Baked Salmon with Sweet Potato and Steamed Broccoli

Ingredients

• Salmon fillet 120 g
• Sweet potato 200 g
• Broccoli florets 100 g
• Olive oil 1 tsp
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• Optional: lemon wedge 1 piece

Method

1. Preheat the oven. Set your oven to 200°C (about 400°F) and allow it to fully preheat. This ensures even cooking for the salmon and sweet potato.
   Tip: Preheating is important to get a nice bake texture on the salmon.
2. Prepare the sweet potato. Wash the sweet potato thoroughly to remove any dirt. You can peel it if you prefer, but leaving the skin on adds nutrients and texture. Cut the sweet potato into roughly 1-inch cubes for quicker, even baking.
   Tip: Cutting the sweet potato into similar-sized pieces helps them cook evenly.
3. Bake the sweet potato. Place the cubed sweet potatoes on a baking tray lined with parchment paper or lightly greased. Drizzle with half the olive oil and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss to coat evenly. Place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes, turning halfway through.
   Tip: Turning the sweet potatoes halfway ensures they brown evenly.
4. Prepare the salmon. While the sweet potatoes start baking, pat the salmon fillet dry with paper towels. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the salmon and season both sides with salt and pepper.
   Tip: Drying the salmon helps the oil and seasoning stick better.
5. Add salmon to bake. After the sweet potatoes have baked for about 10 minutes, place the salmon fillet on the baking tray alongside the sweet potatoes. Return the tray to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the salmon flakes easily with a fork and is cooked through.
   Tip: Check the salmon at 12 minutes to avoid overcooking; it should be opaque and flake easily.
6. Steam the broccoli. While the salmon and sweet potatoes finish baking, bring a pot of water to boil with a steamer basket set above it. Place the broccoli florets in the steamer basket, cover with a lid, and steam for about 5-7 minutes until bright green and tender but still crisp.
   Tip: Avoid overcooking the broccoli; it should retain some crunch for best texture and nutrients.
7. Plate and serve. Arrange the baked salmon, sweet potatoes, and steamed broccoli on a plate. Optionally, squeeze fresh lemon juice over the salmon for added flavor. Serve immediately while warm.
   Tip: Lemon juice enhances the flavor of the salmon and adds freshness.

Pro tips

• Use a meat thermometer to check salmon internal temperature; it should reach 63°C (145°F) for safe consumption.
• If you don't have a steamer basket, you can steam broccoli by placing it in a colander over boiling water and covering it with a lid.