Barefoot Contessa Poached Salmon Recipes

ROASTED SALMON WITH GREEN HERBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Place the salmon fillet in a glass, ceramic, or stainless-steel roasting dish and season it generously with salt and pepper. Whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice and drizzle the mixture evenly over the salmon. Let it stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.
• In a small bowl, stir together the scallions, dill, and parsley. Scatter the herb mixture over the salmon fillet, turning it so that both sides are generously coated with the green herbs. Pour the wine around the fish fillet.
• Roast the salmon for 10 to 12 minutes, until almost cooked in the center at the thickest part. The center will be firm with just a line of uncooked salmon in the very center. (I peek by inserting the tip of a small knife.) Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Cut the salmon crosswise into serving pieces and serve hot with lemon wedges.

POACHED SALMON

Steps:

• Combine the stock, wine, thyme, garlic, shallot and lemon zest in a wide, deep pan and bring to a simmer. Add the salmon, a pinch of salt and a grind of pepper. Partially cover and simmer until the salmon is fully cooked, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Serve with an arugula salad, lemon slices and olive oil drizzled on top.

TRADITIONAL POACHED SALMON

Steps:

• Drizzle the olive oil over the salmon fillets and season with some sea salt and white pepper. Set aside.
• Fill a high-sided large skillet one-third of the way up with water. Add the wine and lemon halves. Bring to a low simmer, add the salmon and let cook until firm to the touch, 5 to 7 minutes for medium. For well-done salmon, cook for 10 minutes.
• Serve garnished with the lemon wedges and parsley.

ROASTED SALMON NICOISE PLATTER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• For the marinade, whisk together the lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, mustard, garlic, 1 1/2 tablespoons salt and 1/2 tablespoon pepper in a small bowl and set aside.
• Place the salmon on a sheet pan that has been covered in aluminum foil, and drizzle the marinade over the salmon. Allow the salmon to sit for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the potatoes and 2 tablespoons salt in a large pot of water. Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until the potatoes are barely tender when pierced with a knife. Drain the potatoes in a colander, then place the colander with the potatoes over the empty pot off the heat and cover with a clean, dry kitchen towel. Leave the potatoes to steam for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender but firm. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, slice them in thick slices and set aside.
• Place the salmon in the oven and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, or until it is almost cooked through. Remove to a plate and allow it to rest for 15 minutes. Remove the skin and break into large pieces.
• Blanch the haricots verts in a large pot of boiling salted water for 1 1/2 minutes only. Drain immediately and immerse in a bowl of ice water. Drain again and set aside.
• For the vinaigrette, combine the vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper. Slowly whisk in the olive oil to make an emulsion. Set aside.
• Arrange the salmon, potatoes, haricots verts, tomatoes, eggs, watercress, olives and anchovies, if used, on a large flat platter. Drizzle some vinaigrette over the fish and vegetables and serve the rest in a pitcher on the side.

ROASTED SALMON WITH GREEN HERBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Place the salmon fillet in a glass, ceramic, or stainless-steel roasting dish and season it generously with salt and pepper. Whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice and drizzle the mixture evenly over the salmon. Let it stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.
• In a small bowl, stir together the scallions, dill, and parsley. Scatter the herb mixture over the salmon fillet, turning it so that both sides are generously coated with the green herbs. Pour the wine around the fish fillet.
• Roast the salmon for 10 to 12 minutes, until almost cooked in the center at the thickest part. The center will be firm with just a line of uncooked salmon in the very center. (I peek by inserting the tip of a small knife.) Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
• Cut the salmon crosswise into serving pieces and serve hot with lemon wedges.

WHOLE POACHED SALMON

Steps:

• Combine wine, onion, celery, peppercorns, and bay leaf in a fish poacher. Place poacher over 2 burners on the stove.
• Rinse fish under cold water, stuff the cavity with dill and lemon slices, and place on the rack in the pot. Cover and bring slowly to a strong simmer (don't boil at any point). Cook until fish easily flakes with a fork, being sure not to overcook, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 140 degrees F (60 degrees C). Drain and serve.

COLD-POACHED SALMON NICOISE SALAD WITH CRISPY POTATOES

Steps:

• For the salmon: Add the wine, Dijon mustard, dill sprigs and 1 cup of water to a large straight-sided skillet. Squeeze the juice from the halved lemon into the skillet and then add in the lemon halves. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Sprinkle the salmon with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Once the liquid is simmering, gently add the salmon, skin-side-down, and turn the heat to low. Place the lemon slices on top of the salmon, cover the pan and cook for 10 minutes. Turn the heat off and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. The salmon should easily flake apart with a fork. Carefully remove the salmon from the liquid and set on a plate. Cool completely.
• For the dressing: Add the vinegar, oil, dill, mustard, garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper to a glass jar with a lid. Cover and shake to emulsify. Set aside until ready to assemble the salad.
• For the salad: Add the potatoes to a large saucepan and add enough cold water to cover the potatoes by 4-inches. Add a big pinch of salt and heat over medium high heat. Bring the potatoes to a boil and let cook until the potatoes are fork tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the potatoes to a plate. Reserve the pot with boiling water to use to cook the eggs and haricot vert.
• Fill a large bowl with ice and water. Bring the water back up to a boil, then add your eggs and cook for 7 minutes. Remove the eggs to the ice bath. Bring the water back up to a boil and add the haricot vert. Cook until they are tender-crisp, about 3 minutes. Remove the haricot vert to the ice bath. Drain and cut them into thirds and set aside until ready to assemble. Remove the eggs from the ice bath, peel and set aside.
• Using the flat base of a measuring cup or a glass, lightly smash the potatoes to expose some of the flesh. Sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and swirl to coat the pan. Carefully add the potatoes into the pan, seasoning side down. Sprinkle the exposed side of the potatoes and cook until they are crispy and golden brown in places, about 4 minutes per side. Some potatoes may break apart, that's totally fine! Remove to a plate and set aside until ready to assemble.
• To assemble the salad: Arrange the frisee and romaine leaves on a large platter. Drizzle about half of the dressing and toss to coat. Top the lettuce with the crispy potatoes, haricot vert, tomatoes and olives. Flake the cooled salmon into large pieces and scatter it on top of the salad. Slice the eggs in half and nestle into the salad. Drizzle on the remaining dressing and serve.

SIMPLE POACHED SALMON

Steps:

• In a large, deep, straight-sided skillet or heavy pot, combine carrots, celery, onion, lemon, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 6 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook 8 minutes.
• Season salmon with salt and gently lower into simmering liquid (liquid should just cover fish). Reduce to a very gentle simmer. Cover and cook until salmon is opaque throughout, about 5 minutes (longer for thicker fillets). Using a wide slotted spatula, remove salmon from liquid.