3 Ways to Salmon
I originally wrote this as a response to a Facebook post when a friend asked how I’d cooked the fish in the below photo. I hope you enjoy.
There are three really cool ways to cook salmon, and I’m going to give them to you easiest to hardest.
1) Scales on, season heavy, sear the top, steam it.
This is the one I used for picture. You literally just wash it, press it dry with paper towels, then adhere your seasonings. I like the Kinder’s Cowboy Butter. Then get a nonstick over medium heat, and place the fish meat down. Fold up some paper towels and literally PRESS the flesh into the pan, until you see the fish start to turn golden around the edges. Make sure you’re putting some real weight on it. Then flip it over onto a bed of lemon slices, or whatever you want to use and pour in a 1/4" of water and cover. The lemon slices will keep the scales from burning, and the water will need to be added to as it steams away. Shoot for about 145F in the thickest part of the fish.
2) Scales on, marinated, baked.
This is the one I use for fish tacos. Take salt, sugar, lemon zest, lime zest, chili powder and combine. Wash and dry the fish and place it scales down on parchment paper on a 1/4 or 1/2 sheet pan. Paint with lime juice, cover in the salt/sugar/zest/chili mix. Press the seasoning into the flesh. Bake 425F. Flake and serve in tacos with a cabbage slaw. (Recipe here: https://food.justinmcafee.com/posts/ina-gartens-chile-lime-salmon-tacos/ )
3) This is my favorite!
Descale a side of salmon, wash, dry, and cut it into slices. (Make a boy scout salute, that’s how wide the salmon filets should be.)
Roll the fish filet up and make 1/2" deep slices across the back of the salmon in parallel cuts. Salt inside the cuts (and herbs if you choose), then skin side down in a medium pan. Use your fingers, or a towel, or a fish slice (those thin weird spatulas!) Cook until the salmon is 2/3 of the way cooked through, and flip. Remove at desired temp/doneness. This will get you the craziest crunchiest salmon skin you’ve ever had. Its delicious. I learned this one from Gordon Ramsey’s video series: https://youtu.be/QqzgLNLSHmg?t=139
Here’s my favorite fish scraper: https://amzn.to/4l3xZoJ
And here’s a fish slice I like: https://amzn.to/3ZQEItv