Whole Baked Salmon with Chimichurri Sauce

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of  Kaiser Permanente. Opinions and text are all mine.

This Whole Baked Salmon with Chimichurri Sauce uses farmer’s market ingredients to deliver a dish with healthy fats…and it’s easier to make than you think.

Creating healthy recipes is one of my favorite parts of the work that I do, and I would have to say exploring new places is another benefit. When those two worlds combine, I get excited to share with you so that you can not only try out what I make, but also so you can experience it too!

Shopping at the Farmers Market

I recently visited the new Farmers Market at Thrive City, a community space created by Kaiser Permanente and the Golden State Warriors right outside the Chase Center in San Francisco. I haven’t been there yet for a basketball game, but to go to shop for food is my kind of visit! If you’re looking for some fresh, local produce, and maybe even a shot at a free throw, the Farmer’s Market at Thrive City is a great place to visit.

I really appreciate how one location can weave in such a feeling of total health. First of all, it’s at the Chase Center where so many people witness basketball stars do their best on the court. But Thrive City also allows the community to have the ability to thrive with their year-round health and wellness programming right outside of the venue, so check it out if you’re looking for some yoga, run clubs, tai chi, or even shooting some hoops.

I had the pleasure of meeting up with Dr. Linda Shiue, Kaiser’s Director of Culinary Medicine and chef at Thrive Kitchen, to help me pick out some ingredients for a new recipe. Since February is American Heart Month, I wanted to focus on heart healthy ingredients, and I’m happy that I had a doctor in the house to help me. She suggested starting with salmon, since it is rich in protein for building muscle and tissues, but also because it has omega-3s fatty acids that are so beneficial for the heart. Our bodies cannot produce enough omega-3’s on their own, so we have to supplement it with our diet and salmon is one of my favorite ways!

Shopping at the Farmers Market

We found some beautiful garlic at one of the booths, and Dr. Shuie informed me that garlic is also good for heart health. I love garlic enough as it is for its low-calorie flavor, but now that I know it’s good for the heart too, I will be sure to eat more of it during American Hearth Month.

Dr.Shiue also suggested whole grains like brown rice, and also some good fats, like those found in avocados. That gave me the idea to make one of my favorite dishes, Whole Baked Salmon with Chimichurri Sauce, but to add a little twist to it. Since the focus this month is on a healthy heart, I wanted to make this healthy recipe even better!

My Whole Baked Salmon with Chimichurri Sauce is really easy to make because it’s all on one baking sheet. I love recipes like this because it takes a lot of stress off of cooking, especially with salmon as it can be challenging on the stove top. But by cooking it on the sheet pan, you don’t have to worry about flipping it over, and you are dealing with less dishes. That’s a win for me!

Whole Baked Salmon with Chimichurri Sauce

I decided on Chimichurri Sauce because it’s packed with flavor, and it adds a gorgeous contrasting color to your dish. Since the farmers market had parsley and garlic, that was an easy choice. I just blend the ingredients up while the tray is cooking in the oven, and pour it over the salmon before serving. But since I want to focus on healthy hearts and also use fresh local ingredients from the farmers market, I added a few ingredients that aren’t in the traditional recipes. I added some cilantro from the market to give this a California flavor, and I also added some avocado. This makes it creamy and also gives it a boost of those good healthy fats.

Whole Baked Salmon with Chimichurri Sauce

I had a great time for my first visit to the Farmers Market at Thrive City and I’m looking forward to going back again. I just love farmers markets since you get to see what’s in season and speak directly with the farmers themselves. You can check out the Farmers Market at Thrive City every Sunday from 8am-1pm.