This salmon dinner is healthy and speedy
With olive-oil-braised zucchini and chickpeas, because summer.
Cooking
June 22, 2026

Good morning! Today we have for you:

Salmon with olive-oil-braised zucchini and chickpeas is shown in a shallow Dutch oven with a serving spoon.
Sheela Prakash’s salmon with olive oil-braised zucchini and chickpeas. Bryan Gardner for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.

Healthy, speedy, satisfying

Slim, taut zucchini are just starting to make an appearance in the farmers’ market, and I’m all about them. Whether roasted, sautéed, air-fried or tossed raw into salads, their earthy sweetness is a welcome addition to my summer table.

One way that I haven’t cooked zucchini yet is to gently simmer the slices with chickpeas and salmon, and Sheela Prakash’s new recipe for salmon with olive-oil-braised zucchini and chickpeas makes an excellent case for doing just that. I love the way she keeps the seasonings minimal — just a pinch of red pepper flakes, some lemon and garlic — letting the flavors of the vegetables and fish really shine. It’s a colorful weeknight meal that’s both speedy and satisfying.

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Salmon With Olive-Oil-Braised Zucchini

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More food for thought

Salt and pepper tofu: Salt and pepper seasoning is a classic in Sichuan cuisine. Here, Hetty Lui McKinnon applies the pungent spice mix to cubes of tofu. Coating them in cornstarch before frying gives them a lovely golden crispiness on the outside while keeping their insides custardy. Hetty uses a skillet, but you can break out the air fryer if that’s more convenient.

One-pan kuku paka (chicken in coconut curry): Coconut milk, garlic and warm spices flavor chicken thighs in Zaynab Issa’s easy weeknight curry. Zaynab calls for skin-on, boneless thighs, which turn especially crispy and cook quickly. But bone-in thighs will work well, too. Just simmer them for a few extra minutes to make sure they’re cooked through.

Salsa macha pasta with shrimp: Filled with nuts, seeds and dried chiles, Mexican salsa macha has a bold flavor and a delightful crunch. Kristina Felix pairs it with linguine and sweet shrimp for a spicy, texturally thrilling meal made in under 30 minutes.

Crispy halloumi salad with dates and arugula: I get weak in the knees for halloumi, especially when it’s seared until it’s darkly browned and a little melty. And that’s just how Nargisse Benkabbou does it, frying the cheese before tossing it with peppery arugula, sweet, soft dates and a bright, mustardy dressing.

Strawberry-lemon loaf cake: This red-speckled, tender tea cake is exactly the thing to make right now while strawberries are in season. Millie Peartree tops the loaf with a tangy lemon icing to echo the lemon zest in the batter. Serve slices for breakfast or as a lightly sweet dessert.

That’s all for now. If you’re waylaid by a technical snafu, email the smart people at cookingcare@nytimes.com for help. And I’m at hellomelissa@nytimes.com if you want to say hi.

I’ll see you on Wednesday.

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Two light-colored bowls are filled with rice and topped with cooked tofu finished with scallions and chiles. A small bowl of spices sits just to the top.

Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

Salt and Pepper Tofu

By Hetty Lui McKinnon

Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarUnfilled Star

1,165

30 minutes

Makes 4 servings

Article Image

David Malosh for The New York Times

One-Pan Kuku Paka (Chicken in Coconut Curry)

By Zaynab Issa

Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

52

40 minutes

Makes 4 servings

Article Image

Christopher Simpson for The New York Times

Salsa Macha Pasta With Shrimp

By Kristina Felix

25 minutes

Makes 4 servings

Article Image

David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.

Crispy Halloumi Salad With Dates and Arugula

By Nargisse Benkabbou

Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

363

20 minutes

Makes 4 servings

Article Image

Con Poulos for The New York Times

Strawberry-Lemon Loaf Cake

By Millie Peartree

Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarUnfilled Star

1,630

1 1/2 hours

Makes One 9-inch loaf

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Tanya Sichynsky shares the most delicious vegetarian recipes for weeknight cooking, packed lunches and dinner parties.

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Tanya Sichynsky shares the most delicious vegetarian recipes for weeknight cooking, packed lunches and dinner parties.

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