evenly spread half the shredded potato mixture in the pan. Cook 14 to 18 minutes, turning once, or until hashbrowns are crispy. Repeat with remaining potatoes and 2 tablespoons oil.

Meanwhile, place pear, ginger, vinegar, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor and pulse until well mixed. Evenly spread pear sauce over the salmon fillets and bake in a greased pan at 350˚F for 15 to 20 minutes or until cooked through. Serve salmon over the hashbrowns. Makes 4 servings.

Nutrition: 676 calories, 30.4g fat, 6.6g fiber, 47.4g protein per serving
Cost: $4.11 per serving

Summer Veggie and Chicken Lasagna with Goat Cheese Sauce

I think I’ve mentioned before that I often devour leftovers for dinner because I tend to get home pretty late and I'm always starving when  I walk in the door. So, when I do manage to find time to cook during the week, I’m usually whipping up a meal to enjoy the...

Goat Cheese Risotto with Yellow Squash and Zucchini

It’s Wednesday night, and if all goes well, this post will go live on Friday. I’m leaving for San Diego early tomorrow morning for another work conference and thought I’d see how the scheduled post function works! Hopefully by the time you’re reading this, I’ll be all...

Mediterranean Couscous

Some things are just meant to be. A couple of weeks ago I was jogging through Harvard Square when I heard someone calling my name. I was disoriented for a second, but when I turned around, I was surprised to see that it was my friend Rashmi from college – crazy, huh –...

Avocado Crab Cakes with Crushed Plantain Chips

Dear disappointing Boston restaurant, My hubby and I can rarely resist ordering crab cakes when we eat out, and I was really looking forward to trying your twist on our favorite appetizer during our recent visit to your restaurant. So, you can imagine our...

Roasted Butternut Squash and Spinach Penne Pasta

I’ve been looking forward to this week for awhile now, because I get to see my good friend Susie not once, but twice, in two different cities! Susie is one of my best friends from college. We initially bonded as partners in organic chemistry lab, where we amused...

Plantain Crusted Chicken

Nope, this isn’t a recipe for chicken parm, although that’s what you’d think if you just saw the picture, but it was inspired by this Italian favorite. My hubby loves my chicken parm and loudly proclaims to anyone that will listen that he can never order it in a...

Salmon over Coconut Broth with Baby Bok Choy, Snow Peas, and Mushrooms

I have to admit that even though I consider myself a “foodie,” sometimes hearing about the local/organic food debate tires me out. Ideally, we’d all get all our food from farmers in our state who use no pesticides, right? But it’s not really economical for most people...

Truly Outrageous Baked Sweet Potatoes

I love Halloween and have gone as the rocker Jem of the 80s hit cartoon Jem and the Holograms three years in a row now. I have no shame, I loved Jem growing up and adore the costume so much that I may even use it again at some point! I have very fond memories of...