Sous Vide Salmon Recipe With Caper Sauce

SOUS-VIDE SALMON WITH CAPER-PARSLEY VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Place salmon pieces skin-side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle flesh side with sugar and pepper, then season generously with salt to taste. Let sit while you prepare herb paste.
• In a mini food processor or blender, combine dill, parsley, scallions and oil. Blend into a paste, then smear onto flesh side of salmon. Sandwich all four salmon pieces so flesh sides are touching, then place in a sous-vide bag. Transfer to the refrigerator to chill, at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.
• Heat water with sous-vide machine to 113 degrees if grilling or broiling to sear the skin before serving, or 122 degrees if serving as is. Submerge salmon in its sous-vide bag in water, weighing it down if necessary to submerge, and cook for 2 hours, or until pink in the middle and barely flaking.
• Make the vinaigrette: In a medium bowl, whisk together onion, lemon juice, parsley, capers, garlic, scallions, salt and pepper until combined. Whisk in oil in a slow, steady stream. Taste and add more salt, pepper and lemon juice to your liking.
• If you'd like to sear the salmon skin for serving, heat grill or broiler and position rack 4 inches from heating element.
• Brush salmon skin with oil. For grilling, lay pieces skin-side down in a grill basket, and grill until skin is lightly charred and crispy, 2 to 3 minutes. For broiling, transfer salmon pieces to a rimmed baking sheet and broil skin-side up until skin is lightly charred and crispy, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Transfer to a serving platter and serve with vinaigrette on the side.

SOUS VIDE SALMON RECIPE WITH CAPER SAUCE

Steps:

• PREPARE SOUS VIDE BATH: Fill water in the sous vide machine as per manufacturers instructions (not too high). Set the temperature to 125F/52C (for slightly above medium rare) and allow water to heat to that temperature. HINT: start with hot water to reduce heating time. Note 1 to choose other temperatures.
• PREPARE SALMON: Brine salmon if you have time (optional but good). Note 2. If you don't brine, generously season the salmon with salt, pepper. Either way, add chives and drizzle with olive oil. To vacuum seal bag (Note 3 to use zipper lock bag instead), fold back top of a sous vide bag about an inch to create a flap (this ensures no food touches the top of the bag where it gets sealed). Insert both salmon fillets, ensuring no overlap. Unfold the flap and vacuum seal the bag using a vacuum sealer.
• SOUS VIDE SALMON: When temperature of sous vide reaches 125F (or whatever temp you choose), submerge sealed bag with the salmon into the water. If using ziploc bag, follow directions in Note 3. Timing: if salmon is 1/2-1 inch thick, cook minimum 30 minutes, maximum 45 minutes; if salmon is 1-2 inches thick, cook minimum 40 minutes, maximum 60 minutes. I usually cook mine for 40-45 minutes.
• MAKE CAPER SAUCE: While the salmon is cooking, heat a small saucepan to medium with oil. Add garlic and saute for a minute, not letting it burn. Add capers and lemon juice. Cook for a minute. Remove pan from heat and stir in butter and chopped parsley until sauce is smooth. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Set aside.
• FINISH DISH: Remove the salmon from the water bath. Cut open the bag and remove the salmon. If one side of salmon has skin, slide a spatula between the skin and the bottom of the flesh and lift off the salmon onto a plate without the skin. (or flip salmon over and peel off skin). Discard skin. Pour sauce over salmon and serve.