Walnut Crusted Seared Wasabi Salmon with Warm Napa Cabbage Salad is a heart healthy meal, featuring salmon, walnuts, napa cabbage, and whole grain brown rice.
February is American Heart Month and a group of health minded bloggers are gathering around to share lots of heart healthy recipes this week with a Gluten-Free & Heart Healthy recipe roundup. It’s my turn today, and I’m sharing a dish chock full of heart healthy ingredients – Walnut Crusted Seared Wasabi Salmon served with a tangy Warm Napa Cabbage Salad and Steamed Brown Rice.
Before we get to the recipe, I’d like to take a moment to share some heart healthy tidbits since what we eat can have a huge impact on heart health. There is no silver bullet food that will on its own prevent heart disease; rather, it’s important to eat a well-balanced diet that includes a wide variety of heart-healthy, nutrient-rich foods to ensure that our bodies get the maximum benefit of all the phytonutrients available to us to help prevent and repair cell damage.
[rss-cut]
Eating a wide assortment of whole foods (natural, unprocessed foods) is important to heart health. Fruits (blueberries, oranges, mangoes, papaya) and vegetables (carrots, spinach, broccoli, sweet potato, red bell pepper, asparagus, tomatoes, acorn squash) come in all different shapes, colors and sizes, and each one contains a powerful dose of phytonutrients that helps prevent heart disease by wiping out free radicals.
Just as important are whole grains (oatmeal, brown rice), beans and legumes (black beans, kidney beans, soybeans), nuts and seeds (walnuts, almonds, flaxseed), fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines), and teas, which are also rich in heart-protective phytonutrients. Another important element in a heart healthy diet is food that is low in sodium.
Since each food has its own unique nutrition profile, we need to eat a variety of these heart-healthy foods to get the full spectrum of nutrients and receive the most heart protective qualities.
Let’s take a look at all the heart healthy ingredients in today’s recipe:
- Walnuts – good fat, good source of protein, fiber
- Salmon – rich in omega-3 fatty acids
- Napa Cabbage – cruciferous vegetable, milder tasting variety of cabbage with highest concentration of folate, high in vitamin K and C
- Carrots – high in vitamins A, K, C, and potassium; good source of fiber
- Red Bell Peppers – high in vitamins C, A , B6 and folate
- Brown Rice – high in manganese, selenium, magnesium and tryptophan; rich in fiber
- Sesame Seeds – high in copper, manganese, tryptophan, calcium, magnesium, iron and phosphorus; good source of fiber
- Olive Oil – heart healthy monounsaturated fatty acid
I’ve also prepared this dish in a heart healthy manner, using a little bit of monounsaturated fat – Olive Oil, and low-sodium soy sauce.
This salad is a twist on the Chopped Salmon Walnut Arugula Salad with Honey Wasabi Vinaigrette I made last year. The Warm Napa Cabbage Salad or slaw is perfect for the winter, while the Walnut Crusted Seared Wasabi Salmon is barely cooked (I love sushi). Be good to yourself and make this heart healthy dish for lunch or dinner. Your heart will thank you.
This meal has 541 calories, 31.8 grams fat, 3.7 grams saturated fat, 46.8 grams cholesterol, 377 mg sodium, 5.8 grams fiber, 25.5 grams protein.
Today, I’m featuring Walnuts as a Power Food. Walnuts are considered to be one of the best nuts for heart health. It’s easy to see why Walnuts are considered to be a Power Food once you take a look at all the benefits:
- Walnuts are an excellent source of heart healthy monounsaturated fats, which can reduce cardiovascular risk factors, including total cholesterol and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.
- Walnuts are packed with Omega-3 Fatty Acids in the form of ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), which is a precursor to the EPA and DHA found in fish. Diets rich in ALA are associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and lower levels of cholesterol.
- Walnuts also contain relatively high levels of the amino acid l-arginine, which may help with hypertension.
- Walnuts contain powerful antioxidants. Approximately 90% of the phenols in walnuts are found in the skin, including key phenolic acids, tannins, and flavonoids, so it’s best to eat walnuts with the skin on.
- Walnuts contain vitamin E in the form of gamma-tocopherol (versus alpha-tocopherol), which has been shown to provide significant protection from heart problems in studies on the cardiovascular health of men.
- Walnuts are a concentrated source of sleep-promoting tryptophan.
A quarter cup of walnuts contains 164 calories, and provides 6.7% DV dietary fiber, 90.8% DV Omega-3 Fatty Acids, 42.5% DV Manganese, 20% DV Copper, and 15.6% Tryptophan.
For more Heart Healthy recipe inspiration, check out this Heart Healthy Recipes Pinterest Board.
More Recipes with Walnuts (gluten-free)
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cranberry Walnut Cookies
Stir-Fry Spicy Kung Pao Chicken with Walnut
Chopped Salmon Arugula Walnut Salad with Wasabi Vinaigrette
Roasted Red Pepper Dip with Walnuts (Muhammara)
Georgian Spinach Walnut Balls
Eggplant and Walnut Dip
Roasted Beet, Apple and Walnut Salad
Quinoa Coconut Walnut Crunch Yogurt Berry Parfait
Chocolate Dipped Apricots with Nuts
Homemade Walnut Butter, My Healthy Eating Habits
Walnut Chutney, Spice Roots
Cheesy Pasta with Spinach Walnut Pesto, My Sweet and Savory
Leek Fennel Soup with Walnut Pesto, More Time At The Table
More Heart Healthy Recipes (gluten-free)
Soy Sesame Salmon Tartare
Honey Miso Glazed Salmon and Soba Noodles Soup
Stir-Fry Bok Choy with Shitake Mushrooms and Peppers
Stir-Fry Broccoli and Red Bell Pepper
Roasted Cauliflower with Potatoes
Rice Cooker Quinoa Pilaf with Mushrooms and Vegetables
Vegetarian Fried Rice
Burmese Fried Rice with Peas
Hot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Savory Asian-Inspired Oatmeal
Steel Cut Oatmeal with Blueberry Compote
Walnut Crusted Seared Wasabi Salmon with Warm Napa Cabbage Salad
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup steamed brown rice
Walnut Crusted Seared Wasabi Salmon
- 1/8 teaspoon wasabi powder
- 1/2 teaspoon gluten-free low-sodium soy sauce
- 3 ounces fresh salmon sushi grade
- 1 ounce walnuts raw
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Warm Napa Cabbage Salad
- 1 teaspoon gluten-free low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 dried red hot chile pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger minced
- 1 cup Napa cabbage
- 1/4 cup carrot thinly sliced (I used a peeler)
- 1/4 cup red bell pepper cut into slivers
- 1 teaspoon rice wine
Instructions
Walnut Crusted Seared Wasabi Salmon
-
Mix together wasabi powder and soy sauce in a small bowl. Rub all over salmon. Let marinade for 5-10 minutes.
-
Place walnuts in a small sandwich bag and pound into smaller pieces using a rolling pin. You can do this in a mortar and pestle or food processor (pulse it). Roll all sides of salmon in crushed walnuts.
-
Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet. Sear walnut crusted salmon until desired doneness. Remove from pan. Slice crosswise into pieces.
Warm Napa Cabbage Salad
-
In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, vinegar and honey.
-
Heat sesame oil in a saute pan. Add chile pepper and ginger. Saute 10-15 seconds, and add cabbage, carrot and red pepper. Saute a minute. Add rice wine and saute another minute. Turn off heat and stir in soy sauce mixture. Toss.
To Serve
-
Place warm brown rice in a bowl or on a plate. Arrange Warm Napa Cabbage Salad alongside rice. Gently place slices of Walnut Crusted Seared Wasabi Salmon next to salad.
Recipe Notes
Cabbage salad adapted from A Spoonful of Ginger by Nina Simonds.
Raw or undercooked fish is not advised for people with weak immune systems, including young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with cancer. Cook fish thoroughly if you have a weak immune system.
If you like this If you like this Walnut Crusted Seared Wasabi Salmon with Warm Napa Cabbage Salad, you might also like:
Asian Salmon Arugula Napa Cabbage Mango Salad
References
The World’s Healthiest Foods: Walnuts
WebMd – 25 Top Heart Healthy Foods
WebMd – Walnuts May Be Top Nut For Heart Health
Roasted Beet, Grilled Corn, Tomato Salad with Montamore Cheese and Walnuts Recipe
18
Maple-Glazed Salmon with Walnut Oil Vinaigrette {Gluten-Free and Heart Healthy 2013}
18
I am not big on raw fish but I would love to make the coating on cooked salmon. It sounds delicious.
This recipe is not gluten free due to the use of soy sauce. While any GF eater would be aware of this, someone preparing a meal for a friend, a considerate gesture, would contaminate the recipe.
Hi Emily – thanks for the catch – I have noted gluten-free soy sauce in the ingredients list along with a link for a gluten-free low-sodium soy sauce in case anyone needs help identifying this product.
Yum Jeanette – this looks amazing!
Thanks Alyssa – I love sushi and seared fish – so glad you like this!
Funny that we both chose salmon for our heart healthy dish. Yours looks great, Jeanette!
We both had salmon and salad on the mind Carolyn! I have to try yours – it looks fantastic.
This looks so delicious, and I love that it’s heart healthy! Great recipe!
Thanks Georgia – I tried to pack in as many heart healthy ingredients as possible into this dish, so I’m glad you like it. It is also really delicious.
Jeanette,
This was the perfect choice since walnuts are also the topic of the 38 Power Foods this week. This is an incredibly healthy dish, and delicious too. I’d be concerned about serving it to cancer patients because according to the FDA, they fall into the category of people more likely to become ill after eating undercooked or raw food.
Thanks Mireya – great point – I have noted that raw/undercooked fish is not advised for people with weak immune systems, including young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with cancer.
Wasabi salmon…that sounds really intriguing! I have always love salmon (esp. with teriyaki), now this is a must try too.
I think salmon and walnuts work great together. Love this complete meal with brown rice and salad added. Excellent recipe.
Great site and great work in getting the message of Healthy Living out!
– The Healthful Chef
As a salmon and wasabi lover, all I can say is this dish looks absolutely delicious!
Fantastic salmon idea, Jeanette. I can’t get enough of new salmon recipes. The flavors are really wonderful and healthy.
What a gorgeous combination Jeanette. How fabulous, walnuts, wasabi, salmon (I love it raw:) and cabbage. Perfectly balanced.
What a delicious, balanced recipe and beautiful photos. I am so impressed by your vast knowledge of flavors and nutrition. It is pure fun to scroll through your blog!
Thanks so much Shanna – glad you found my blog. Hope you come back again soon!