Irish Whiskey Cured Salmon Recipes

IRISH WHISKEY CURED SALMON

Steps:

• Line rimmed baking sheet with plastic wrap. Rinse fillet and pat dry with paper towels.
• Arrange fillet, skin side down, on baking sheet and brush salmon flesh with the whiskey.
• In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and the salt. Rub mixture all over the salmon flesh.
• Wrap plastic wrap securely around fillet. Top with another sheet of plastic wrap.
• Place second baking sheet on top of fillet and place a heavy skillet or several cans on top to weigh it down.
• Refrigerate fillet at least 48 hours and up to 72 hours.
• Remove top baking sheet and unwrap fillet. Rinse under cold water to remove any salt residue that remains. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Cut salmon flesh into very thin strips and serve with Irish soda bread or black bread and creme fraiche and thinly sliced red onion.

ROASTED SALMON FILLETS WITH IRISH WHISKEY

Steps:

• Mix together honey, vinegar, whiskey, thyme, lemon zest, oil, salt and pepper. Pour over salmon and marinate 1 hour on the counter, or 4 hours refrigerated.
• Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).
• Remove salmon from marinade and place on a rack over a roasting pan.
• Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, basting once with the marinade or until golden and white juices are just beginning to appear.
• Place on 4 plates and serve.

WHISKEY-GLAZED SALMON WITH SALT-CRUSTED POTATOES

Steps:

• Make the potatoes: The potatoes should all be the same small size, about 1 inch in diameter, so cut any larger ones in halves or quarters. Place in a large saucepan with 4 cups water and add the salt. Bring to boil over high heat, then continue boiling until a paring knife slides through a potato easily, about 15 minutes.
• About 5 minutes before the potatoes are tender, start the salmon: Combine the sugar, whiskey and Worcestershire sauce in a large skillet, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Season the salmon with salt and pepper, then add to the skillet skin side down (or the flat side if the fillets are skinless). Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the salmon becomes opaque about halfway up the sides, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, carefully tip the saucepan into the sink to pour out all but about 1/4 cup cooking water, keeping the potatoes in the pan. Return the saucepan to the stove with the potatoes and a thin layer of cooking water at the bottom, and set over high heat. Cook, shaking the pan often, until the liquid evaporates and the potatoes are crusted in a fine film of salt, about 5 minutes. The pan should be extremely dry and coated in salt and the potatoes will sound crackly when shaken.
• Flip the salmon and continue cooking until just opaque from top to bottom and a paring knife slides through with almost no resistance, about 5 minutes longer. If you started with a 1-inch-thick fillet, this will be medium-rare. The timing will vary depending on the thickness of your fish and your preferred doneness. If you'd like, use tongs to peel off and discard the skin if there is any. The glaze should have thickened and be syrupy.
• Divide the potatoes and salmon among serving plates and drizzle any glaze from the pan over the fish.