INTRODUCING PLANETARY PLATES: MEAL PLANNING MADE EASY (AND SUSTAINABLY) WITH RESPONSIBLY FARMED SALMON
Global Salmon Initiative partners with Oldways to create “Planetary Plates” for human and planetary health.
Are you looking for ways to do your bit for the planet and keep your diet varied and healthy? If so, we’re hoping our latest initiative will give you all the inspiration and tips you need to prepare meals that deliver on taste, health and sustainability.
That was the idea behind “Planetary Plates,” a new partnership between Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) and Oldways. Planetary Plates take you on a culinary tour around the world with flavorful recipes featuring responsibly farmed salmon that you can feel good about. Why? Because they were developed with your health and the health of the planet in mind.
This focus aligns well with Oldways, a non-profit dedicated to helping people rediscover and embrace the healthy, sustainable joys of the “old ways” of shared cultural traditions. Together with Oldways, we co-created four Planetary Plates meals, developing not only the recipes, but also providing a breakdown of the nutrition each meal provides and the water and carbon footprint of each.
Mediterranean : Mediterranean Salmon with Olives ● Orecchiette with Chickpeas and Greens ● Kale Salad with Sunflower Seeds, Cara Cara Oranges, and Citrus Vinaigrette
Indian: Garlic Spiced Salmon with Kachumber ● Millet Tahari ● Red Lentil Dal
Nordic: Nordic Roasted Salmon with Mustard Dill Sauce and Roasted Carrots ● Pea Soup
Thai: Thai Ginger Salmon ● Thai Vegetable Stir Fry ● Thai Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce
Read on for more information, but one piece of advice: don’t do it on an empty stomach, unless you’re ready to whip up your first Planetary Plate immediately!
A sneak peek at the Planetary Plates
Mediterranean Salmon with Olives, served with Orecchiette with Chickpeas and Greens and Citrus Kale Salad
Mediterranean Planetary Plate
Bring the sunny skies of the Mediterranean to your table with a satisfying meal that features leafy greens, bright citrus flavors and heart-healthy farmed salmon. You’ll appreciate the quick, weeknight-friendly preparation method too.
Garlic Spiced Salmon with Kachumber, served with Millet Tahari and Red Lentil Dal
Indian Planetary Plate
Rich, aromatic Indian spices are the signature of this environmentally-friendly entrée. Enjoy a delicious range of textures and flavors, from a crisp, fresh salad and hearty ancient grains to the savory garlic spiced salmon.
Nordic Roasted Salmon with Mustard-Dill Sauce and Roasted Carrots, served with Pea Soup
Nordic Planetary Plate
Create an instant sense of coziness and comfort with this appetizing Nordic dish. It’s our salmon-inspired take on a traditional, open-faced sandwich, and its tasty, tangy sauce can’t be missed. Plus, it pairs perfectly with a vibrant pea soup.
Thai Ginger Salmon, served with Vegetable Stir Fry and Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce
Thai Planetary Plate
Farmed salmon meets stir fry in this colorful dish, which gets a kick (and nutritional boost!) from a flavorful peanut sauce. For extra versatility, the noodle salad is equally delicious served at room temperature or chilled, and feel free to swap in other vegetables you may have on hand.
Eating with the Earth in Mind
Earth Day is a good reminder that we can each make small changes for a healthier planet that can have a big impact when combined. Food production has one of the biggest environmental footprints of all sectors, yet is essential for nourishing communities around the world. As we were developing each Planetary Plate, we decided to provide both nutrient content as well carbon emissions and water use for each meal to inform and educate.
The carbon and water footprints – along with our full methodology – are available for download here, along with the nutritional analysis of each recipe. Calculating carbon and water footprints is a complex science and there are a variety of methods used. We relied on Agribalyse for our recipes’ carbon calculations because it provided a consistent measurement for the ingredients in each Planetary Plate. We used SU-EATABLE LIFE (SEL) database for water use. While SEL does not differentiate between wild and farmed salmon, its data is in line with industry research.
As you prepare the Planetary Plates in your own kitchen, you’ll find tips to further lessen the environmental impact of each meal in the instructions. Here are a few examples that offer both nutritional and time-saving benefits.
Reducing Food Waste
- For the Mediterranean and Indian meals, use both the juice and the zest of your citrus fruit ingredients – zest makes a delicious topping even when it’s not in the recipe!
- For the Nordic meal, avoid peeling potatoes by using Yukon Gold potatoes, which have thinner skins. Bonus: you get more nutrients.
Eating Local
- For the Thai and Indian meals, be sure to look for fresh ingredients at your local farmers market – and feel free to experiment by subbing in different fresh vegetables that are in season.
- For all of the meals, consider buying frozen farmed salmon, an environmentally-friendly option if fresh isn’t available.
Multitasking Meal Prep
- For the Mediterranean meal, toss any leftover salmon into salads or other sides to make a hearty lunch for the next day.
- For the Nordic meal, freeze what you can to use in future meals – such as the onion, celery and garlic scraps for veggie broth. You also can double the Thai salad sauce and freeze as well.
We hope the Planetary Plates inspire you to get cooking – and if you make them, please feel free to share photos on Instagram and Twitter by tagging @GSI_salmon.