Pan-seared Salmon served with Wasabi Mashed Potatoes
- Level: Intermediate
- Yield: 8 servings
- Total: 25 min
- Prep: 15 min
- Cook: 10 min
Ingredients
8 (6-ounce) skinless salmon fillets
Salt and pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
Wasabi Mashed Potatoes, recipe follows
1/2 cup Miso and Plum Sauce, recipe follows
3/4 cup Cilantro and Mint Vinaigrette, recipe follows
1/4 cup green onions, julienne
1/4 cup cilantro sprigs
Wasabi Mashed Potato:
1 cup spinach leaves
1 cup watercress leaves
2 pounds baking potatoes, like russets, peeled and quartered
1 cup heavy cream, heated
4 ounces butter, cut into pieces
1 tablespoon wasabi paste
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Miso and Plum Sauce:
2 tablespoons peanut oil
1/4 cup peeled, smashed garlic
1 cup peeled, sliced shallots
3-inch piece ginger, peeled, sliced, smashed
1/2 bunch green onions, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 star anise, crushed
1 teaspoon black peppercorns, crushed
2 cups plum wine
2 cups Port
1 cup red wine
1/2 cup lamb demi-glace
2 cups chicken stock
1/3 cup raspberry or blackberry puree
1 teaspoon red miso paste
1 teaspoon neriume (Japanese apricot paste)
4 tablespoons butter
Salt, pepper, and sugar
Cilantro and Mint Vinaigrette:
1 tablespoon mustard powder
1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup packed cilantro leaves
1/4 cup packed mint leaves
1 egg yolk*
2 tablespoons peanuts, toasted
2 tablespoons cashews, toasted
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/8 cup pickled ginger
2 tablespoons pickled ginger vinegar
1 cup peanut oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Sugar
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Season the salmon with salt and pepper. In a large saute pan, over high heat, add the olive oil. Pan-sear the salmon fillets until golden on both sides, about 2 minutes on each side. Transfer to a preheated oven and continue to cook until medium done.
- Serve over a bed of Wasabi Mashed Potato, with half of the Miso and Plum Sauce drizzled over and with Cilantro and Mint Vinaigrette. Garnish with julienned green onions and sprigs of cilantro.
Wasabi Mashed Potato:
- In a blender or food processor, process the spinach and watercress to a fine puree. Pass through a tamis or stainer. Reserve.
- Cook the potatoes in salted, boiling water until done. Pass through a ricer. Whisk in hot heavy cream and butter, 1 small piece at a time. Just before serving, stir in wasabi paste and puree of spinach and watercress. Stir until well incorporated. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
Miso and Plum Sauce:
- In a medium saucepan, heat the peanut oil. Over medium heat, add the garlic, shallots, ginger and green onions and saute until glossy and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in star anise and black peppercorns. Continue to saute until aromatic, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Deglaze with the plum, port and red wines. Reduce until only about 1 cup of liquid remains. Add the lamb demi-glace and chicken stock. Bring to a boil and lower to a simmer. Continue to simmer until slightly thickened. Stir in the raspberry puree, red miso paste and neriume. Continue to reduce until glossy.
- Stir in the butter. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. If too tart, add a pinch of sugar. Strain through a chinois and keep warm until needed.
Cilantro and Mint Vinaigrette:
- In a small bowl combine the mustard powder and the water and stir to make a paste and set aside. In a blender, combine the cilantro, mint, egg yolk, peanuts, cashews, lemon juice, pickled ginger, vinegar and reconstituted mustard. Process to a puree. While the motor is running, slowly add the peanut oil until emulsified. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and sugar. Refrigerate until needed. Use half of the vinaigrette for the lamb and reserve half for the salmon.
- about 1 1/2 cups vinaigrette