SLOW-ROASTED SALMON WITH CHERRY TOMATOES AND COUSCOUS

Slow-Roasted Salmon with Cherry Tomatoes and Couscous image

Provided by Jeff Cerciello

Yield Makes 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 23

Yogurt sauce:
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup plain yogurt
3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
Kosher salt
Salmon:
6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/2 bunch dill fronds
1/2 bunch thyme sprigs
1 3-pound piece center-cut skin-on salmon fillet, preferably wild king, pin bones removed
Kosher salt
8 ounces small cherry tomatoes on the vine (optional)
Tomatoes and couscous:
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
2 tablespoons za'atar (optional)
Kosher salt
2 cups Israeli couscous
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Ingredient info: Za'atar, a Middle Eastern spice blend that includes sumac, herbs, and sesame seeds, is available at specialty foods stores, Middle Eastern markets, and igourmet.com.

Steps:

For yogurt sauce:
Mix first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl until well combined. Season with salt. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.
For salmon:
Preheat oven to 325°F. Pour 4 tablespoons oil in a roasting pan just large enough to fit the salmon. Make a bed of herbs in bottom of pan; top with salmon, skin side down. Drizzle salmon with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and season with salt. Top with tomatoes, if using. Bake until salmon is just cooked through in the center (a small knife will slide easily through flesh), 25-30 minutes.
For tomatoes and couscous:
Toss tomatoes with 3 tablespoons oil, parsley, and za'atar, if using, in a medium bowl. Season to taste with salt. Set aside.
Bring a medium pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add couscous and cook until tender, about 7 minutes. Drain couscous; transfer to a large bowl. Stir in butter and remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Season to taste with salt. Gently fold tomatoes into couscous.
Use a large spoon or fork to serve salmon, leaving skin in pan. Serve with yogurt sauce and couscous.