If you need to serve something tasty, refined, and at the same time not too banal to the festive table, then the favorite "royal" fish of the Russian tsars - salmon will help you out.
Salmon needs no introduction. She is known and loved by many for its exquisite taste. Well, the comprehensive benefits of fish have long been scientifically proven. Due to the huge amount of trace elements, it is able to strengthen the immune system, normalize blood pressure, improve memory, liver and digestive system. And recent studies have proven that regular consumption of salmon is an excellent prevention of cancer and thrombophlebitis.
In addition, salmon is rich in vitamin B6, which, during PMS, menopause and pregnancy, significantly improves the condition of the internal female organs, preventing the risk of developing gynecological cancers. For men, this vitamin is also useful, especially in solving problems of infertility. Vitamin D found in fish strengthens muscle and bone tissue, E is an excellent antioxidant, B 12 improves blood condition.
How to choose a salmon?
The most useful salmon, according to experts, is wild salmon caught in water bodies. But in the modern world, we are more often faced with artificially grown individuals. And how exactly they are grown, for us it remains a mystery, so we have to trust the conscience of the producers.
For the use of salmon to really benefit our health, it is advisable to buy fresh fish. It should not have a pronounced fishy aroma. If there is one, then it is better to refuse the purchase. And since salmon must be stored under certain conditions, preference should be given to those stores that have a certificate for storing such products.
A fresh carcass should have a bright silvery side and belly, and a black iridescent back. Black salmon with colored spots, says that it was caught during the spawning period. The meat of such an individual is tasteless and has practically no useful properties.
How to cook salmon steak correctly: general tips
It would seem, well, what could be easier than making a salmon steak? I took it, put it on the wire rack, frying pan or oven - and all the love. However, even this seemingly elementary case, it turns out, has some nuances.
- Before cooking salmon, fillets or steaks, it is advisable to marinate. Marinade will make it softer and give it a special taste.
- For the marinade, use fresh lemon juice, vegetable or olive oil, aromatic herbs (thyme, rosemary, cilantro), salt and pepper. They will perfectly complement the taste of salmon. But here it is important not to overdo it with spices, so that they do not kill the taste of the fish and spoil the dish.
- For marinating the fish, only 15-20 minutes will be enough. If you overexpose it, then it can fall apart during cooking. Since the acid of lemon juice, during frying of fish, destroys protein in its cells, from which the meat becomes softer and begins to disintegrate.
- The cooking temperature is determined "by touch" - it will be difficult to hold your palm over a frying pan or barbecue. In the oven, the temperature is usually chosen - 180 ° С.
- The degree of frying of the fish is determined by pressing down on its flesh with your finger, which should spring. You can also pierce the surface of the finished fish, if the protein comes out, then it is ready.
- To prevent the fish from sticking to the frying pan or wire rack, they should be well warmed up, and the oven baking sheet should be lightly greased with oil.
How much to bake a salmon steak?
Thanks to the simple and quick way of cooking salmon, it is often called a food that cannot be spoiled. This fish is salted, fried, felled, pickled and baked. But the most popular recipe is tender baked steaks. However, not everyone knows how long to cook them so that they remain soft, juicy, tender and not overdried.
Basically, the cooking time for salmon depends on the size of the piece. Most often, for steaks with a thickness of 2.5 cm, from 5 (for medium roasting) to 10 minutes is enough. If the fish is baked whole, this will take 25-30 minutes.
5 recipes for baked salmon
Healthy and tasty salmon is gradually becoming a favorite among all types of fish. These days, it is sold in any supermarket at an affordable price, which allows it to be purchased more often and enjoyed a nutritious lunch or dinner. Of the many options for cooking salmon, one of the most common is baking it. But this type of heat treatment can be varied. For example, salmon are baked in the oven as a whole, with sirloin parts, steaks, in a sleeve or foil, just on a baking sheet, in marinades, with vegetables, etc. It remains only for us to choose the appropriate option from such a variety. To do this, we have selected some interesting recipes that we hope you enjoy.
1. Cooking salmon steak in a pan
Among the huge options, one cannot but dwell on a simple and proven recipe for cooking salmon in a pan. This is a win-win option that can be prepared at home just as well as in famous restaurants.
- Caloric content per 100 g - 242 kcal.
- Servings - 2
- Cooking time - 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- Fresh frozen salmon steak - 2 pcs.
- Lemon - 1 pc.
- Olive oil - 3 tablespoons
- Salt to taste
- Ground black pepper - to taste
Cooking salmon steak:
- Wash the pieces of steaks, dry with a cotton towel or napkins, wipe with salt, black pepper and sprinkle with fresh lemon juice.
- Pour the olive oil into a deep container and dip the fish slices in it on both sides.
- Heat a frying pan with olive oil and put the fish to fry.
- Fry the fish on one side for about 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Turn over and fry for the same amount of time.
- When the crust on the second side is almost ready, reduce the heat by half, cover the pan and keep the fish on the stove for 3-5 minutes.
- Put the finished salmon steak on plates and gather your family for dinner. Do not forget to drink a glass of fresh water 30 minutes before meals, this will significantly improve your digestion.
2. Cooking in the oven
Oven baked salmon is a delicious dish that suits absolutely everyone, incl. and those who are on a diet or are on a dietetic diet. Such an easy-to-cook dish at home proves once again that food can be not only tasty, but also very healthy.
Ingredients:
- Salmon steaks - 750 g
- Provencal herbs - 2 tablespoons
- One lemon juice
- Salt to taste
Cooking salmon in the oven:
- Wash the steaks and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Mix salt with Provençal herbs and rub the fish with this mixture.
- Squeeze the juice out of the lemon, pour over the steaks and leave to marinate for 15–20 minutes.
- After the allotted time, wrap each piece separately from each other tightly in foil so that there are no holes and place on a dry baking sheet.
- Heat the oven to 180 degrees and send the salmon to bake for 20 minutes. Then unfold the foil and leave it in the oven for another 5 minutes.
- Serve the fish by sprinkling with lemon juice on a platter.
3. Steamed recipe
Many people know that steamed food is the healthiest one. This method of heat treatment allows you to preserve all vitamins, valuable and nutrients in the product. Steamed salmon steak is a good idea to get not only a tasty and juicy dish, but also much healthier than other home-cooked options.
Ingredients:
- Salmon steaks - 2 pcs.
- A mixture of any dried herbs to taste - 1 tbsp.
- Olive oil - 1 tablespoon
- Salt to taste
- Ground black pepper - to taste
Steaming salmon:
- Wash, dry and wipe the salmon steaks with dried herbs, such as Provençal.
- Then season the fish with salt and ground pepper. Well, since we have a recipe for healthy food, it is better to use sea salt.
- Sprinkle the salmon with olive oil and rub it well so that the oil penetrates the fibers of the fish.
- If you have a double boiler, use it following the cooking instructions that come with the appliance. Well, if there is no such technique, take a pot of water and put it on the stove. Place the fish steaks in a colander, which is covered with a lid. When the water in the pot boils, place a colander with fish on it, while the boiling water should not touch the surface of the salmon container.
- Cook the fish in this way for about 10 minutes. Then serve it with a light vegetable side dish, and, if desired, supplement the meal with white wine and your favorite sauce.
4. Recipe for cooking salmon in foil
As mentioned above, salmon in cooking is one of the best fish. It is difficult to spoil it or not cook it properly. It will always be tasty and juicy, especially if baked in foil, and even with vegetables and cheese.
Ingredients:
- Salmon steaks - 700 g
- Tomato - 1 pc.
- Dill greens - 20 g
- Parmesan cheese - 50 g
- Mayonnaise - 40 ml
- Lemon - 0.5 pcs.
- Vegetable oil - 1-2 tbsp.
- Salt to taste
- Ground black pepper - to taste
Cooking salmon in foil:
- Wash the steaks with cool water and dry with a paper towel. Season each slice with salt on both sides, pepper and drizzle with lemon juice. Leave the fish to marinate for 15 minutes.
- Wash the tomatoes, dry them and cut them into thin rings.
- Wash the dill and chop finely.
- Grate the cheese on a medium grater.
- When all the food is prepared, start assembling the fish dish. Cut the foil to the required size and place the salmon steak on top of it. Sprinkle the chopped dill on the fish. Top with tomato slices, sprinkle with cheese, drizzle with oil and cover with a small strip of mayonnaise.
- Wrap the fish in foil and put it in the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes at 180 degrees. You can bake salmon in a similar way on coals.
5. How to fry a salmon steak at home quickly
What should be the meat of a perfectly cooked salmon? Ruddy appetizing outside and tenderly heavenly inside. To achieve this effect, there is a simple way to cook salmon at home, while spending no more than 7 minutes of time.
Ingredients:
- Salmon steak - 1 pc.
- Seasoning for fish - 0.5 tsp
- Salt to taste
- Ground black pepper - to taste
- Dry white wine - 50 ml.
- Refined vegetable oil - for frying
Cooking fish steak at home:
- Wash the salmon fillets, dry with a paper towel and wipe with fish seasoning. This will give the salmon a more pronounced flavor.
- Also rub the fish with salt and pepper.
- Put the pan on the stove, add vegetable oil and heat very well over high heat.
- Put the fish in a frying pan and fry it on one side over the same high heat for 1 minute. After that, turn it over and fry it on the reverse side for about 45 seconds until lightly browned. The fish should look appetizing, without the formation of a hard fried crust.
- Then pour 50 ml of dry white wine. Reduce heat to very low, cover tightly with lid and cook fish for another 5 minutes. After this processing, salmon steaks will be incredibly tender, and at the same time appetizingly browned.
- Put the fish splendor on a dish and serve immediately. But if you want to get 100% roast, then let the fish stand in the pan with the stove off for 5 minutes, this will not affect its taste and tenderness.
And here is a video recipe on how to cook trout / salmon and tips from chef Ilya Lazerson:
