Poached Salmon Niçoise
Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Randy Mon
Yields Serves 6 to 8 Total Time 1 hr

How to Make It

Step 1
1

To a large roasting pan, add bay leaves, kosher salt, peppercorns, and wine. Add salmon and enough water to cover.

Step 2
2

Remove salmon and set aside; bring liquid to a boil, covered. Reduce to a simmer, then gently slide salmon into liquid and simmer 10 to 15 minutes, covered, until salmon is just opaque.

Step 3
3

While salmon is cooking, make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together garlic, mustard, and vinegar. Gradually whisk in oil until dressing is emulsified. Whisk in herbs and season with sea salt.

Step 4
4

Using 2 spatulas, remove salmon, place on a cooling rack set on a sheet pan, and chill 10 minutes, loosely covered with foil. Discard poaching liquid.

Step 5
5

Remove salmon from refrigerator and break into large pieces, discarding skin. On a very large serving platter, top watercress with pieces of fish, potatoes, eggs, green beans, olives, and tomatoes. Drizzle dressing over everything and serve immediately, accompanied by crusty bread.

Step 6
6

Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.

Ingredients

 2 bay leaves
 1 tablespoon kosher salt
 10 black peppercorns
 2 cups white wine
 2 pounds skin-on wild salmon fillet pieces (1 to 1 1/2 in. thick)
 3 garlic cloves, minced
 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
 5 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
 2 tablespoons chopped basil
  Sea salt to taste
 2 large bunches watercress, root ends trimmed, leaving stems intact
 10 small yellow-skinned new potatoes, boiled until tender and cut in half
 4 hard-cooked eggs, cut into quarters
 1/4 pound haricots verts (French green beans) or regular green beans, trimmed and boiled until tender-crisp
 1/2 cup pitted Niçoise olives
 3 Roma tomatoes, cut into lengthwise wedges

Directions

Step 1
1

To a large roasting pan, add bay leaves, kosher salt, peppercorns, and wine. Add salmon and enough water to cover.

Step 2
2

Remove salmon and set aside; bring liquid to a boil, covered. Reduce to a simmer, then gently slide salmon into liquid and simmer 10 to 15 minutes, covered, until salmon is just opaque.

Step 3
3

While salmon is cooking, make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together garlic, mustard, and vinegar. Gradually whisk in oil until dressing is emulsified. Whisk in herbs and season with sea salt.

Step 4
4

Using 2 spatulas, remove salmon, place on a cooling rack set on a sheet pan, and chill 10 minutes, loosely covered with foil. Discard poaching liquid.

Step 5
5

Remove salmon from refrigerator and break into large pieces, discarding skin. On a very large serving platter, top watercress with pieces of fish, potatoes, eggs, green beans, olives, and tomatoes. Drizzle dressing over everything and serve immediately, accompanied by crusty bread.

Step 6
6

Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.

Poached Salmon Niçoise

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