Wild King Salmon With Savory Whipped Cream Recipes

Steps:

• Slice salmon diagonally into 6 four-ounce portions about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick (or have your fishmonger slice it). Place on a cutting board or baking sheet. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
• Put cream in a mixing bowl and beat with a whisk until just barely thickened. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt, some freshly ground pepper, the mustard, the cayenne and the lemon zest. Beat again until soft peaks form, but don't let the cream get too stiff. Fold in chives. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Put butter in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. When butter begins to foam, add salmon pieces and reduce heat slightly. Cook gently on one side for about 2 minutes, then flip and cook one minute more. Turn off heat and let rest for 2 minutes. Salmon should be cooked through but moist. Be careful not to overcook.
• Transfer salmon to a platter or individual plates. Spoon some savory whipped cream over each serving. Garnish with tarragon, watercress and flowers, if desired.

Steps:

• Slice the cucumber halves on the diagonal about 1/3 inch thick. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the cucumbers and blanch for 20 seconds, then transfer with a wiremesh skimmer to ice water to chill. Add the onion to the boiling water and blanch for 15 seconds. Drain and transfer to the ice water. When cool, drain and pat dry with paper towels.
• In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallots and sauté until softened, about 8 minutes. Add the wine and saffron and simmer until almost dry. Add the stock and simmer until reduced by half. Whisk in the crème fraîche. Simmer until the sauce is reduced to about 1 cup. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean saucepan. Whisk in the chives and tarragon. Add the cucumbers and onions. Season with salt and keep warm over low heat while you cook the salmon.
• With needle-nose pliers or tweezers, remove the salmon's fine pinbones. (You can feel these by running your fingers over the thickest part of the flesh.) Season the fish on both sides with salt and white pepper. Heat a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the salmon, skinned side up. Sear until nicely browned, about 2 minutes, then turn and cook until the fish just flakes, about 3 minutes longer, lowering the heat as needed to prevent burning.
• Divide the cucumbers, onions, and saffron broth evenly among 4 soup bowls. Top each serving with a salmon fillet. Garnish the salmon with a sprinkle of fresh chives. Serve immediately.
• Enjoy with Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay or another medium-bodied white wine.