The ultimate weeknight dinner, this salmon is on the table in less than 15 minutes from the time the pan hits the stove. With the addition of the fish fillets, the pan temperature drops; compensate for the heat loss by keeping the heat on medium-high for 30 seconds after adding them. If cooking two or three fillets instead of the full recipe of four, use a 10-inch skillet and medium-high heat for both preheating the pan and cooking the salmon. A splatter screen helps reduce the mess of pan-searing. Serve salmon with a sweet and sour chutney (see related recipe), a fresh salsa, an herb-spiked vinaigrette, or squirt of lemon or lime.

ready in about 20 minutes; serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • Table salt and ground black pepper
  • canola oil or vegetable oil
Rich salmon takes well to a spicy black and green peppercorn coating. Sweet soy sauce (kecap manis) is an Indonesian condiment made with palm sugar; it’s available in Asian supermarkets.

CALORIES 297(43% from fat); FAT 14.3g (sat 3.3g,mono 6.1g,poly 3.7g); PROTEIN 37.5g; CHOLESTEROL 87mg; CALCIUM 54mg; SODIUM 723mg; FIBER 1g; IRON 1.1mg; CARBOHYDRATE 2.2g

ready in about 30 minutes; serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • sesame seeds
  • freshly ground green peppercorns
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • grated orange rind
  • sea salt
  • Cooking spray
  • sweet soy sauce

CALORIES 96(27% from fat); FAT 2.9g (sat 1.7g,mono 0.6g,poly 0.1g); PROTEIN 3.5g; CHOLESTEROL 8mg; CALCIUM 37mg; SODIUM 159mg; FIBER 0.9g; IRON 0.7mg; CARBOHYDRATE 13.6g

ready in about an hour and a half; serves 12
You might need to buy:
  • olive oil
  • Cooking spray
  • fat-free milk
  • butter
  • black pepper

CALORIES 252 (37% from fat); FAT 10.3g (sat 2.3, mono 4.4, poly 2.5); PROTEIN 27.7g; CARB 11g; FIBER .1g; CHOL 65mg; IRON .9mg; SODIUM 470mg; CALC 33mg

ready in about 30 minutes; serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • dark brown sugar
  • low-sodium soy sauce
  • Chinese-style hot mustard
  • rice vinegar
  • Cooking spray
  • salt
  • freshly ground black pepper