Salmon Poached in Harissa Coconut Lentils

This quick and easy one-pan dinner gets a double dose of protein from the lentils and salmon. A finishing forkful of pickled onions and a sprinkle of ...herbs add freshness and colour. Any leftovers make a nice cold lunch for the following day. Read more This quick and easy one-pan dinner gets a double dose of protein from the lentils and salmon. A finishing forkful of pickled onions and a sprinkle of herbs add freshness and colour. Any leftovers make a nice cold lunch for the following day.

Prep time
10 mins
Cook time
20 mins
FREEZER FRIENDLY
No
SHELF LIFE
3 days
Why is this healthy?
Plant
points
High
protein
High
fibre
Prebiotics
3+ fruits &
vegetables
Contains
Ingredients
Serves 4
shallot
Swaps: fennel, red onion, white onion
finely sliced
garlic cloves
minced
Swaps: red pepper, tomatoes
halved
turmeric powder
harissa paste
Swaps: red pesto
rosé works best. Spice varies from brand to brand so use an amount that suits you.
passata
Swaps: chopped tomatoes (can)
coconut milk (can)
Swaps: kale, rainbow chard
beluga lentils (cooked)
Swaps: haricot beans (can)
salmon fillets
Swaps: cod fillet, firm tofu
To serve, optional
coriander
Swaps: mint, parsley
pickled red onion
Why is this healthy?
Plant
points
High
protein
High
fibre
Prebiotics
3+ fruits &
vegetables

NUTRITION PER SERVING (Read more)

30g
Total Fat
30g
Carbs
12g
Fibre
14g
Sugars
525kcal
Calories
38g
Protein
9mg
Iron
52%
 
149mg
Magnesium
35%
 
570mg
Phosporus
46%
 
1658mg
Potassium
35%
 
397mg
Sodium
17%
 
1mg
Vitamin B1
42%
 
8mcg
Vitamin B12
325%
 
10mcg
Vitamin D
52%
 
4mg
Vitamin E
29%
 
199mcg
Vitamin B9
50%
 
288mcg
Vitamin A
32%
 
79mg
Vitamin C
88%
 
3mg
Zinc
24%
 
36mcg
Vitamin K
30%
 
1mg
Copper
76%
 
0mg
Vitamin B2
26%
 
15mg
Vitamin B3
93%
 
1mg
Vitamin B6
40%
 
127mg
Calcium
10%
 
Total Fat: 30g; Carbs: 30g; Fibre: 12g; Sugars: 14g; Calories: 525kcal; Protein: 38g; Iron: 9mg (52%); Magnesium: 149mg (35%); Phosporus: 570mg (46%); Potassium: 1658mg (35%); Sodium: 397mg (17%); Vitamin B1: 1mg (42%); Vitamin B12: 8mcg (325%); Vitamin D: 10mcg (52%); Vitamin E: 4mg (29%); Vitamin B9: 199mcg (50%); Vitamin A: 288mcg (32%); Vitamin C: 79mg (88%); Zinc: 3mg (24%); Vitamin K: 36mcg (30%); Copper: 1mg (76%); Vitamin B2: 0mg (26%); Vitamin B3: 15mg (93%); Vitamin B6: 1mg (40%); Calcium: 127mg (10%)
Show more

Notes

To pickle your own onions simply place finely sliced red onions into a jar, juice a lemon over them, add a small pinch of salt and an optional pinch of white sugar and set aside. The further in advance you do this, the brighter pink and more mellow in taste they will become. (The ones in the photo were pickled 3 days in advance). 

Why is this healthy?
Plant
points
High
protein
High
fibre
Prebiotics
3+ fruits &
vegetables
Contains
Ingredients
Serves 4
shallot
Swaps: fennel, red onion, white onion
finely sliced
garlic cloves
minced
Swaps: red pepper, tomatoes
halved
turmeric powder
harissa paste
Swaps: red pesto
rosé works best. Spice varies from brand to brand so use an amount that suits you.
passata
Swaps: chopped tomatoes (can)
coconut milk (can)
Swaps: kale, rainbow chard
beluga lentils (cooked)
Swaps: haricot beans (can)
salmon fillets
Swaps: cod fillet, firm tofu
To serve, optional
coriander
Swaps: mint, parsley
pickled red onion
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Ingredients

Serves 4
shallot
Swaps: fennel, red onion, white onion
finely sliced
garlic cloves
minced
Swaps: red pepper, tomatoes
halved
turmeric powder
harissa paste
Swaps: red pesto
rosé works best. Spice varies from brand to brand so use an amount that suits you.
passata
Swaps: chopped tomatoes (can)
coconut milk (can)
Swaps: kale, rainbow chard
beluga lentils (cooked)
Swaps: haricot beans (can)
salmon fillets
Swaps: cod fillet, firm tofu
To serve, optional
coriander
Swaps: mint, parsley
pickled red onion

Method

Your notes

1

Gather and prepare your ingredients.

2

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and garlic with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often for 4-5 minutes, until softened.

3

Add the tomatoes and cook for 3-4 minutes, until bursting and turning jammy.

4

Add the turmeric and rose harissa and stir to incorporate over the heat for 1-2 minutes, until the mixture has turned a rich, deep orange colour.

5

Add the tomato passata and coconut milk. Stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and allow to bubble gently for 5-6 minutes, until thickened. Add salt to taste.

6

Stir through the spinach and lentils. Cook for 1-2 minutes, just until the spinach has wilted.

7

Nestle the salmon fillets into the simmering sauce. Cover and cook for 7-8 minutes until the flesh is firm to the touch.

8

Remove from the heat. Serve with pickled onions and coriander, if desired.

Notes

To pickle your own onions simply place finely sliced red onions into a jar, juice a lemon over them, add a small pinch of salt and an optional pinch of white sugar and set aside. The further in advance you do this, the brighter pink and more mellow in taste they will become. (The ones in the photo were pickled 3 days in advance). 

Sign up today to unlock 1000+ recipes like this one
Join 1000s of others who are already learning how to achieve their health goals

User comments (23)

Carlie 4 days ago

Easy to prepare and delicious. Would definitely make this one again.

Rita 4 days ago

Added cauliflower rice to mop up sauce

Susan 3 weeks ago

Absolutely delicious. Bravo 👏

Sonia 4 weeks ago

This was great. We used lite coconut milk for calorie reasons and canned green lentils because we couldn’t find beluga and were still very pleased with the results. It’s a fairly hearty meal.

Gilly 4 weeks ago

And easy dish to make , doesn’t take long and tastes wonderful!

Bridget Last month

I loved this. I’m not very keen on salmon but I know it’s an oily fish I should eat. This is a way that helps me happily eat salmon. I’m afraid my husband didn’t like it at all. I will make this again for me but not for him.

Rachel 2 months ago

Beyond delicious.
I didn’t have any red onion or substitutions to hand so I added a couple of tablespoons of hot smokey kimchi which worked well.
I she’ll definitely be making this again!

Kay 2 months ago

Delicious! I didn’t have beluga lentils so just used green tinned lentils

Victoria 2 months ago

Wonderful dish, so quick easy and delicious

2 months ago

I served with lots of vegetables so I will add extra salmon next time as portion size is generous.

3 months ago

Very tasty I usually have very basic accompaniment with salmon boiled potatoes and broccoli so this made a nice change Great it’s all cooked in one pan Will make again

sue 3 months ago

Good. Would stand alone well we thought

Claire 3 months ago

This is delicious. We didn’t have spinach but I steamed some purple sprouting broccoli from the garden. We live in Victoria, BC so the salmon was local. I’ll make it again.

Dounia 3 months ago

Amazingly good
Thank you!!

K 3 months ago

Also works great with haddock

Fiona 4 months ago

Tasty, zesty curry. I didn’t have rose harissa so added rose water to the harissa paste that I did have. I used brown lentils as a sub too. Had the dish three nights in a row as it made so much. Thanks DK!

Suzanne 4 months ago

Delightful and filling.

Martha 4 months ago

Good recipe but I would use chicken instead of salmon. I love salmon and love coconut milk but the combination tasted weird…

Emily 5 months ago

Absolutely delicious! Salmon took a few mins longer than the recommended 6-7 mins

Michelle 5 months ago

Need a deeper pan

Jacqueline 5 months ago

OMG!!! Absolutely delicious. When making it kept thinking this isn’t going to make a thick creamy sauce- but it did
It’s stunning. Also a great sauce to make and freeze in portions to make a quick meal with chicken, salmon or soy curls.

Gail 5 months ago

Delicious, love the one pan. Easy to double sauce to use another evening. Saves having half cans of ingredients.
Added frozen spinach and peppers. All worked well. No pickled onions but added kimchi instead. Thanks 😊 🙏

Lesley 5 months ago

Easy to follow and tasty recipe. Ingredients list would be helped by stating skinned or unskinned salmon. Took 15 +mins to poach using thermometer to reach minimum cooked fish temperature.

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