Brain Food: Broiled Salmon and Roasted Garlic Cream Noodles

Fatty fish like sardines and salmon are a well-known brain booster, thanks to the omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, which have been linked to lower risk of dementia as well as improved focus and memory. But since most of us don’t really consider sardines a part of our normal diet, we bring you this delicious Broiled Salmon and Roasted Garlic Cream Noodles with Crispy Cauliflower and Toasted Pine Nuts. Your taste buds will thank you and your brain will rejoice!

Broiled Salmon and Roasted Garlic Cream Noodles with Crispy Cauliflower + Toasted Pine Nuts

Photo and Recipe courtesy of How Sweet it Is

Yield: Serves 4

Total Time: < 1 Hour

Ingredients:

Salmon
1 pound of fresh salmon, about 1 inch in thickness
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar

Roasted garlic cream noodles
3/4 pound whole wheat linguine, spaghetti or cappelini
1 head of cauliflower, chopped into florets
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup pine nuts
1 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup half and half
2 bulbs of roasted garlic
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
pinch of nutmeg
2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley
1 tablespoon freshly chopped basil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Toss chopped cauliflower with salt, pepper and olive oil, then place on the baking sheet. Roast for 20-30 minutes, tossing 2-3 times during cooking, until charred and crispy.

While cauliflower is roasting, prepare water for pasta, bring to a boil and cook according to directions. On a cutting board, squeeze out roasted garlic cloves and used a fork, mash into a smooth paste.

Place pine nuts in a small saucepan over medium-low heat and cook until toasted and slightly fragrant, tossing with a wooden spoon. This should take about 5-6 minutes. Set aside.

In a large skillet, heat butter oven medium heat and once sizzling, whisk in flour to create a roux. Stir for 1-2 minutes until golden, then add in milk and half/half. Whisk constantly until milk thickens a bit, about 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat and whisk in roasted garlic (paste), cheese and nutmeg. Taste and season with salt and pepper as desired. Toss the pasta in the sauce and using kitchen tongs, toss to coat. Top with crispy cauliflower, pine nuts and chopped herbs. Serve with salmon on the side.

Salmon
In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder and brown sugar, mixing thoroughly. Rub evenly over salmon. (If your salmon has skin, you can rub about half of the mixture on the non-skin side. When I buy salmon with skin, I prefer to broil it skin-side down as it’s easier to remove after.)

Preheat the broiler in your oven to high and place an oven rack right below it. Place the salmon on a broiler pan or baking sheet. Broil for 5-6 minutes, flip and then broil for 5-6 minutes more. If the salmon has skin, I tend to broil for about 8-10 minutes total, skin-side down.