CONTENTS

Introduction 9

CHAPTER 1: ESSENTIALS 12

The Life of Salmon 14

Atlantic Salmon and Pacific Salmon: Know Your Species 15

Atlantic Salmon 15

Pacific Salmon 15

Wild versus Farmed Salmon: A Global Perspective 18

Pacific Salmon 18

Atlantic Salmon 20

Salmon and Health: Those Wonderful Omega-3s 23

CHAPTER 2: PREPARATION PRIMER 26

Fresh-Caught Salmon 31

Cleaning and Gutting a Whole Salmon 31

Shopping for Salmon 32

Labeling 32

Storing Salmon 35

Freezing Salmon 35

Thawing Salmon 35

Basic Preparation Techniques 36

Scaling a Fish 36

Removing the Gills 36

Filleting a Fish 36

Skinning a Fillet 39

Removing the Pin Bones 39

Portioning Fillets 39

Skin-Drying Salmon 40

Brining 40

CHAPTER 3: RAW AND CURED 42

Salmon Carpaccio with Celery Root Slaw 44

Salmon Tartare with Fresh Herbs and Cucumber Ribbons 46

Salmon Ceviche 47

Lemon Oil–Cured Salmon, Salmon Roe, and Salade Russe 48

Scandinavian-Style Salmon Gravlax 51

Beet and Horseradish Cured Salmon Gravlax 53

Pastrami Salmon 54

Salmon Pickled in the Style of Herring 57

CHAPTER 4: ON THE STOVE TOP 58

Tea-Smoked Salmon 60

Stove-Top Alder-Smoked Salmon 62

Wine-Poached Salmon Steaks 63

Shanghai-Style Poached Salmon 65

Green Curry Braised Salmon 66

Indian Spice–Rubbed Pan-Grilled Salmon 68

Crisp Rice-Coated Salmon with a Citrus Sriracha Sauce 69

Brown Butter–Seared Salmon with Smashed New Potatoes 72

Crispy-Skin Pan-Seared Salmon with Summertime Succotash 74

Salmon Stir-Fry with Snow Peas and Shiitake Mushrooms 77

Potted Salmon 80

CHAPTER 5: IN THE OVEN 82

Whole Roasted Salmon with Lemon, Fennel, and Onion 84

Salmon Broiled with Sake and Miso Glaze 86

Broiled Sesame Salmon Bibimbap 87

Low-Tech Sous-Vide Salmon with Sorrel Butter 90

Salmon Baked in Parchment with Tomatoes and Corn 92

Pan-Roasted Salmon with Potatoes and Kale 94

Slow-Cooked Salmon with Spring Vegetables 96

Panko-Crusted Salmon Cakes with Jicama Orange Slaw 99

Crispy Salmon Skin—The Bacon of the Sea 102

CHAPTER 6: ON THE GRILL 104

Whole Salmon on the Grill with Lemon and Bay Laurel 106

Salmon a la Plancha with Citrus-Dill-Vodka Marinade 110

Alder-Planked Salmon with Lemon, Rosemary, and Thyme 112

Salmon Grilled on a Bed of Herbs 114

Salmon Wrapped in Cedar-Wood Sheets 115

Banana Leaf–Wrapped Grilled Salmon with Lemongrass 118

Asian Salmon Burgers with Green Onion–Soy Mayonnaise 120

Grilled Salmon Tacos with Chipotle Sauce 122

Salmon Skewers with Avocado-Edamame-Wasabi Mash 124

CHAPTER 7 SECOND HELPINGS 126

Salmon Hash with Yukon Gold Potatoes and Herbs 128

Poached Eggs and Smoked Salmon on Tapenade Mayonnaise–Smeared Bread 131

Smoked Salmon Frittata with Goat Cheese and Greens 132

Salmon Caesar Salad 133

Salmon Salad Rolls 134

Salmon Bánh Mi 137

Farfalle Pasta with Salmon, Lemon, and Greens 138

Salmon Risotto with a Cilantro and Orange Gremolata 140

Chunky Salmon, Corn, and Potato Chowder 141

Index 142