Poached Alaska Silver Salmon Recipes

SAKE POACHED SALMON WITH SOMEN AND FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• In a salmon poacher or large saucepot, mix the sake, celery, carrot, onion, sugar, bay leaves, peppercorns, soy sauce, and water, to cover. Add the seasoned salmon and slowly bring the liquid to a simmer. Simmer for 3 minutes then turn off the heat. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes depending on doneness desired. I prefer medium rare (5 minutes).
• In a blender, add ponzu, shallots, 1/2 tablespoon togarashi, soy, and sugar. Blend on high speed and drizzle in the oil. Season with salt and pepper.
• In a large bowl, mix together fennel, somen, and scallions and toss with enough vinaigrette to coat the salad. There will be some left over for plating. Check for seasoning.
• Plating: On a large plate, place a mound of the salad and top with hot salmon. Drizzle on a little of the vinaigrette and garnish with remaining togarashi and fennel fronds.
• Drink Suggestion: Wakatake Daiginjo "Onikoroshi" Sake

POACHED ALASKA SILVER SALMON

Steps:

• Add water, wine and spices to poaching pan and place over low heat. Bring to a simmer just below boiling point. Rinse and dry fillet, then place skin down on poaching rack and lower into poaching mixture. Cover and simmer until done, approximately 20 minutes, depending on size of the fillet. To check, poke gently with sharp probe. If it passes through readily, the fillet is done.
• Remove poaching pan from heat and allow contents to cool to room temperature before removing fillet. Lift cooled fillet from pan and allow to drain a few minutes. If tiny pin bones are still present above the position of the ribs, remove with tweezers. Carefully transfer the fillet onto serving platter and peel off skin.
• In a mixing bowl, combine ranch-topping package with sour cream. Follow package directions. Spread uniformly over the salmon fillet to a thickness of 1/8 to 1/4-inch. Slice cucumber into 1/8-inch thick rounds. Start at slender tail of fillet and press individual cucumber rounds gently into the dip with each vertical row slightly overlapping the previous row to create "fish scales." Continue with row after row toward the head, until fillet is completely covered. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Serve cold.

POACHED SALMON WITH ENGLISH PEAS

Steps:

• In a wide, deep pot or Dutch oven, add water to the depth of a couple of inches and bring to a gentle simmer.If you are cutting portions from a whole salmon fillet, cut two large pieces from the center of the fillet. To the poaching water, add the wine and a generous pinch of salt. Gently lower the fish, skin side down, into the poaching liquid, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Gently poach the fish until it is just cooked through or barely opaque in the center, 8 to 12 minutes.
• While the salmon is poaching, prepare the rest of the ingredients for the sauce. Cut the morels in half or quarters, depending on the size of the mushrooms. Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the morels. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper and reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the peas and toss to coat in the butter mixture. Add 1/2 cup of the salmon poaching liquid, and simmer until the peas begin to soften and the liquid evaporates, about 3 to 4 minutes.
• While the sauce is cooking, finely chop the chives and pick the chive blossoms for the garnishing of the dish.Add the cream and gently simmer the sauce until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
• Check the doneness of the salmon by gently inserting a paring knife into the thickest part of the fillet. If the knife blade is slightly warm to the touch, remove the fillets from the poaching liquid with a fish spatula.Carefully peel off and discard the skin.
• Serve the salmon with the peas and cream spooned on top. Garnish with sea salt, chives, and chive blossoms, if you like.

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.

PAN-POACHED ALASKAN SALMON PICCATA

Steps:

• Bring water and lemon juice to a boil in medium-sized skillet. Stir in chicken bouillon granules. Reduce heat to a simmer and place salmon fillets in pan. Cover and simmer over low heat, 10 minutes per inch of thickness, measured at thickest part; or until fish flakes when tested with a fork. Remove salmon from pan; keep salmon warm.
• Boil remaining liquid in the skillet until it is reduced to approximately 1/4 cup. Whisk in butter and stir in capers. Spoon sauce over fish. Season with pepper and sprinkle with parsley.