Salmon with quinoa & butternut squash

Generally, when people talk about healthy food, the first thing that crosses their minds is something green and without any taste. But healthy does not always have to equate with not tasty or not filling. As you already know I am a huge fan of salmon and ever since I found the place to buy fresh salmon here in Singapore, I've been having it once or twice a week. Salmon, in my opinion, is one of those healthy foods that tastes absolutely divine and with all those good Omega-3 fats it should find its way to our plates more often. Also, I have rediscovered quinoa. I had this super-food when I did a weeklong detox with my best friends during spring and hadn't made it ever since, but I am sure that from now on it will be a regular in my menu - be it as a side dish or a salad base. This small seed is high in protein, calcium, iron, dietary fibre and it works great as a substitute for rice. With all these super-foods I decided to add some vegetable to finish the dish off. And the result? Incredibly filling, tasty and healthy meal that will keep you full for a long time. And the bonus is that it is nice and hot so its perfect for those dark cold winter nights when you want something warm and hearty.

Ingredients
(Serves 1)
- 40g quinoa
- 125-150 ml water
- 150g salmon
- 200g butternut squash
- 1 tsp mixed herbs
- Salt
- 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- Lemon, to serve

Directions
First, preheat the oven to 200C. Then soak the quinoa for about 5 minutes and then rinse. While the quinoa is soaking, prepare the butternut squash. Peel the squash, chop it into small cubes and place in a bowl. Sprinkle with olive oil, herbs and some salt and mix well. Place into an ovenproof dish and bake for around 20-25 minutes.

To prepare the quinoa, bring the water to boil in a small pan and add the quinoa. Boil for around 15-20 minutes until soft. Make sure it doesn't burn and if necessary add some more water (cooking a small quantity is a bit trickier than large quantity of quinoa).

Start preparing the salmon when you've got 10-12 minutes left until quinoa and squash are ready. Pour hot water in the pot, insert a steamer and place the salmon on top (skin down). Sprinkle with some salt and pepper and steam for around 10-12 minutes.

To serve, place the quinoa, butternut squash and salmon on a plate, decorate with some herbs and a slice of lemon.