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Seared salmon is one of the easiest ways I know to cook fish. I know there are people out there who have a bit of fear when it comes to cooking fish. If that describes you then this is a good technique to master because it is very straightforward and even a bit intuitive if you pay attention.

Start with the salmon – choose salmon fillets with the skin on then wash and dry each one with a paper towel then place the fillets on a plate and refrigerate them, uncovered (yes uncovered), at least one hour. Drying them this way is very important in achieving that super crunchy skin that is so delicious. Wet fillets just don’t crisp up.

Seared Salmon

Choose a pan that is large enough to give each fillet plenty of room. I like cast iron. It gets good and hot, which means the seared salmon won’t stick to the pan. You really don’t need a non-stick pan. I don’t even own one. When properly cooked this fish will release itself at the right time. I promise. 

To begin: Once your fish is dry and chilled, season both sides with kosher salt. Place the pan over medium-high heat. Once it gets very, very hot, almost smoking; swirl in a tablespoon or two of canola oil and place the salmon, skin side down into the pan. Cook it until the skin is very crisp, dark brown and releases easily. This should take 3 to 4 minutes. Do not be tempted to check or move the fish around in the pan during this time. You will only succeed in making it stick to the pan or worse ruin your beautifully crisp skin.

Another thing about seared salmon is the noticeable changes it goes through as it cooks. Fatty fish like salmon will visibly shrink as soon as it hits the pan. Watch for this. It is key in indicating that your pan is properly heated.

Also pay close attention to the fish as it cooks. Not only will it release itself and flip very easily. But you can also literally watch it cook. The change is dramatic and easy to see. You will notice that the fish gets lighter and more opaque. Do not let it cook more than about 1/4 of the way through at this point. You might be worried that the rest of the fish seems quite raw, but honestly this is a good thing.

Once the skin has crisped flip the fish, and cook it an additional two minutes more or so depending on thickness and how much you like the fish to be cooked. Do not let it cook all the way through. The fish will continue to cook after it leaves the pan. Your goal is a succulent flesh graduating from a rare center outwards to a crispy crackly skin. If you are unsure, please err on the side of less cooked. There is no reason to be squeamish about fish. You really are throwing away good money if you overcook your salmon.

I am serving this seared salmon very simply with a “salsa” of green olives, capers, currants, celery, and saffron from Yotam Ottolenghi. GREG

Expand Recipe…

Green Olives, Capers, Currants, Celery, and Saffron Salsa 

By: Greg Henry

Print This Recipe Total time 10 minutes Yield 4Source Adapted from Yotam OttolenghiPublished February 13, 2019

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoon currants
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 celery stalks (cut in ⅓‑inch dice)
• 3 tablespoon pine nuts
• 3 tablespoon capers (plus 2 tbsp of their brine)
• 4–5 large green olives (pitted and cut in ⅓‑inch dice))
• ¼ teaspoon saffron threads (mixed in a small bowl with 2 teaspoons warm water)
• 1 pinch kosher salt
• 2 tablespoon fresh parsley leaves (roughly chopped)
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• 2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

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Directions

Cover the currants with boiling water and leave to soak at least 20 minutes.

Put olive oil in a saute pan set over high heat. Add the celery and pine nuts, and cook stirring frequently, until the nuts begin to brown, about 3 minutes (don’t take your eyes off them, because they burn easily). Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the capers and their brine, the olives, saffron and its water, and a pinch of salt. Drain the currants and add these with the parsley, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Set aside no more than 1 hour before use.