Simple and delish, Harissa Salmon with Kale is a dinner win-win.
I used to be so nervous to cook fish – especially salmon! I was always worried I would overcook it, and it would end up rubbery and tasteless. And it’s not like salmon is cheap! I didn’t want to risk wasting food.
It turns out – I had nothing to worry about. Salmon is so easy to cook – whether baking or frying.
Fish and shellfish, in general,l are very keto-friendly foods. Salmon is rich in B vitamins, potassium, and selenium, and is virtually carb-free.
I really enjoy pairing salmon with spicy flavors. Before I was eating low carb, I used to love spicy salmon California rolls! I think it pairs so well because – despite having a delicate flavor – the fattiness of the fish can stand up to spices.
In this particular Harissa Salmon with Kale recipe, the spice and heat come from harissa paste.
I’ve been asked if spinach can be used instead of kale. While it can, I wouldn’t actually recommend it for this recipe specifically. Kale is a lot ‘hardier’ than spinach and holds up better in the oven. The end result of this dish would be quite different from soft, wilted spinach.
What Is Harissa
Harissa is a chile paste known for being spicy and aromatic. It is a staple in North African and Middle Eastern cooking. You’ll find different variations of harissa, but a standard recipe will include hot chile peppers (often smoked), garlic, olive, and spices such as cumin, coriander, caraway, and mint.
Harissa packs quite a punch, and a little goes a long way! A jar of harissa paste will probably last you quite a while.
What Is A Substitute For Harissa?
If you don’t have any harissa paste on hand for your Harissa Salmon with Kale, you can use a number of substitutes. You could use chile paste or a blend of chopped fresh chilies and caraway seeds. For a milder option, you can substitute the harissa paste for hot sauce.
More Keto Recipes to Try:
- Keto Garlic and Rosemary Dinner Rolls
- 20-Minute Keto Bagel
- Keto Sushi
- Italian Chicken and Veggie Sheet Pan Dinner
- Keto Pork and Radish Hash
Harissa Salmon with Kale
Ingredients
- 4-4oz wild salmon filets
- 2 oz Harissa paste (or hot chili paste)
- 1⁄4 cup olive oil
- 1 bag of kale
- 2 garlic cloves
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- In a small bowl, combine harissa paste, olive oil, and chopped garlic.
- Brush the sauce on salmon. Leave 1 tbsp aside for kale.
- Toss the remainder of the sauce in kale.
- Place kale on a sheet pan and top with salmon. Season with salt and pepper.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until the fish is 145° F.
Nutrition Information
Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 364Total Fat 17gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 0mgCarbohydrates 10gFiber 6gSugar 0gProtein 44g
Check out my Keto Kale Salad recipe for more options!
This salmon was so good! I never used harissa paste before so I was a little hesitant but it turned out amazing!
New favorite way to eat salmon! Incredible! Part of my weekly rotation now. Before, I would always dry out wild salmon. The flavor is amazing, the kale is wonderful, and it’s SO fast and easy. I even use that sauce to make just a full pan of kale on other days. Thank you!
Christine, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review it means so much to me!