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Crave

Greens, fruit add pops of color and flavor

PHOTO COURTESY NEW YORK TIMES

You’d think the star of this dish is the slab of salmon — and you’d be right — but what makes it sing is the surprising pairing of ginger and dill on top. Those two ingredients also season a refreshing citrus salad, crunchy with spicy radishes and creamy with avocado. Piled on top of the fish, which is gently baked to a buttery medium-rare, it turns this into a meal that tastes as good warm as it does at room temperature.

Ginger-dill salmon

Ingredients:

• 1 (1 1/2-pound) salmon fillet, skin-on or skinless
Kosher salt and black pepper
• 6 tablespoons dill, finely chopped
• 1 (2-inch) piece ginger, scrubbed and finely grated (no need to peel)
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
• 1 grapefruit
• 2 oranges
• 6 small radishes, cut into thin wedges
• 1 avocado
Flaky sea salt, for finishing (optional)

Directions:

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Pat the salmon dry, then place on the tray skin-side down (if there is skin) and season with salt and pepper.

In a medium bowl, stir together the dill, ginger and olive oil until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Spread half of the dill-ginger mixture over the top of the salmon. Bake until cooked through, 15-20 minutes.

As the salmon cooks, cut off the top and bottom of the grapefruit and set the grapefruit down on one of the cut sides. Follow the curve of the fruit to cut away the peel and pith. Squeeze the peels into the dill-ginger mixture to get out any juice. Cut the fruit in half from top to bottom, then slice into 1/4-inch-thick half-moons and remove the seeds. If your pieces are especially large, halve them again.

Transfer the fruit and any juice on the cutting board to the bowl; repeat with the oranges. Add the radishes, season generously with salt. Stir gently to combine.

Break the salmon into large pieces, and divide across plates with the citrus salad. Peel and pit the avocado, then quarter lengthwise and add to plates. Season with salt.

Spoon the juices from the bowl over the top, and season with black pepper, another drizzle of olive oil and flaky sea salt, if using.

Total time: 25 minutes, serves 4.

Tips:

The salad and salmon can be made two days ahead and refrigerated. They can be served room temperature or cold, depending on your preference.

You can also consider garnishing with colorful toppings such as baby greens, thinly sliced cucumbers or fennel, roasted beets, soba noodles, tostadas, furikake or chile oil.

© 2021 The New York Times Company

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