What really elevates this dish is the saffron mayo aioli. Made with just mayonnaise, garlic, saffron, lemon juice and olive oil. I used a mortar & pestle to make the sauce, but you can also use a food processor or even a handheld blender.
TIPS & TRICKS to make this Recipe: When adding the spinach into the pan, make sure to add it in batches. That way it doesn´t overcrowd the pan. Just mix it, and within seconds it will easily wilt. This dish will hold for up to 3 days in the fridge in an air-tight container.
Spanish Salmon and Spinach
Watch Albert preparing this recipe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5nerar5WhU
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 45 ml
- 4 salmon fillets 4 oz / 125 grams each
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 4 cloves garlilc (roughly chopped)
- 1 tsp sweet smoked Spanish paprika 2.50 grams
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1 gram
- 2 tomatoes
- 10 oz fresh spinach 300 grams
- pinch sea salt
- dash black pepper
FOR THE SAFFRON MAYO AIOLI
- 2 cloves garlic (roughly chopped)
- 1/4 tsp saffron threads .17 grams
- 1/2 cup low fat mayonnaise 120 grams
- 1 tsp lemon juice 5 ml
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 15 ml
- pinch sea salt
- dash black pepper
Instructions
- Heat a large fry pan with a medium heat
- Meanwhile, pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels, then drizzle them with a little extra virgin olive oil and rub all over, season with sea salt & black pepper
- Add the salmon fillets into the hot pan, all in a single layer, cook for 1 minute per side, then remove from the pan and set aside
- Using the same pan with the same heat, add in 2 tbsp (30 ml) extra virgin olive oil, immediately add in the onion and garlic, mix continuously, after 3 to 4 minutes and the onion is translucent, add in the paprika and cumin, quickly mix together, then add in the tomates finely grated, mix together and then simmer without mixing
- In the meantime, roughly chop the spinach
- Once the grated tomato has slightly thickened, about 4 minutes, add in the spinach and mix so it easily wilts, add in batches to not overcrowd the pan
- When all the spinach has been added and it´s lightly wilted, season with sea salt & black pepper, mix together, then add the salmon fillets back into the pan, all in a single layer, place a lid on the pan and simmer
- In the meantime make the aioli, add in 2 cloves garlic roughly chopped into a mortar, along with the saffron and a pinch of sea salt, using a pestle mash together until you form a paste-like texture, then add in the mayonnaise, lemon juice, olive oil and season with sea salt & black pepper, mix together until you get a creamy sauce
- Once the salmon fillets are fully cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes, remove the pan from the heat, transfer into serving dishes and top off with the saffron mayo aioli, serve at once, enjoy!