“Blood Orange Marinated Salmon Steaks”

Tis’ the season for blood oranges. The season doesn’t last long so get them while the getting is good. The juice from these oranges with their red to purple flesh yield some tasty citrus pleasure. Use blood orange juice in marinades as I did for my Blood Orange Marinated Salmon Steaks.

Not necessarily a juice to drink although you can but I find it’s best in marinades as I mentioned, in sauces, drinks and cocktails. Blood orange juice works well in making citrus glazes for vegetables like carrots and in salad dressings. Blood orange juice is both sweet and tart with a kind of floral note. The color of blood oranges is very appealing when peeled and sliced for fruit salads using grapefruit and other oranges such as Cara Cara’s. They’re delicious and worth seeking out. The time is now as mentioned the season is short, running from December to March or December to May depending on type of blood oranges available in your area.

Blood Orange Marinated Salmon Steaks

So, on with my recipe for Blood Orange Marinated Salmon Steaks. I love salmon steaks on the grill but we’re in the dead of winter and a market near me had some beautiful ones on ice. I’m really picky about where I buy my seafood and you should be too. During a busy workweek, easy meal prep is a must. As a result, mixing the marinade and letting your fish marinate for one hour is all the time you need besides the 25 to 30 minute baking time. While your salmon is marinating, prep your sides then all you have left is baking the salmon steaks. Yay in my book…don’t you agree?

When blood oranges are available look for fresh squeezed juice otherwise squeeze your own. Make sure you buy a few extra while you’re at it. Enjoy these little gems as long as you can. The marinade combines blood orange juice, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, fresh garlic, salt and pepper. Mix all ingredients together and place in Ziploc bag with salmon. Let salmon marinate in refrigerator for one hour and but no more than two because seafood will become mushy otherwise. Let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before baking. Place in baking dish and 25 to 30 minutes dinner’s on. You can taste every ingredient in this marinade within the fish. Slight salt and slightly sweet…Amazing…!!! If you have leftovers and I mean if, Blood Orange Marinated Salmon Steaks make a great additive to a salad of spring or baby greens. Try it and you’ll become a believer.

Blood Orange Marinated Salmon Steaks

Blood Orange Marinated Salmon Steaks

4 – 3/4 to 1-inch thick Salmon steaks, long bones removed if possible

2/3 cup blood orange juice

1 T. plus 1 t. honey

2 T. Tamari soy sauce

1 T. rice vinegar

1 garlic clove, minced

Pinch of salt

1/4 t. ground black pepper

In a small bowl, mix all ingredients except salmon. Pour marinade into a large Ziploc bag and add in salmon steaks. Close bag and marinate salmon in refrigerator for at least one hour but no more than two hours. Flip salmon every 30 minutes to marinate evenly. Let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Spray a large baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Discard marinade and place salmon in baking dish and sprinkle lightly with additional salt and pepper if desired then bake at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until desired doneness is reached. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.