Seared Salmon With Honeyed Eggplant And Hollandaise Sauce Recipes

PAN-SEARED SALMON WITH NO-FAIL HOLLANDAISE AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and heat for a couple minutes.
• Salt the boiling water, add the asparagus and cook for 2 minutes. Drain and reserve on a paper towel-lined plate.
• Add the salmon skin-side up to the pan and cook for 4 minutes. Flip and cook skin-side down until the skin is crisped and salmon is cooked just past medium-rare, about 6 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the hollandaise sauce: Bring a couple inches of water to a simmer in a small saucepan. Whisk together the egg yolks, mustard, cayenne, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon each of the herbs in a medium metal bowl. Set the bowl over the simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water) and whisk until the hollandaise has thickened, about 2 minutes. You can move the saucepan on and off the heat to regulate the temperature, so the eggs don't cook too quickly.
• When the mixture is hot and thickened, gradually add the butter in several batches and whisk after each addition until fully incorporated, about 3 minutes. Add sea salt and white pepper to taste.
• Place the salmon fillets and asparagus on individual serving plates and spoon the hollandaise over the top. Garnish with the remaining minced herbs and serve.

POACHED SALMON WITH HOLLANDAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• Find a high-sided pan large enough to accommodate both salmon fillets side-by-side, without too much excess room; a small skillet or medium-sized saucepan should do. Pour lemon juice and olive oil into the pan, along with enough water to bring the water level up to 3/4-inch. Season the water to taste with salt and pepper, then add the salmon. Pour in enough water to just cover the salmon.
• Place the salmon over medium-high heat, and heat until the water is hot and steaming, but not simmering (165 degrees F (75 degrees C)); reduce heat if needed to keep the water at the proper temperature. Poach until the salmon turns opaque, and is firm to the touch; or to an internal temperature of 140 degrees F (60 degrees C). Proceed making the Hollandaise sauce while the salmon is poaching.
• Pour a few inches of water into a saucepan, and bring to a boil over high heat, then turn heat to medium-high and maintain water at a gentle boil. Place the egg yolks in a metal bowl, and whisk in hot water. Place the bowl over, but not touching, the boiling water. Whisk constantly until the yolks thicken, turn a light, opaque yellow, and double in volume. You may need to remove the bowl from the boiling water from time to time in order to keep from scrambling the yolks.
• When the yolks have thickened and increased in volume, begin whisking in the butter, a cube at a time until it melts and incorporates into the hollandaise sauce. Wait for each cube to melt and incorporate before adding the next. Once all of the butter has been incorporated, remove from heat, whisk in the lemon juice, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• To serve, drain the poached salmon and place each piece onto a dinner plate. Generously ladle with the warm hollandaise sauce, and sprinkle with chives.