Salmon Au Poivre Or The Disappearing Fish Trick Recipes

SALMON AU POIVRE (OR: THE DISAPPEARING FISH TRICK)

Steps:

• drop one and only one piece of fish in a tupperware box that would just barely fit both pieces of salmon if you stacked them. (this is foreshadowing.).
• pour two capfuls of soysauce (2 T or so) on top of fish. peel garlic, and mash the hell out if it. smear on top of fish like you're polishing brass. pour one capful (1 T or so) of rice vinegar or lemon juice on top of fish. put two teaspoons of sugar on top of fish, smear around like you're trying to cleanse the fish of its sins.
• put other piece of fish on top of the first piece of fish, so you've made a raw-fish-and-marinade sandwich, and seal box. shake a few times, stick in refrigerator. go do something else for twenty-five minutes.
• come back twenty-five minutes later, heat skillet on just less than high. add one swirl around the pan of olive oil. while oil heats, pull the fish out of the box, and gently wipe excess marinade and pat dry. cover both sides of your fish with pepper--about a teaspoon on each side, enough that the flesh is covered.
• put fish in pan when the oil is almost ready to smoke. flip after two minutes, wait two minutes, remove from pan and place on papertowel. (the fish is done when it feels slightly firm to the touch, and is just barely opaque on the inside. if it's not done at this point, stick it in the microwave for thirty seconds at a time.) wait a minute or so for the heat to move completely through the fish.
• served with a mache (lamb's lettuce, or feldsalat) salad with a hollandaise-ish dressing, some crusty bread, and a couple bottles of beer.

SWORDFISH AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 150 degrees. Have an oven-proof platter that can hold the fish in a single layer ready. Dust the swordfish lightly with salt. Sprinkle the pepper on both sides, pressing the grains into the fish.
• Heat the oil to medium hot in a heavy skillet, about 12-inches in diameter, to hold the fish in a single layer. Sear the fish, pepper and all, until barely cooked through and still a bit pink in the center, about 3 minutes on each side. Transfer to the platter and place in the oven. Turn off the oven.
• Add the butter to the skillet. When it melts add the shallot and sauté, stirring, until translucent, a couple of minutes. Add the Cognac and swirl in the pan a minute or so until somewhat reduced and syrupy. Add the cream and parsley and continue cooking, stirring, until somewhat thickened. Remove from the heat.
• Remove the fish from the oven and pour the sauce over it, then serve, or transfer each portion to individual dinner plates, spoon on the sauce and serve.

SALMON AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Combine soy sauce, garlic, lemon juice and sugar.
• Add salmon steaks and turn to coat.
• Let marinate at least 30 minutes.
• Remove salmon from marinade and pat dry.
• Coat each side of the salmon steaks with one teaspoon of the pepper, pressing in well.
• Heat the oil in a heavy skillet (not a grill pan).
• Add salmon steaks and saute 2-3 minutes on each side, until done to your liking.

SALMON STEAK AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Crack the pepper by pressing down on it with a heavy cast-iron skillet, 1 tablespoon at a time. Put the pepper in a bowl large enough to accommodate 1 steak.
• Using the pointed end of a vegetable peeler, hull the blackberries. Tear each berry into a few sections and gently mix with the pepper. Avoid mashing.
• Press a salmon steak into the pepper mixture, flip and repeat. Repeat with 2 more steaks. Spread a teaspoon of the salt in a large, dry skillet, preheated over medium heat. Add the 3 steaks and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, turning with a heavy square metal spatula to better keep the crust intact. Repeat with the remaining salt and remaining steaks.
• Garnish each steak with the chervil and serve immediately.