Nancy Silverton’s Roasted Salmon Steaks with Remoulade Butter
Ed Anderson
In the world of mid-1970s cooking, horseshoe-shaped salmon steaks were far more common than the now ubiquitous fillet, says L.A. chef Nancy Silverton, who cites the cut as her proving grounds when learning to cook. Now the old-school cut is back, seared in a hot pan, then roasted in the oven and topped with herby compound butter.
How to Make It
1
To make the herb butter, put the butter, parsley, dill, chives, tarragon, capers, shallot, lemon juice, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Finely chop the anchovies with a large knife, then add to bowl. Grate the garlic into the bowl using a fine grater. Mix on medium speed with paddle attachment until the ingredients are combined. Set aside.
2
To cook the salmon, adjust the oven racks so none is near the oven floor; you’ll be putting a baking sheet directly on the oven floor. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
3
Pat the salmon steaks dry and place them in a large baking dish. Tie a length of kitchen twine around the outside of each salmon steak, tie the ends closed, and trim excess twine. Drizzle fish with 2 tablespoons of oil, then season both sides of the fish with salt and pepper.
4
Heat 1 tbsp. of the oil in a large cast-iron skillet (or another heavy skillet) over medium-high heat until the oil is smoking around the edges of the pan. Add 2 of the salmon steaks and sear for 5 minutes, until they are deeply caramelized on both sides. Remove the salmon steaks from the pan and place them on a baking sheet. Wipe the pan clean, heat the remaining 1 tbsp. oil and cook remaining steaks. Add them to the baking sheet, in a single layer.
5
Place the baking sheet on the oven floor or the lowest rack and roast the salmon for 5 minutes. Flip the steaks, and roast for 2 more minutes.
6
To serve, transfer the salmon steaks to a large platter. Quickly spread a big spoonful of herb butter onto each steak. Squeeze the lemon juice over the steaks.
Ingredients
FOR THE HERB BUTTER
½ lb (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
¼ cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh dill
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh chives
1 tbsp finely chopped fresh tarragon leaves
2 tbsp capers (preferably salt-packed), soaked for 15 minutes if salt-packed, rinsed and drained
1 medium shallot, peeled and finely chopped
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp kosher salt
4 anchovy fillets
1 large garlic clove, peeled
FOR THE SALMON
4 salmon steaks (each 10 to 12 oz. and 1-in. thick)
¼ cup olive oil
2 tbsp kosher salt
Fresh coarsely ground black pepper
TO SERVE
½ lemon
Directions
1
To make the herb butter, put the butter, parsley, dill, chives, tarragon, capers, shallot, lemon juice, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Finely chop the anchovies with a large knife, then add to bowl. Grate the garlic into the bowl using a fine grater. Mix on medium speed with paddle attachment until the ingredients are combined. Set aside.
2
To cook the salmon, adjust the oven racks so none is near the oven floor; you’ll be putting a baking sheet directly on the oven floor. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
3
Pat the salmon steaks dry and place them in a large baking dish. Tie a length of kitchen twine around the outside of each salmon steak, tie the ends closed, and trim excess twine. Drizzle fish with 2 tablespoons of oil, then season both sides of the fish with salt and pepper.
4
Heat 1 tbsp. of the oil in a large cast-iron skillet (or another heavy skillet) over medium-high heat until the oil is smoking around the edges of the pan. Add 2 of the salmon steaks and sear for 5 minutes, until they are deeply caramelized on both sides. Remove the salmon steaks from the pan and place them on a baking sheet. Wipe the pan clean, heat the remaining 1 tbsp. oil and cook remaining steaks. Add them to the baking sheet, in a single layer.
5
Place the baking sheet on the oven floor or the lowest rack and roast the salmon for 5 minutes. Flip the steaks, and roast for 2 more minutes.
6
To serve, transfer the salmon steaks to a large platter. Quickly spread a big spoonful of herb butter onto each steak. Squeeze the lemon juice over the steaks.
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