Salmon Samphire Charred Cucumber Salad Recipes

Steps:

• Tip the seaweed flakes, chilli, sugar, lime zest and 1 tsp sea salt into a bowl and mix together. Lay the salmon flesh-side up on a tray lined with foil and scatter over the seaweed seasoning. Cover the tray with cling film and chill for 1 hr.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 6. Drizzle the salmon with a little olive oil and roast in the oven for 25-30 mins or until just cooked. Remove from the oven and leave to cool at room temperature.
• While the salmon is cooling, heat a heavy frying pan or griddle. Brush the cut side of the cucumber with a little oil, place cut-side down in the pan and sear for 2 mins or until charred. Don't worry if it blackens - the flavour will be great. When the cucumber is ready, remove from the heat and season with a little salt. Slice into chunky wedges and tip into a large salad bowl. Add the chilli, chopped ginger, samphire and sesame oil and toss everything together
• Flake the salmon into big bite-sized pieces and add to the salad bowl along with the leaves. Gently toss the salad, being careful not to break up the salmon too much, then tip out onto a large platter.

Steps:

• Whisk together the vinegar, lime juice, sesame oil and a large pinch of salt in a large bowl. Thinly slice the cucumbers lengthwise about 1/8-inch thick with a mandoline or vegetable peeler. Add the cucumbers to the bowl with the dressing; add the cilantro and peanuts and toss until evenly coated. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt, if needed. Stir together the mayonnaise and chile-garlic sauce in a small bowl until smooth. Set both aside for serving.
• Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Season the salmon fillets with a large pinch of salt. Place the arrowroot or cornstarch in a medium shallow bowl or baking dish and whisk in the cayenne and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Dredge the salmon fillets until each side is well coated.
• Once the oil is shimmering and hot, carefully add the salmon. Cook until well browned and just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
• Give the cucumber salad a toss, then transfer to a serving bowl. Place each salmon fillet on a plate, drizzle with the spicy mayo and serve with the cucumber salad.

Steps:

• For the salmon cure: Bring the salt, lime juice, sugar, vinegar, soy, fish sauce and jalapeño to a boil in a small pot over medium-high heat; simmer for 5 minutes. Reserve a splash for the miso glaze, then pour the rest over the salmon and dill stems in a heatproof container and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes.
• For the miso glaze: Mix together the miso, mustard, olive oil, honey, lime juice and reserved splash of salmon cure, for thinning, in a bowl.
• For the spice and herb coating: Mix the herbs, cumin and berbere together in a bowl. Set aside a little for the salad; put the remainder in a shallow dish.
• Pat the salmon fillets dry with a paper towel. Brush on some of the miso glaze. Roll the salmon in the spice and herb coating. Slice the salmon into thin slices.
• For the salad with miso vinaigrette: Add the tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, salt and reserved spice and herb coating to a bowl. Add the lime juice and remaining miso glaze and toss until evenly coated. Stir in the herbs and chive blossoms.
• Char the bread and lemon wedges in a pan.
• To assemble: Place a large spoonful of salad on a plate, then top with the sliced salmon. Garnish with more chive blossoms. Serve with slices of charred pita and lemon wedges.

Steps:

• Prepare the salmon: Prepare a charcoal fire in an outdoor grill (alternatively, cook the salmon indoors on a grill pan); the coals should be medium-hot and the rack should be positioned about 6 inches from the fire. Place the salmon fillets on a cutting board, skin-side down. Cut down the center of each fillet lengthwise along the center seam. Cut through the flesh but not the skin. Draw the salmon flesh apart at the incision, flattening the fillets, leaving them skin-side down. Fold each fillet into a horseshoe shape, bending it back onto itself, so it resembles a boneless salmon steak. Brush each piece of fish lightly on both sides with extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper.
• Grill the salmon just until the flesh firms and grill marks appear, about 2 1/2 minutes on the first side and about 1 1/2 minutes on the second side. Rotate each fillet one quarter-turn (90 degrees) and grill just long enough to mark the fillets, completing a cross-hatch pattern, less than 1 minute. Turn the fillets over and repeat the grilling and rotating procedure until the other sides show the cross-hatch grill markings. Remove the fish from the grill and reserve. (The salmon can be grilled up to 1 hour in advance of the meal.)
• Prepare the salad: Roll the cucumber pieces up in a clean linen napkin or towel, and then smash them, pressing down hard with the heels of your hands while ensuring the towel doesn't unroll, to release the juices. Transfer the crushed cucumbers to a cutting board, and then coarsely chop. Combine the cucumbers, sliced fennel, dates, walnuts, chives and some of the fennel fronds in a salad bowl and mix gently.
• Finish cooking the salmon and dress the salad: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange the salmon fillets in a baking dish, brush each one lightly with extra-virgin olive oil and roast about 3 1/2 minutes for medium-rare.
• Meanwhile, dress the cucumber salad with the lemon juice and 4 tablespoons of fruity olive oil. Then season with sea salt and pepper. Toss the salad lightly, and then arrange equal portions on each of six plates. Top each portion of salad with a grilled salmon fillet. Drizzle a little fruity olive oil on top of each portion, garnish each plate with fennel fronds and serve.