Salmon With Creamy Cucumber-Fennel Salad

This decidedly grown-up dinner delivers crispy but moist salmon alongside a creamy, crunchy cucumber salad. Serve the duo with a slice of rye bread for a Nordic meal that’s as elegant as it is delicious. Better still? The whole thing’s ready in 20 minutes or less: As the salmon fillets roast in the oven, you’ll make the surprisingly healthy salad, thanks to a Greek yogurt-based dressing. Look for fennel at grocery stores and farmers markets in fall and winter when the herbal anise-flavored vegetable is in season; this recipe uses the bulb and a bit of the fronds to make the most of it.

Ingredients

• 4 6-ounce pieces skinless salmon fillet
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced
• ½ cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1 fennel bulb, cored and thinly sliced, plus 2 tablespoons chopped fennel fronds
• ½ English cucumber, thinly sliced
• rye bread, for serving

• • How to Make It

    Step 1

    Heat oven to 400° F. Rub the salmon with the oil and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Season with the cayenne and ¼ teaspoon each salt and black pepper. Top with the lemon slices and bake until opaque throughout, 8 to 12 minutes.
    Step 2

    Meanwhile, whisk together the yogurt, vinegar, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Add the fennel, fennel fronds, and cucumber and toss to coat.
  • Step 3
    Serve the salmon with the cucumber-fennel salad and bread.