7 Ways to Prepare Salmon

Here are seven different ways to prepare salmon fillets. Each method has it’s pros and cons and it may come down to how you want to present the fish on the plate with the the rest of your meal. I will start with my perfected method and work down from there. For each of these styles, I am assuming 6 oz salmon fillets. While grilled or flat iron is my favorite way to prepare salmon, I do try the other methods occasionally. Also, all these methods can be applied to other types of fish and with other fish, you will find these other methods are best.

1. Soaked in a Brine Then Pan-seared

  1. Soak fillets in salted water for 15 mins.
  2. Pat dry.
  3. Coat with olive oil.
  4. Place skin side down on a cold pan.
  5. Cook on Med-high ~6 mins per side.

2. Grilled or Flat Iron

  1. Heat grill or flat iron until hot.
  2. Either soak fillets in brine or brush with olive oil and season to taste.
  3. Place skin side down on grill or flat iron ~5 mins per side.

3. Steamed Salmon

  1. Heat steamer.
  2. Season steam water with soy sauce and spices such as ginger, garlic, or herbs.
  3. Place on steam rack skin side down.
  4. Place spices like rosemary, thyme, lemon, etc. on top of fillets.
  5. Steam ~5 mins or until salmon appears done, uniform color and flaky.

4. Sous Vide Salmon

  1. Set sous vide temperature to 120 F and let water warm completely.
  2. Pat fillets dry
  3. Brush on olive oil and season to taste.
  4. Place fillets in sous vide bag – can add herbs, garlic, lemon, onion, etc.
  5. Soak in water bath ~30 mins.

5. Cooking en Papillote (in paper)

  1. Preheat oven to 375 F.
  2. Season fillets – can add herbs, onions, lemon slices, olive slices, etc.
  3. Wrap in parchment paper.
  4. Bake skin side down for ~12 mins.
  5. Fillets will come out moist and flaky.

6. Pan Roasted

  1. Preheat oven to 275 F.
  2. Pat fillets dry.
  3. Brush with olive oil
  4. Salt generously – add pepper and other optional herbs
  5. Place in roasting pan skin side down and roast for 20-35 mins, Until temp of fish is 120 F.

7. Poached in Olive Oil

  1. Fill oven capable skillet with enough oil to submerge fillets.
  2. Heat oven to 225 F and let oil come to temperature.
  3. Season fillets and place in skillet skin side down.
  4. Bake for ~25 mins. The fillets have to be fully covered in oil.
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