Traditional Poached Salmon Recipes

Steps:

• In a large, deep, straight-sided skillet or heavy pot, combine carrots, celery, onion, lemon, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 6 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook 8 minutes.
• Season salmon with salt and gently lower into simmering liquid (liquid should just cover fish). Reduce to a very gentle simmer. Cover and cook until salmon is opaque throughout, about 5 minutes (longer for thicker fillets). Using a wide slotted spatula, remove salmon from liquid.

Steps:

• Combine the stock, wine, thyme, garlic, shallot and lemon zest in a wide, deep pan and bring to a simmer. Add the salmon, a pinch of salt and a grind of pepper. Partially cover and simmer until the salmon is fully cooked, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Serve with an arugula salad, lemon slices and olive oil drizzled on top.

Steps:

• Heat wine and water over medium high heat in a large non-stick skillet for 5 minutes.
• Slide salmon pieces into poaching liquid and dot with butter. Sprinkle with dried parsley, garlic, salt and pepper.
• Bring to a slow boil, reduce heat to medium and poach until salmon flesh is firm, about 10 to 15 minutes.

Steps:

• Prepare poacher Pour the Court Bouillon into a fish poacher and set the poacher over two burners on the stove. Lower the rack so it rests on the vegetables (in the court bouillon), then lay salmon on rack (trim the tail if necessary to fit inside). Add enough cool water to cover the fish completely; or, if only a small bit of fish is showing, you can cover it with a piece of parchment paper (cut to fit inside poacher).
• Poach fish Bring the liquid to a simmer over medium-high heat, then immediately reduce heat to medium-low. Check temperature with a candy thermometer and adjust heat so it is between 165° and 180°F (very few bubbles will break the surface but there should be steam coming from the surface). Poach salmon, adjusting heat as necessary to maintain the proper temperature, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest section registers 130°F (fish will continue cooking off heat). You can also test by inserting a knife into the flesh along the backbone; the flesh should still be slightly translucent and offer little resistance. The cooking time should be about 5 minutes per inch of thickness (once liquid has reached a simmer). Remove poacher from heat and allow it to cool until you no longer see any steam, about 1 hour. Lift the rack with the salmon from the poacher and set it over a large pan (or the sink) to allow the salmon to drain until just cool enough to handle, about 30 minutes.
• Prepare fish for serving Transfer salmon to a clean work surface. Use your fingers and a paring knife to pull and scrape off the skin from the top side of the fish. Use the back of the knife to scrape off any brown areas from the surface. Using two large spatulas, carefully slide the salmon onto a serving platter. At this point, the salmon can be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 4 hours.
• Serve Slice the cucumber lengthwise into very thin strips. Arrange the strips diagonally across salmon, spacing them about 1 inch apart, and tuck the ends underneath so they appear to wrap around the fish. Garnish with watercress. Separate into pieces and serve sauce and lemon wedges on the side.
• The salmon is garnished with a mixture of watercress and Upland cress (a member of the mustard family with a sharp, spicy flavor), which are also used in the accompanying sauce. You can find Upland cress (also called English cress or garden cress) at farmers' markets, or use all watercress instead.
• A poacher is just the right size and shape for cooking a large whole fish, such as the salmon in this recipe. For smaller whole fish, a roasting pan fitted with a wire rack can be used instead.
• To make the paper-thin strips of cucumber that appear to wrap around the fish, a mandoline is the best tool. A Japanese-style mandoline, such as Benriner, is inexpensive and sold at most kitchen supply shops. A vegetable peeler can be used instead, but it will not be able to produce the same uniform thickness as the mandoline.
• Peel and finely chop 1 English cucumber, then toss with 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt and 1 tablespoon each Champagne vinegar and small (nonpareil) capers that have been rinsed and drained. Set aside for 5 minutes, then stir in 1 cup sour cream and 1/2 cup finely chopped cress (use half watercress and half Upland cress, if you can find it). Season with freshly ground pepper and more salt. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours before serving. Makes about 2 1/4 cups.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the first 8 ingredients. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, 30 minutes. Strain, discarding vegetables and spices., Cut three 20x3-in. strips of heavy-duty foil; crisscross so they resemble spokes of a wheel. Place strips on bottom and up sides of a 7-qt. oval slow cooker. Pour poaching liquid into slow cooker. Carefully add salmon., Cook, covered, on high 60-70 minutes or just until fish flakes easily with a fork (a thermometer inserted in fish should read at least 145°). Using foil strips as handles, remove salmon from cooking liquid. Serve warm or cold, with lemon and dill.

Steps:

• Combine wine, onion, celery, peppercorns, and bay leaf in a fish poacher. Place poacher over 2 burners on the stove.
• Rinse fish under cold water, stuff the cavity with dill and lemon slices, and place on the rack in the pot. Cover and bring slowly to a strong simmer (don't boil at any point). Cook until fish easily flakes with a fork, being sure not to overcook, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 140 degrees F (60 degrees C). Drain and serve.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, mayonnaise, onion, parsley, tarragon, salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Cover and refrigerate., In a large nonstick skillet, combine the broth, water, lemon juice, bay leaf and remaining pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; add the salmon. , Cover and poach for 8-10 minutes or until fish is firm and flakes easily with a fork. Remove from poaching liquid. Serve with tarragon sauce.

Steps:

• Poach salmon: In a large straight-sided skillet, combine 6 cups water, lemon slices, peppercorns, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; bring to a simmer over medium-high, then reduce heat to a low simmer. Add salmon (water should just cover fish), cover, and cook until opaque throughout, 5 to 8 minutes. With a wide, slotted spatula, transfer salmon to a plate.
• To serve: Whisk together lemon zest and juice, oil, and mustard; season with salt and pepper. Divide watercress, peaches, and basil among 4 plates, top with salmon, and drizzle with dressing. Season with salt and pepper.