Mediterranean Meal to Melt your Mood (Medicinal Cooking)

Mediterranean Herbed Salmon & Couscous Salad
Mental Health Benefit : Lifts Mood for Depression

The SUPERSTARS of this dish are the fresh Dill, Salmon, & Basil which all have properties that fight depression and lift your mood. Whenever I have a friend thats feeling down, I try to sneak them some salmon and help them feel better. :) Another thing to remember is when you use fresh herbs vs dry ones, you get more of the nutrients and health properties, so for this dish i used both fresh dill and basil for an maximum effect.

Ingrediants
Salmon
-Fresh Basil
-Medditeranean Oregano
-Sea Salt
-Pepper
-Garlic Powder
-Dried Rosemary
-Fresh Salmon (Not Frozen)
-Olive Oil

Couscous Salad

• 1 Small Lemon
  -Fresh Dill
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 Cucumber
• 1/4 Bell Pepper (Color of your choice)
• Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes
  -Couscous
  -Olive Oil

1. When you season raw fish, the flavor will keep marinating until you cook it, so I season my salmon before I make my coucous salad. Since I'm pan searing my salmon, I cut small slits about half an inch apart on the skin side, which will help it cook evenly. All over the salmon and between those slits, dress your fish with your spice & herb mixture of salt, basil, garlic powder, oregano, and rosemary.
2. Now you want to cook your couscous el dente, i dont really time mine but keep tasting for the tenderness that i like. I then rinse it with cold water, and set aside in a big salad bowl. You want to chop your cucumber, pepper, and cherry tomatoes, then throw them in the couscous along with the seasonings, herbs,olive oil, and juice from your lemon. I would taste it while your making it to get your desiresd level of seasoning and lemon flavor.

1. Now its time for the salmon! Its been soaking up all those good spices and will be delicous! You want to put your pan on medium heat and WAIT to add olive oil to the pan once its hot. Then immediatly put in your Salmon skin side down. From the side you can see the cooked vs raw part of your salmon. You want to wait until it is 2/3 cooked through on the skin side before you flip it.

1. Your Salmon will finish cooking shortly after you flip it, then you can serve it immediatly with your couscous salad, and the medditeranean flavors and citrus will dance off eachother.
   Let me know what you think of this recipe and how you think eating the right foods and directly influence mental health!!
   Much Love, with positivity we will always win :)
   Mary Cronin