Grilled Salmon with Basil Sauce

When you love to cook, you kind of need people to cook for. Sounds about right...right? For the last few weeks, and a couple more to go, my husband has been out in the field. After the first few nights I realized how boring it is without him. Mind you we have no kids, so it's just me and our two year old dog. Well, since it's summer she gets tired after ten minutes of play, and sleeps for hours on end. Therefore, she is absolutely no help to my boredom. I keep finding recipes I want to make, but it serves a million people. I have made a few of those, and had lunch for work and dinner for the next night. Maybe it's just me though, but I can't stand eating the same thing for every meal, or more than two nights in a row. That just means leftovers go to waste when it's just me. Enough of my venting!

Thankfully, when I found this recipe my husband was still home so I was able to eat delectable flaky salmon. Now that the weather is ridiculously hot and I'm melting slowly, I need recipes that will not turn the oven on and make our house 20 degrees warmer. That is where the grill comes in. Then when you put salmon on that grill, it makes life perfect. This was such a simple dish, but full of flavor. Prepping the salmon couldn't be easier, and you get a great smoky flavor from the grill. Once you pour over the sauce, you have an inexpensive dish that doesn't taste cheap at all!

This scale has been a great help when it comes to portion control. If you don't have a scale, I highly suggest getting one.

In a food processor blend sauce ingredients until smooth. Stir in remaining yogurt. Chill until ready to serve.

Spray all both sides of salmon with cooking spray. Then sprinkle with lemon-pepper seasoning.

Make sure to oil the grill before cooking the salmon. You don't want any sticking!

Grilled Salmon with Basil Sauce
adapted from Pillbury Fast and Healthy Cookbook

Ingredients:
for the sauce
1 (8oz) container non-fat plain yogurt (not greek)
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
1 tablespoon sliced green onions
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

for fish
1 (8oz) salmon steaks (1 in. thick), each cut into two pieces
Nonstick cooking spray
1/2 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning

Directions:
grilling

1. In food processor with metal blade or blender, combine half of the yogurt and the remaining sauce ingredients. Process until smooth. Stir in remaining yogurt. Cover; refrigerate while preparing salmon.
2. Heat grill. Spray both sides of salmon with cooking spray, and sprinkle with lemon-pepper seasoning.
3. When ready to grill, oil grill rack. Place fish on grill (gas: medium heat / charcoal: 4-6 inches from coals at medium-high heat). Cook over direct heat; 2-3 minutes on each side or until a crust has formed and is golden brown. Move salmon to indirect heat and close grill lid. Cook for another 5-7, or until salmon flakes easily with a fork. Serve with sauce.

broiler

1. Prepare sauce and salmon as directed above. Spray broiler pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place fish on prepared pan.
2. Broil 4-6 inches from heat for 12-16 minutes or until fish flakes easily with fork, turning once. Serve with sauce.

Serves 4.

Nutrition: (1/4 of recipe) Calories 250; Fat 12g; Cholesterol 85mg; Carb 6mg; Fiber 0g; Protein 30g