Mark Bittmans Provencal Salmon Recipes

PROVENçAL SALMON WITH FENNEL, ROSEMARY AND ORANGE ZEST

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Season fillets on both sides with salt and pepper. Grind fennel seed coarsely in a coffee or spice grinder, and mix it with the rosemary and orange zest. Press this mixture onto the top of each fillet.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat for 3 or 4 minutes. Add the oil or butter called for in the recipe and, when it shimmers, place the fillets, coated side down, in the pan. Cook about 1 minute, or until the spice mixture forms a nicely browned crust.
• Turn the fillets and cook about a minute more, then transfer to the oven. Cook about 4 minutes for rare salmon, 5 to 6 minutes for medium rare and 8 minutes for well done.

PROVENCAL SALMON

Steps:

• Combine the olive oil, sherry vinegar, basil, shallots, tomatoes, lemon rind, chives, and tarragon. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let marinate overnight, unrefrigerated.
• Cut carrots, leek and celery into julienne. Cook them in 1 cup strained court bouillon until tender but still crisp. Drain and reserve.
• Wrap each salmon fillet in foil and poach in court bouillon for approximately 5 minutes. To check the degree of doneness, remove 1 package from the liquid and unwrap. The center should still be slightly pink. To serve, divide julienne of vegetables among serving plates. Arrange salmon fillets in the center of the julienne and top each fillet with a tablespoon of the sauce pistou. Serve remaining sauce separately.
• Slice carrots, celery and leek into 1/4 inch pieces. Place in the bottom of a saucepan.
• Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Boil for 20 minutes.
• Yield: Makes about 2 quarts

SALMON ROASTED IN BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Place the butter and half the herb in a roasting pan just large enough to fit the salmon and place it in the oven. Heat about 5 minutes, until the butter melts and the herb begins to sizzle.
• Add the salmon to the pan, skin side up. Roast 4 minutes. Remove from the oven, then peel the skin off. (If the skin does not lift right off, cook 2 minutes longer.) Sprinkle with salt and pepper and turn the fillet over. Sprinkle with salt and pepper again.
• Roast 3 to 5 minutes more, depending on the thickness of the fillet and the degree of doneness you prefer. Cut into serving portions, spoon a little of the butter over each and garnish with the remaining herb. Serve with lemon wedges.

MARK BITTMAN'S PROVENCAL SALMON

Steps:

• Season the fillets on both sides with salt and pepper. Grind the fennel seed coarsely in a coffee or spice grinder, and mix it with the rosemary and orange zest. Press this mixture onto the top of each fillet.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat for 3 or 4 minutes. Add the oil and when it shimmers, place the fillets, coated side down, in the pan. Cook about 1 minute or until the spice mixture forms a nicely browned crust.
• Turn the fillets and cook about a minute more, then transfer to the oven. Cook about 4 minutes for rare, 5-6 for medium rare and 8 minutes for well done.