How to Cook Salmon
Salmon is a popular, flavorful fish that is a favorite all over the world. The fish is considered one of the healthiest alternatives to meat and other protein sources. Like many fishes, salmon is no longer the health-food substitute for meat that it was perceived to be. Many healthful, flavorful recipes have been made to bring out the delicious texture, aroma, and taste of salmon. If you have no idea what to do with a whole salmon, a salmon fillet, a can of salmon, or a few pieces of smoked salmon hanging around your kitchen, here are some recipe ideas you can try.
Fresh Salmon
Like almost all fishes, salmon is best served fresh and when in season. Fresh salmon has a very firm texture; when cooked perfectly, salmon melts in the mouth and imparts a terrific, delicate flavor to your taste buds. Here are some ways that you can cook fresh salmon:
a salmon dish
Grilled salmon. Fresh salmon or salmon fillets can be marinated in olive oil, salt, and lime juice and grilled over an open flame. Served with hot French bread and a side of green salad, grilled salmon is a satisfying and healthy lunch treat.
Fried salmon. Salmon steaks can be fried or deep-fried, with or without breading. Frying seals the salmon, preserving all its juices and giving it a crisp texture. Serve fried salmon with a dip of light soy sauce, a dash of cayenne pepper, and lime juice.
Poached salmon. Poaching is a popular method of cooking salmon. You can cook fresh salmon in a poaching liquid made of water, celery, onions, carrots, white ****, lemon juice, and sprigs of dill and tarragon.
Baked salmon. Baked salmon is perfect if you want to preserve the juices and natural flavors of the fish. Brush the salmon with melted butter, and add lemons, dill, celery, tomatoes, and asparagus to the mix. Wrap the salmon in foil or wax paper, and bake it until the fish is flaky and tender.
Salmon salad and sashimi. Raw salmon used to be unhealthy, thanks to parasites and other microorganisms that may be found in the flesh of wild salmon. Thanks to farmed salmon and advances in aquaculture, thin slices of raw salmon can now be served in fresh salads and even sashimi.
Canned Salmon
Canned salmon is very common in supermarkets, grocery stores, and other food shops. Canned salmon does away with cleaning and gutting salmon, although many people get bored with serving it straight from the can. Here are some ideas to incorporate canned salmon into dishes.
Salmon sandwiches and canapés. When mashed with mayonnaise, mustard, lemon butter, and aromatic herbs like dill and rosemary, canned salmon is perfect as a sandwich spread, as pâté, or as a filling for canapés made from toast points or crackers.
Salmon-based pasta sauce. You can substitute salmon for beef, veal, or **** in meat-based pasta sauces, like the tomato sauce base for spaghetti Bolognese. Salmon adds a unique flavor and texture that goes well with pasta noodles and pasta shapes like fusilli and penne rigate.
Salmon croquettes. Fish burgers and crab cakes are very common and popular snack foods. Mix canned salmon with savory ingredients, breadcrumbs, and spices to make an excellent snack or light dinner.
Salmon casseroles. You can make an excellent casserole out of bell pepper, onions, carrots, chicken stock, cream of mushroom soup, cheese, milk, a can of salmon steaks, and fettucine. Salmon casserole is very easy to make, and is a very filling meal for lunch or dinner.
Smoked Salmon
Smoked salmon is very popular today, and is available from supermarkets and specialty food shops. Smoking is an old way of preserving salmon; it gives the fish a very flavorful and deep taste, and also adds an interesting texture to the meat. You can even prepare smoked salmon and preserved salmon in your own home. There are three ways that salmon is cured and preserved:
Cold-smoked salmon. Cold smoking uses low-temperature smoke to harden the meat of the salmon and preserve it for months. Cold-smoked salmon is usually prepared with oak chips to give the fish a woody, meaty taste. The method is often used for wild salmon, and is the most popular way to preserve the fish.
Hot-smoked salmon. Hot-smoked salmon is prepared using high-temperature smoke, and gives the salmon a grilled, barbecue-like taste. Hot-smoked salmon has a stronger flavor than cold-smoked salmon, and gives the fish a texture that’s almost like ham or sausage.
Gravlax. Gravlax is a method of preserving salmon, and was first used and popularized in the Scandinavian countries. Gravlax was traditionally prepared by curing the salmon in salt and fermenting it in beach sands. Today’s gravlax is prepared by simply curing the salmon in salt, herbs and gin, and drawing out the moisture from the fish.
Salmon is one of the most delicious and versatile fish products available on the market today. Whether it’s fresh, canned, or smoked, salmon is a fish you may want to keep handy to prepare healthful, flavorful food for you and your family.