Here is this month’s Healthy Skin Recipe brought to you via Bon Appetit. It is a Pan-Seared Salmon with Pumpkin Seed-Cilantro Pesto. Enjoy!

Pan-Seared Salmon with Pumpkin Seed-Cilantro Pesto

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 teaspoons tsp. plus 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1/2 cup shelled pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
• 1/2 cup (firmly packed) cilantro leaves and stems
• 1/2 teaspoon cracked coriander seeds
• 1/2 garlic clove, coarsely chopped
• 1 tablespoon (or more) fresh lime juice
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 6-ounce salmon fillets (preferably wild)
• 1 lime, cut into 4 wedges

Preparation

• Heat 1 1/2 tsp. oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pumpkin seeds; sauté until beginning to brown and pop, about 2 minutes. Transfer seeds to paper towels to drain; let cool. Reserve skillet.
• Pulse 6 Tbsp. pumpkin seeds, cilantro, coriander seeds, and garlic in a food processor until coarsely chopped. With machine running, gradually add 1 Tbsp. lime juice, 1/4 cup oil, then 1/4 cup water, blending until coarse purée forms. Season pesto to taste with salt, pepper, and more lime juice, if desired.
• Heat remaining 1 tsp. oil in reserved skillet over medium heat. Season salmon fillets with salt and pepper. Add to skillet and cook until just opaque in center, 3–4 minutes per side. Place fillets on plates. Spoon pesto over. Garnish with remaining pumpkin seeds. Serve with lime wedges.

EVOO is a must in your diet. Why? Because it’s great for your heart, your skin, and your food! Olive oil is rich in vitamins A, B-1, B-2, C, D, and Iron. Most importantly, olive oil helps the body to maintain strong levels of vitamin E, which is a great helper in delaying the aging process. You can also use olive oil as face moisturizer since the healthy fatty acid existing in olive oil encourage soft and suppler skin. But I don’t recommend doing this while cooking!

• Garlic contains active compounds that stimulate immune function, and scavenge free radicals that can break down the skin and cause wrinkles. Black peppercorns contain good amount of minerals like potassium, calcium, zinc, manganese, iron, and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Iron is essential for cellular respiration and blood cell production. Zinc and magnesium are especially important in promoting healthy skin.
• Salmon is high in omega-3 fatty acids which have an anti-inflammatory effect on the cells of the skin. It also decreases the production of enzymes which lead to inflammation. Inflammation is detrimental to the skin, because it causes a breakdown of the collagen and elastic tissue.
• Lime contains limonene, a compound that which helps detoxify cells. It is also a great source of Vitamin C, which is necessary for collagen production.

Bon Appetite!