Lunch: Pistachio-Crusted Chinook Salmon with Ginger-Cardamom Yogurt Sauce, Glazed Beets and Grilled Summer Squash

Ingredients

1/2 cup regular yogurt
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
2 to 3 tablespoons Ginger Syrup, recipe follows
1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon sushi ginger, finely chopped, plus 2 teaspoons liquid
10 to 15 cardamom pods, seeds removed and finely crushed
Zest and juice of 1 lime, plus more juice to taste
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

For the ginger-cardamom yogurt sauce: Combine the yogurts, Ginger Syrup, cilantro, ginger, cardamom and lime juice in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper, and then adjust the seasoning with a little more lime juice, if necessary. Keep cold until ready to serve.
For the glazed beets: Fill a medium saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Boil the beets until fork tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain the beets, reserving about 1 cup of the cooking liquid, and then peel and quarter.
Stir together the reserved cooking liquid, sugar, vinegar and ginger in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and let the sugar dissolve in the liquid, about 3 minutes. Whisk together the apple juice and cornstarch in a small bowl until the cornstarch is fully dissolved, and then pour into the saucepan with the orange juice and zest. Bring back to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer and cook until the starch is cooked out and the mixture thickens, another 5 minutes. Toss the beets in the glaze to coat. Keep warm.
For the grilled summer squash: Preheat the grill or grill pan to medium-low. Mix together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar and some salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Toss the summer squash in the oil and vinegar, shaking off any excess, and then grill until grill marks appear, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
For the pistachio-crusted salmon: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Cut parchment paper to fit the size of a large saute pan, and then fit inside the pan and place the salmon on top. Sprinkle the fillets with salt and pepper, and then drizzle with olive oil and lightly press the pistachios onto the fish. Squeeze the lime juice on top and dot with cold butter.
Cook the salmon in the oven until just opaque, 6 to 8 minutes, depending on your desired doneness.
To plate, place grilled squash on the plate, top with glazed beets, and then lay the salmon over the vegetables. Spoon a little yogurt sauce onto the plate and garnish with candied ginger. Serve immediately.
This recipe was provided by a chef, restaurant or culinary professional and may have been scaled down from a bulk recipe. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.
Combine the sugar with 1/2 cup water and the ginger in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook until reduced to a syrup-like consistency. Let cool slightly, and then strain the syrup.
Add some sugar to a bowl and toss in the cooked ginger coins until fully coated. Remove, shaking off the excess, and set on a plate to dry slightly.

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