Herb Buttermilk Marinated Salmon With Cucumber Salad Recipes

GRILLED SALMON WITH CREAMY CUCUMBER-DILL SALAD

Steps:

• Cut the cucumber in half and then slice each half down the middle lengthwise. Use the tip of a teaspoon to scoop out the center seeds. Cut each half into thin slices and place in a colander along with the red onion slices. Toss with salt and let sit in the sink for at least 30 minutes, until the water drains out.
• In the meantime, make the dressing: combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, white wine vinegar, dill, garlic, sugar and black pepper in a medium bowl and mix well.
• When the cucumbers and onions are ready, release any excess water by tapping the colander on the base of the sink, then use a large wad of paper towels to pat the vegetables dry. Add to the dressing and toss well. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Clean the grill rack, then brush lightly with oil. Close the lid and let return to temperature. Rub the salmon with olive oil and season generously with kosher salt (about ¾ teaspoon) and pepper. Place the fillets skin side down and grill until golden brown and slightly charred, 4-5 minutes (resist the urge to peek or flip early; when fillets are nicely seared on the first side, they should release easily). Flip the fillets over and continue grilling until done, 2-3 minutes. Let cool slightly, remove the skin if desired, and serve with the cold cucumber-dill salad piled over top or alongside.

GRILLED SALMON WITH HERBED BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Preheat a grill to high heat.
• To make the fish: fillet the fish and remove all bones (You can ask your fishmonger to do this). Season the fish with the olive oil, and salt and pepper. Grill on both sides until the fish has clear grill marks, about 6 minutes per side. Remove from the grill, place on a sheet pan, and finish in the oven.
• Transfer to a warmed platter and brush with Herbed Butter Sauce.
• To make the sauce: in a small pan, sweat the shallots in butter. Add the wine, stock, vinegar, and lemon juice and simmer until reduced by half.
• Stir in 3 tablespoons cream. Add half of the tarragon. Whisk in the cold butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, strain and add remaining tarragon and chopped parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Reserve warm.

SMOKED SALMON AND HERB BUTTER

Steps:

• For the herb butter, combine the butter, garlic, scallions, dill, parsley, juice juice, salt and pepper in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat until mixed, but do not whip.
• To serve, spread some herb butter on a slice of bread and top it with a slice of smoked salmon.

GRILLED SALMON SALAD WITH LIME, CHILES AND HERBS

Steps:

• Light the grill for indirect heat, or heat the oven to 450 degrees.
• As the grill or oven heat up, make the dressing: Halve 1 lime, and squeeze its juice into a small bowl. Add the chile slices, half of the sliced shallot (save the rest for serving), the fish sauce and a pinch each salt and sugar. Let sit for 1 minute to dissolve the salt, then whisk in the olive oil. It won't emulsify, so mix again before using.
• Brush the salmon with oil, and place it in a grilling basket if you have one. Cook over the indirect (unlit) side of the grill, for 2 to 5 minutes per side, depending on how hot the grill is and how thick the salmon is. Note that individual fillets will cook faster than a single large piece. Check the salmon often. (Alternatively, roast the salmon on a baking sheet in the oven, until just cooked to taste, 7 to 12 minutes; you don't have to flip it.)
• As the salmon cooks, halve the other lime. Brush the cut sides with olive oil and grill, cut-side down, over direct heat until charred, about 1 minute. If using the oven, throw the halves, cut-side up, on the roasting pan with the salmon. They won't char, but they will cook and mellow in flavor, which is the aim.
• When the salmon is cooked, transfer it to a plate and spoon some dressing over it. Let it cool slightly, then break up the fish into large chunks.
• Place greens, remaining shallots, herbs, and radishes or cucumber, if using, in a large shallow bowl or on a platter, and add a little more of the dressing. Squeeze some of the juice from a charred lime half over it and drizzle with a little olive oil. Toss and taste, adding lime juice, olive oil or salt as needed.
• Top with the salmon chunks and drizzle with more (or all) of the dressing. Serve with the remaining charred lime half on the side for squeezing.

SALMON WITH LEMON-HERB MARINADE

Steps:

• Wipe salmon fillet dry with paper towels. Combine remaining ingredients (except lemon wedges and rosemary sprigs) in small bowl and mix well. Pour mixture over salmon, making sure it is coated on both sides. Marinate for at least an hour before cooking.
• Preheat broiler or grill. Cook salmon, turning once - five to six minutes each side for medium rare.
• Place salmon on serving platter and garnish with lemon wedges and sprigs of rosemary.

CUCUMBER-HERB SALAD

Steps:

• In a bowl, stir together cucumbers, oil, vinegar, and chopped herbs. Refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour and up to 1 day. Taste and season with salt, pepper, and vinegar. Serve, sprinkled with whole herb leaves.

BUTTERMILK HERB MARINADE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl whisk together all the ingredients.
• Marinate chicken or pork for 1 to 4 hours and discard marinade.
• Cook as desired.

SALMON AND COUSCOUS SALAD WITH CUCUMBER-FETA DRESSING

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. In the center of a sheet pan, place salmon skin-side down. Pat the salmon dry, then coat with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, 1/2 teaspoon cumin and 1/2 teaspoon turmeric. Coat 1 of the lime halves in some of the olive oil in the pan, then place cut-side up in the corner.
• Roast the salmon on the center rack until opaque on the outside and light pink in the center, about 18 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
• While the salmon roasts, make the couscous: In a lidded pot over medium-high heat, toast the couscous, uncovered, stirring until fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add 3 cups water, season with salt, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain an active simmer, then cook until the couscous is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the couscous in a colander, then drizzle with olive oil, tossing to coat. Stir in the arugula, letting it wilt. Leave in the sink to cool slightly while you make the dressing.
• Prepare the dressing: In a serving bowl, combine the yogurt with 1/4 cup room temperature water and the zest and juice of 1 lime, then whisk until smooth. Add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon cumin, plus 1/4 cup feta, most of the herbs (reserving some for garnish) and the cucumber. Stir to combine, then season to taste with salt. Set aside.
• Add the cooked couscous and arugula to the yogurt mixture, tossing to combine. Remove the salmon from the skin, then flake with a fork. Add half the salmon to the couscous, mixing it together. Place the remaining salmon on top, squeeze the roasted lime half over the dish, then garnish with the scallions, remaining feta, parsley and mint. Quarter the remaining lime half and serve it on the side.

HERB-BUTTERMILK-MARINATED SALMON WITH CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Marinate and roast the salmon: In a food processor, combine the buttermilk, basil, cilantro, scallions, vinegar, honey, ginger, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/8 tsp. pepper. Process until smooth, about 30 seconds. Set aside 3/4 cup for the salad. Thirty minutes before roasting the salmon, pour the remaining marinade over the salmon in a large rimmed dish and let sit at room temperature. (For the best texture, don't marinate longer than 30 minutes.) While the salmon is marinating, position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 400°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. When ready to roast the salmon, remove it from the marinade and set on the baking sheet. Bake until just firm to the touch and opaque in the center (use a paring knife to peek), 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest in the pan for 10 minutes. Make the salad: In a medium bowl, mix the cucumbers, onion, olives, cheese, and 1-1/2 tsp. salt. Toss with the reserved buttermilk dressing and season to taste with more salt and pepper. Serve: Use two large spatulas to carefully move the salmon to a platter. Spoon some of the cucumber salad around the salmon and serve the rest in a bowl on the side.