Baked Salmon with Pesto and Broccolini

One of the complaints I hear most from my single friends is that they feel completely unmotivated to cook for one. And then when the mood does strike, they find themselves over-shopping, resulting in unused groceries that go to waste altogether. I’ve totally been there, and I get it. So we thought we’d whip up a weeknight dinner that requires — count ’em — only 5 ingredients, but still feels hearty and substantive.

The dish is this baked pesto salmon with a side of broccolini. The best thing about cooking fish is that you can stop by the grocery store or market that very same day, buy a 6 oz. portion that is perfectly sized for one, and have yourself a delicious, flaky protein in 15 minutes flat. Salmon is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, high in B vitamins, and a great source of potassium.

We topped our salmon with tasty pesto (which can be reused and enjoyed for days), and served it with a side of broccolini, which, thanks to its tender stalks, cooks much more quickly than broccoli. It’s rich in vitamins A, C and K, and is chock full of calcium, too.

photography by Ashleigh Amoroso