Everyday Salmon With Tangy Cucumbers And Fried Shallots Recipes

EVERYDAY SALMON WITH TANGY CUCUMBERS AND FRIED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• If serving the shallots, combine shallots and oil in a small pot or skillet. Heat over medium and cook until shallots begin to sizzle and fry in the oil, 3 to 4 minutes. Continue cooking, swirling the pot or skillet occasionally, until the shallots begin to sizzle less and brown more, another 3 to 4 minutes. Once they're just starting to turn a nice golden brown, remove from heat. (They will continue to brown in the oil, so pull them before you think they're ready.) Use a slotted spoon or mesh strainer to transfer shallots to a paper towel-lined plate. Immediately season with lots of salt and set aside to cool.
• Heat oven to 325 degrees. Season salmon with salt and pepper and place in a large baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and place in oven. Roast until the edges are opaque and the fish is just cooked through in the center, 10 to 12 minutes for medium rare, 15 to 18 minutes for more well done. Meanwhile, thinly slice half the lemon and pick out any seeds. (Save the other half of the lemon for serving alongside.)
• If serving the cucumbers, combine cucumbers, vinegar and Aleppo pepper in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper and let sit a few minutes, tossing occasionally to evenly season. Drizzle with olive oil before serving.
• Remove salmon from oven and transfer to a large serving platter. (Alternatively, feel free to serve in the baking dish.) Scatter lemon slices over and nestle remaining lemon alongside for squeezing over. Sprinkle with flaky salt before serving with the cucumbers, shallots or both if you like, and perhaps quick pickles, buttered rice, jammy eggs or more fish (see note below).

PAN FRIED SALMON WITH CUCUMBER RADISH SALAD

Steps:

• 1. Bring salmon to room temperature 10 minutes before cooking. Toast sesame seeds in a small, dry skillet over medium heat, stirring and tossing, until fragrant and golden, about 4 minutes. Pour into a small bowl and cool.
• 2. Place cucumber, radishes, and jalapeno in a medium bowl. Finely grate ginger into bowl. Add 1 tablespoon oil, toasted sesame seeds, vinegar, sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, and sesame oil. Toss and set aside.
• 3. Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Season salmon with salt and pepper. Add remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to pan; Increase heat to medium high. Place salmon, skin side up, in pan. Cook, without moving, until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Turn fillets over using a metal spatula and cook until firm to touch, about 3 more minutes. Transfer to plates or a platter and serve warm with cucumber salad.

SAUTéED SALMON WITH BROWN BUTTER CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt butter over medium high heat and cook until foam subsides and turns deep gold in color, about 3 minutes.
• Season salmon with salt and pepper and add to pan, skin side up. Cook without turning for 3 minutes. Add cucumbers and a pinch of salt to pan around salmon and stir to coat with butter. Continue to cook, stirring cucumbers around in pan, until fish turns deep brown, about 3 minutes longer. Flip fish (move cucumbers to the side to assure fish skin makes contact with pan). Add garlic to cucumbers and stir. Cook fish until done to taste, 2 to 4 minutes longer.
• Transfer salmon to plates. Stir dill and lemon juice into cucumbers in pan and cook for 20 seconds longer. Taste and add more salt, pepper and lemon juice if necessary. Serve cucumbers and butter sauce over fish.