For many people, seafood represents a love or hate relationship. If you're in the former, oceanic camp, then this article is for you, especially if you're not exactly Emeril in the kitchen.
For example, do you know how to cook salmon? It sounds easy enough, but I know I wasn't sure where to start, so if you aren't either, I'm here to help.
There are many ways one can prepare and cook salmon: baking, grilling, poaching or frying. Each chef has his own special preference in cooking salmon I took some time to review each of these methods. So let's look at recipes that involve all four of these methods.
How to Cook Salmon: 4 Delicious Methods
Salmon Steak (Baked)
(Ingredients: Salmon fillets (boned and skinned), Onion powder, Garlic powder, Dried dill, Mayonnaise, Paprika)
Instructions: Wash and dry the fillets and spread a thin coat of mayonnaise over. Sprinkle the seasoning over the salmon fillets and keep the paprika for the last. Bake the fillets in a preheated oven set at 375 degrees for 10 to 20 minutes and keep checking for the flakes. Salmon flakes when baked and the flaking is a sign of the fish being well done.
Poached Salmon
(Ingredients 1 to 1½ pounds salmon fillets, ½ cup dry white wine (a good Sauvignon Blanc), ½ cup water, A few thin slices of yellow onion and/or 1 shallot, peeled and sliced thin, Several sprigs of fresh dill or sprinkle of dried dill, A sprig of fresh parsley, Freshly ground black pepper)
Instructions: Put wine, water, dill, parsley and onions in a saute pan, and bring to a simmer on medium heat. Place salmon fillets, skin-side down on the pan. Cover. Cook 5 minutes or to desired done-ness. Do not overcook. Serve sprinkled with freshly ground black pepper. Serves 2-4 people.
Pan-fried Salmon
(Ingredients: 1 salmon, 1 tsp coriander leaves, chopped 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp mustard seeds, 1/2 avocado, 1/3 red onion, a dash of Tabasco sauce, 1 corn, Spinach leaves, 1/2 tomato)
Instructions: Rub coriander, cumin, mustard seeds, salt & pepper on salmon. Panfry skin-side down for a few minutes until crisp, then flip. Mash avocado with red onion and Tabasco sauce, add pepper to taste. Microwave corn with husk (silks removed) for 5 minutes on high. Stand 3 minutes. Place everything on plate and serve with spinach & sliced tomato.
Barbecued Salmon with Mango Sauce
(Ingredients: 6 salmon fillets (6 ounces each), 1 tablespoon paprika, Salt and pepper, 1 tablespoon ground coriander seeds, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon ground cumin)
(Mango Sauce Ingredients: 2 mangoes (skinned and diced), 1 lime (juiced), a good handful of fresh coriander (cilantro), 1 red Chile pepper (chopped))
NOTE: The Chile pepper is optional, but this mango salmon recipe tastes best with the hot & sweet combination. If you don't like hot peppers, please substitute paprika or a milder pepper. It really does taste better with the Chile pepper.
Instructions: Mix the spices, brown sugar and salt and pepper in a bowl and rub into the salmon steaks. Use all the mixture. Prepare the mango sauce by grinding the mangoes, lime juice, Chile pepper, and cilantro in a food processor until they are smooth. Cook the salmon steaks for 4-5 minutes on both sides until seared on the outside and almost translucent on the inside. Serve with the mango sauce.
So there you go... simple and easy recipes to enjoy a spread of salmon whether in the baked, poached, fried or grilled form.
