Spring

5-Spice SalmonĀ Salad

November  3, 2013
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  • Serves 2
Author Notes

In order to feel remotely comfortable putting on a bathing suit for the last (and first) time of the summer, I decided I would have to cut out all delicious carby things for a week until Labor Day. This was a silly decision, made on a whim, and I didn't even make it a whole week. But none-the-less, I did get to try out a new great recipe that was tasty and healthy.

I've read about countless spice rubs before but I always seem to opt for a wet marinade. I figured that most marinades add unnecessary sugar so instead I toasted some spices and ground them in my lovely (but often forgotten about) mortar and pestle. —Jacqueline Russo

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Spice Rubbed Salmon
  • 1 tablespoon Chinese 5-spice powder
  • 1 teaspoon Fennel Seeds
  • 1 teaspoon Black Sesame Seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt (to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dried Shallot
  • 1/2 pound filet salmon (skin on, de-scaled)
  • Salad and Dressing
  • 2 handfuls bibb lettuce, torn
  • 2 medium green bell peppers, chopped
  • 1 large heirloom tomato, chopped
  • 1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus more for pan
  • 1/4 cup Rice Vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons Chinkiang Black Vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon chia seeds
  • 1 teaspoon black sesame seeds
  • sea salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Directions
  1. Toast the fennel, sesame seeds, crushed red pepper, and shallots over medium heat until warm and fragrant. Combine with 5-spice powder and sea salt in mortar and pestle or coffee grinder (if clean of all coffee residue) and crush to desired consistency.
  2. With a tablespoon of olive oil, rub the spices into the salmon and let it rest in the fridge for about an hour.
  3. Meanwhile, prepare the salad. Tear your lettuce and chop the peppers and tomato.
  4. For the dressing, combine the vinegars and honey in a small bowl. Whisk in the olive oil in a slow and steady stream until emulsified. Stir in the chia seeds and sesame seeds and season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
  5. In a skillet over medium-high, heat 1 TBSP olive oil until shimmering. Lower the heat to medium and sear the salmon skin side down for about 2 minutes. Flip the salmon and sear the other side for about 1 minute then remove from pan. Let rest.
  6. Toss the vegetables with the dressing and divide into portions. Flake the salmon into pieces and place atop the salads, then serve while the salmon is still warm.

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