BBQ Salmon with Mashed Sweet Potatoes

This recipe was inspired by a dish I recently enjoyed with a girlfriend at one of our favorite local restaurants.  After finishing it off with some peach wine (Love my Georgia peaches!), we couldn't stop raving about how delicious it was.  I quickly decided to come up with a Paleo-friendly version that I could make whenever I want and share with everyone!  

You might be wondering, "How is barbeque sauce Paleo?" The answer is, technically it is not (I don't think cave men were fortunate enough to discover this magical concoction) but you can make a paleo-friendly version from scratch (Try this recipe from Multiply Delicious) or try and find an organic, gluten-free version with natural sweeteners (ok) or no sugar added (better).  Either way, don't fret about it too much just don't over do it!

BBQ Salmon with Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Prep Time:  Approximately 5 minutes
Cook Time: Approximately 20 minutes (quick version) or 1 hour if you bake the potatoes
Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 whole, wild-caught Alaskan salmon fillet (about 4 lbs)
• 1 cup organic/gluten-free/no sugar added barbecue sauce (or naturally sweetened with honey, agave nectar, etc.)
• 4 sweet potatoes
• 1 tbsp grass-fed butter or coconut oil
• sea salt and pepper to taste

Mashed Sweet Potato Instructions

If you have time:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F.
2. Pierce each sweet potato several times with a fork.
3. Place potatoes on a baking dish and bake for 50-60 minutes.
4. Let potatoes cool, then remove skins and place in a food processor/blender with butter and blend until smooth.
5. Add sea salt and pepper to taste.

If you are short on time:

1. Pierce each sweet potato several times with a fork.
2. Cook potatoes in microwave for 5 minutes then flip and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
3. Let potatoes cool, then remove skins and place in a food processor/blender with butter and blend until smooth.
4. Add sea salt and pepper to taste.

Salmon Instructions:

1. Preheat your grill on high heat.
2. Baste one side of the salmon with BBQ sauce then lay salmon on grill basted side down.
3. Grill for about 7 minutes, then baste the top, flip salmon over and grill for another 8 minutes.
4. Baste the salmon again, flip and grill for about 2 more minutes.  Be careful not to overcook!
5. Cut the salmon into 4 equal pieces and serve on top of mashed sweet potatoes.  Add a side of greens if desired.