Cajun Honey Garlic Salmon Recipe by Christian Green

Christian Green first caught our culinary attention in 2014 on Season 5 of Fox's "MasterChef." Incredibly, the 29-year-old from New Orleans impressed the judges so much during the series that when he exited Gordon Ramsey offered to invest in Green's future plans for a food truck.

Fast forward to 2022 and the charismatic chef is back in the MasterChef kitchen, this time as a contestant in the Back to Win competition, where former contestants compete against each other for another chance at victory. M&F sat down with Green, who also works with athletes like the NFL's Marcus Davenport and the NBA's Zion Williamson, to find out how he tailors meals for different athletes and how he monitors his macros. He even gave us the ingredients for his Cajun honey garlic salmon dish.

“To be honest, the recall gave me a huge confidence boost,” says Green, who first fell in love with cooking while watching his late grandmother cook up a storm. “My grandmother used to work at a high school where she was one of the ladies in the cafeteria,” Green recalls. "Seeing my grandmother cook, and you know me going into the kitchen with her, inspired me. I also went into the garden and picked kale, sweet potatoes, okra and even pears because we used to make preserves too; from the pear tree."

Green attended Dillard University in New Orleans, where he studied sociology and psychology and then business administration, but his true calling came when he jumped at the chance to join MasterChef. He became a favorite on the show. Along the way, a mutual friend made the connection between Green and Davenport, the New Orleans Saints defensive end. He is also a trusted chef for New Orleans Pelicans star Williamson.

Green takes great pride in energizing athletes, but how does he go about it? plan different meals for different types of athletes? “It’s different for every individual and every sport,” he says. "The reason for this is that you have an athlete who plays 17 games a year, maybe more depending on whether they make it to the playoffs, and on the other hand, an athlete who plays about 80 games a year. On top of that, the sports are also completely different, so their diet must also be different. One thing I always keep in mind when cooking is to make sure that I cook Meals that allow athletes to stay healthy, while maintaining the correct weight. My top priority is to make sure I am providing her body with the proper nutrition and nourishment. It is important to consume the right amount of carbohydrates. Another thing I incorporate a lot is juicing, which I think plays a big role in my plans. Marcus Davenport, for example, isn’t much of a vegetable person, so juicing gives me the opportunity to get the vitamins and nutrients I need in a creative and tasty way.”

Green says that finding the Foods athletes love, but also healthy, is a great way to keep them on track. “Zion loves seafood, which is good for his diet,” says Green. “He especially loves salmon, so I try to stay closer to seafood.” The chef says he is conscious of the types of carbohydrates he gives to athletes. "I try to include good, clean carbohydrates in the diet, such as quinoa, sweet baked potatoes, lentils, and I also cook with vegan butter. I don't use heavy cream." To monitor his macros, Green uses an app called Lose it! “Whenever I plan meals, I enter all the components of the meal into the app,” he says.

And when it comes to adding flavor, Green knows his stuff. “I have my own line of spices which can be found on my website, Fashion food taste," he says. "Currently I have a low-sodium Cajun all-purpose seasoning, a lavender garlic herb seasoning, and a zesty lemon peel seasoning." Once his current commitments to MasterChef are complete, he hopes to bring more Dining with Christian experiences to the public and is very driven in everything he cooks by the thought of creating a legacy that his son can be proud of. “Honestly, it feels great to work with athletes to help them achieve their goals,” says Green. "I mean, I kind of see myself in it because I used to be an athlete myself. I played soccer and ran track, and even though I didn't make it at that level professionally, it feels good that I can provide a service to keep these athletes where they need to be and also be a part of the catalyst that allows them to continually achieve their goals."

Cajun Honey Garlic Salmon by Christian Green