Why It Works
- Cooking the salmon longer on the skin side makes the skin crispy and cooks the salmon from the bottom up.
- Dressing the arugula while the salmon is cooking is an efficient way to whip this meal up in no time.
Even after plating this recipe, I had to stop for a minute to check the timer and make sure I was right—did this really only take 10 minutes? It was the same kind of shock I get when someone tells me an item costs a quarter; how often does that happen anymore? But the surprise was quickly replaced with other thoughts as I started to dig into the dish, patting myself on the back for hitting both avocado and salmon in one fell swoop.
Salmon is a fish that I rarely cook at home. After reading a Food Lab post on aneasy way to cook filets(read: in less than 10 minutes), I was sold. Serving it with a light and refreshing arugula salad only helps to remind me that simple ingredients and preparations should be taken seriously.
The avocado isn't a necessary addition, but I love how its mild flavor works well with the nutty cheese and acidic dressing while adding its own creamy, buttery texture—a great match for the similarly rich salmon. I may not have thought of myself as a big salmon person before, but I definitely do now.
July 2014
Recipe Facts
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4 (5- to 6-ounce)salmon filets, preferably wild
Kosher saltand freshly ground black pepper
1/3cupplus3tablespoonsextra-virgin olive oil, divided
4cupsbaby arugula
2tablespoonsfresh juice from 1 lemon
Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, for serving
1ripeHass avocado, pitted and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Directions
Press salmon filets between paper towels to dry surfaces thoroughly. Season on all sides with salt and pepper. Heat 1/3 cup oil in a large stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add salmon filets skin side down. Immediately reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, pressing gently on back of filets to ensure good contact with skin, until skin is rendered and crisp, about 6 minutes. If skin shows resistance when attempting to lift with a spatula, allow it to continue to cook until it lifts easily.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine arugula, lemon juice, remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, and avocado. Season with salt and pepper and toss in grated cheese.
Flip salmon and cook on second side until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 120°F (49°C) for medium-rare or 130°F (54°C) for medium, about 1 minute longer. Transfer salmon to a paper towel-lined plate. Spoon salad onto plates, top with salmon, and serve.
Nutrition Facts(per serving) | |
---|---|
591 | Calories |
47g | Fat |
11g | Carbs |
32g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 4 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 591 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat47g | 60% |
Saturated Fat 9g | 45% |
Cholesterol84mg | 28% |
Sodium535mg | 23% |
Total Carbohydrate11g | 4% |
Dietary Fiber 3g | 12% |
Total Sugars 5g | |
Protein32g | |
Vitamin C 33mg | 163% |
Calcium 117mg | 9% |
Iron 1mg | 7% |
Potassium 872mg | 19% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |