Johns First Date Salmon Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S FRESH SALMON CAKES

Steps:

• Heat extra virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion, red pepper, celery, and a pinch of salt in hot oil until onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add capers; cook and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
• Stir salmon, onion mixture, mayonnaise, 1/4 cup bread crumbs, garlic, mustard, cayenne, seafood seasoning, salt, and ground black pepper together in a bowl until well-mixed. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firmed and chilled, 1 to 2 hours.
• Form salmon mixture into four 1-inch thick patties; sprinkle remaining panko bread crumbs over each patty.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-heat. Cook patties in hot oil until golden and cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

CHEF JOHN'S BAKED LEMON PEPPER SALMON

Steps:

• Whisk together lemon juice and black pepper in small bowl. Add mayonnaise, miso paste, Dijon mustard, and cayenne pepper to lemon-pepper mixture; whisk together.
• Spread the lemon-pepper mixture over salmon fillets. Reserve about a tablespoon for later use.
• Cover salmon with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
• Place fillets on the prepared baking sheet. Spread remaining lemon-pepper mixture on fillets without letting it pool around base. Sprinkle with a pinch more black pepper and a generous amount of sea salt.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the fish flakes easily with a fork, 10 to 15 minutes.

CHEF JOHN'S SALMON

Steps:

• Season salmon fillets with kosher salt. Line a baking baking sheet with foil and brush lightly with vegetable oil.
• Preheat oven's broiler on high and set the oven rack about 8 inches from the heat source.
• Process garlic, tarragon, and parsley in a blender or mortar and pestle to form a loose paste.
• Mix mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper into garlic paste until combined.
• Place salmon fillets skin side down on the baking sheet. Spoon herb spread over the top and sides of each fillet.
• Cook under the preheated broiler until fillets are well-browned, about 5 minutes. Turn the broiler off and turn the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake until the internal temperature of the salmon is 130 degrees F (55 degrees C) and salmon flakes easily with a fork, about 3 to 4 minutes.

QALIYEH-E KHORMA (SPICY SWEET-AND-SOUR SALMON WITH DATES)

Steps:

• Onion, Cucumber, and Coriander Pickles:
• In a medium-sized skillet over low heat, toast the coriander seeds, shaking the skillet constantly until the aroma rises. Remove from heat and set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, place the onion, salt, and coriander seeds, and toss. Add the cucumber and pour the vinegar over it. Toss well and set aside.
• Do Ahead: This pickle can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• For the fish:
• In a small bowl, mix together all the dusting ingredients and set aside.
• Rinse the fish and pat dry. Place fillets on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
• Dust both sides of the fish fillets and arrange on the sheet pan. Cover and keep cool until ready to cook.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in wide, non-stick skillet a over high heat until very hot, but not smoking. Sear the fish until brown on both sides (about 1 minute on each side). Remove the fish from heat and set aside.
• In the same pan, add 2 tablespoons oil, reduce heat to medium heat, add the garlic and stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes until golden brown.
• Add the vinegar, molasses, cayenne, and fenugreek leaves, and give it a stir. Return the fish to the pan and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes over low heat until the fish is tender and the sauce has thickened. Adjust seasoning to taste. Add the dates, cover and keep warm until ready to serve.
• Serve over rice, with a bowl of fresh herbs and the onion and cucumber pickle.

CHEF JOHN'S SALMON LOAF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Generously butter a loaf pan.
• Melt butter over medium heat in a saute pan until bubbling. Toss in onion, give the pan a quick shake, and stir with a wooden spoon; cook for 1 minute. Turn off the heat and allow to cool.
• Place salmon in a large mixing bowl and mash with a fork. Add cracker crumbs, salt, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, rice vinegar, butter, and onions; mix and mash with a spatula or spoon until smooth.
• Separate eggs, adding whites to a clean glass, metal, or ceramic bowl and adding yolks to salmon mixture. Mix egg yolks and salmon until well combined.
• Whisk whites to medium stiff peaks. Gently fold into salmon mixture in 2 additions.
• Transfer salmon mixture into the prepared loaf pan. Smooth the top with a spatula to even it out and shake and tap the pan to remove any air bubbles.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until a toothpick comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes, then carefully turn loaf out onto a cutting board. Slice and serve.