Garlic honey salmon with Orzo Salad

As a busy working Mama, I'm always on the hunt for simple meals, especially on weeknights. This flavorful salmon dish was a major win!🙌

Okay so...

Let me preface this by saying, life can be really crazy sometimes at my house. My husband and I both work hybrid- home and office- and own national companies. I homeschool our two boys ( one in middle school and the other special needs), while also balancing home-cooked meals, sourdough making, community outreach and all the in-between family activities. It sounds hectic, but it's everything I prayed for.

However...in the midst of the crazy, sometimes I just don't have time to meal prep on weekends or create a dinner from scratch that is super time-consuming. I also don't want to order takeout or uber eats because the food quality is horrible and we never feel good afterwards. That's why I'm grateful for simple, wholesome dishes I can put together quickly without compromising nutrition.

I use wild-caught salmon that I purchased from Whole Foods (frozen), and made sure to take it out the night before to thaw in the fridge. It marinates in a simple garlic-honey sauce- which adds so much flavor, you cannot help but love the first bite.

The orzo cooks quickly, and you'll want to strain it and rinse in cold water- setting aside to cool. Oh...and may I make a recommendation on my favorite strainer? I found a set of stainless steel mesh strainers that I absolutely LOVE....it comes in three sizes and are so handy to have in your kitchen! Check them out HERE.

I love simple ingredients but am also a girl who craves flavor! I have learned that even during quick dinner nights, I can still enjoy the process of preparing a meal for my family. Part of that for me is incorporating more natural, safe tools in my kitchen such as wooden cutting boards, glass mixing bowls, stainless steel cookware...and pretty serving bowls!

Okay, a few more quick things. Cook your peas and drain them, rinsing in cold water. I used Cascading Farms organic sweet peas. Chop your arugula and squeeze fresh lemon juice, drizzling olive oil to start ruminating with the greens. In this recipe, you'll want to season, add olive oil and lemon to taste. So I recommend tasting the orzo salad and making sure it has all the flavor your heart desires.

Here's the Recipe: Enjoy!

Marinate the Salmon:

Mix honey, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt,pepper, and olive oil in a small bow (I used about 1/4 cup of honey and the same amount of olive oil for four 6 oz salmon fillets)

Coat the salmon fillets with the marinade and et them sit for 15 minutes.

Cook the Orzo:

Boil the orzo in salted water according to package instructions (about 8 minutes). Drain and rinse under cold water.

In a large bowl, toss the orzo with peas, crumbled feta, chopped arugula, olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

Grill the Salmon:

Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and lightly oil the pan. Grill the salmon for 3-4 minutes per side, or until cooked through.

Assemble:

Serve the grilled salmon over the orzo salad. I like to make sure the salmon is slightly browned and the honey-garlic sauce has caramelized. Oooooh the flavor!!!

So easy, right? I add the marinade back into the skillet as the salmon is cooking. Start with the pink side down on the pan.

This was so good that even my two boys loved it! It's light, filling, flavorful and delicious. You just can't go wrong!