SUMAC BAKED FISH WITH SAFFRON QUINOA

Sumac Baked Fish With Saffron Quinoa image

Provided by Najmieh Batmanglij

Yield 4-6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 25

Saffron Quinoa:
3 cups (540g) quinoa
4 cups (950ml) water
2 teaspoons fine sea salt
¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
¼ teaspoon ground saffron
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
Sumac rub:
2 teaspoons fine sea salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon turmeric
¼ cup sumac powder
Fish:
4 fillets of salmon, striped bass, or catfish (each ½ in (1cm) thick; about 2 lb (900g) total weight)
2 tablespoons olive oil combined with 2 tablespoons lime juice
Green sauce topping:
¼ cup (55g) shelled walnuts, roughly chopped
1 cup (85g) basil, fresh, roughly chopped
1 cup (85g) cilantro, fresh, roughly chopped
1 cup (85g) mint, fresh, roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
2 tablespoons lime juice
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
¼ cup (60ml) olive oil

Steps:

For the quinoa:
Wash the quinoa by placing it in a fine-mesh colander and rinsing thoroughly.
Place all the ingredients in a large pot, stir gently for 1 minute to dissolve the salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 30 minutes, without stirring.
Fluff the cooked quinoa with a fork and reserve until ready to serve.
For the fish:
In a bowl, mix all the ingredients for the sumac rub and set aside.
Arrange the fish fillets, skin-side down on a rimmed sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Brush both sides with the olive oil and lime juice mixture. Sprinkle the sumac rub all over the fish. Cover with plastic wrap. Keep chilled in the fridge until ready to cook (15 minutes to 1 hour).
Shortly before you are ready to serve, preheat the oven to 450˚F (230˚C). Uncover the sheet pan, place it in the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until fish is cooked through.
Meanwhile, mix all the ingredients for the green sauce topping and set aside.
Remove the fish from the oven and place 1 tablespoon of the topping on each fillet. Serve with quinoa.