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

Gnocchi with Pancetta, Mushrooms, and Gruyere

Apolinaras and I finally checked out Foundry on Elm, a newish hot spot in our neighborhood, on one of our recent date nights. It was packed on the Tuesday evening we went and we could see why after we tried the creative cocktails. Mine was called the Bee’s Knees and...

Avocado Ranch Israeli Couscous Salad

I’m not a huge main dish salad fan. It seems like whenever I just have greens with veggies and protein for lunch, I end up with a grumbling tummy only a couple hours later. My outlook recently changed after a lab potluck though. Sima brought in a lovely spinach salad...

Farfalle with Mushrooms and Goat Cheese Sauce

This pasta has Apolinaras’ name written all over it. I guess you could call him my muse from time to time. He looooves mushrooms and was so happy when I encouraged him to go ahead and put the pricey fresh shitakes in the grocery cart the other day. When I told him I...

Gruyere Risotto with Asparagus and Mushrooms

I apologize if you had trouble with my blog earlier this week. I tried to upgrade my WordPress account and the theme completely crashed – ugh. Luckily, my better half is a computer whiz and very supportive of my blogging. He stayed up until 5am – yes, 5am – to fix it...

Caramelized Shallot and Crispy Sage Macaroni and Cheese

Happy Halloween! We’re currently putting the final touches on Apolinaras’ costume and I’m hoping I can convince him to let me post a few pictures, but I don’t want to push my luck too much. I’m very excited that I even convinced him to dress up - this is only his...

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...

Halloween Pumpkin Quesadillas

I apparently have a bit more Martha in me than I’ve previously appreciated because when I stumbled upon some habanero lime flour tortillas at Trader Joe’s the other night, my eyes got wide with excitement and I squealed, “they’re orange, they have bright orange...

Summer Veggie Pasta with an Eggplant and Ricotta Sauce

Our apartment balcony is filled with foliage. My plant tending days ended after the demise of Petey, a plant my good friend Britt and I attempted to care for in college, so I’m lucky that Apolinaras has a green thumb! He’s already dreaming of the day we have a real...