I love cooking fish steaks and fillets because generally, they are very easy and fast. I mean super fast. Faster than it takes the delivery guy. I use my toaster oven to finish the fish. Don’t hate on the toaster oven and pigeon hole it as a carb-only device. It’s a miniature oven that heats up faster and uses less energy. There’s no reason for me to use an entire regular oven when I’m cooking just one serving of fish.

Prep time: Two minutes.
Cooking time: Ten minutes (fifteen maximum).
Makes one serving.

• 1 salmon fillet (1/2 pound), skinless
• two mini cukes (available at Whole Foods) or half of a hot house (English) cucumber, sliced very thinly
• small handful of fresh mint, chopped
• one tablespoon sesame seeds
• pinch of red chili flakes
• one tablespoon of rice wine vinegar
• one teaspoon of sesame oil (optional)
• one or two tablespoons grapeseed, extra virgin olive or canola oil

Combine cucumber slices, mint, chili, a little salt and pepper in a bowl. Dress with vinegar and sesame oil. Toss well. Set aside to marinate.

Put an heavy pan over medium-high heat. Preheat your toaster to 350 degrees.

Rinse and pat dry the salmon. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Coat one side with sesame seeds.

When the pan is getting hot, add a few swirls of the grapeseed oil. When the oil is nice and hot, gently lay in your salmon, sesame side down. Cook for three minutes or until golden brown. Transfer and flip (so the sesame side is facing up) to a piece of aluminum foil, parchment paper or pan that fits into your toaster over. Cook in toaster for about two or three minutes (toaster ovens cook hella faster than conventional ovens) for medium.

To cook in a conventional oven, make sure you start your fish in an oven safe pan (I like cast iron). Put in a preheated 350 degree oven until desired doneness (ten minutes for well).

Lay your cucumbers on the bottom of a plate and place fish on top. Eat.

Health: Very good, provided you use a healthy oil and not too much of it.

Cost: Medium. Approximately $7.85 per serving

Cost breakdown:
Salmon $6 (depending on where you live and what kind of salmon)
Cucumber $1
Chili flakes $.05
Mint $.25
Rice wine vinegar $.10
Sesame oil $.25