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Seared Salmon with Tomatillo Coulis

4.4

(11)

The chef serves this salmon over a salad of romaine hearts, artichoke hearts, radishes, green beans, cucumber, potatoes, celery, scallion, olives, tomatoes, and basil with a dressing of lime juice and olive oil.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 4

Ingredients

For tomatillo coulis

1 small red onion
1/4 pound fresh tomatillos*
1 fresh green Anaheim chile*
1 fresh poblano chile*
3 unpeeled garlic cloves
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 scant cup cilantro sprigs
1 scant cup packed fresh spinach leaves
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
about 1/4 cup water
four 5-ounce pieces salmon fillet with skin
12 fresh basil leaves
1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns**
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
*available at Latino markets, specialty foods shops, and some supermarkets
**available at Asian markets and some specialty foods shops and supermarkets

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Make coulis: Preheat oven to 400°F.

    Step 2

    Quarter onion. In a shallow baking pan toss onion, tomatillos (in husks), chiles, and garlic cloves with 2 tablespoons olive oil until coated. Roast vegetables in middle of oven until tender, about 25 minutes.

    Step 3

    Wearing rubber gloves, peel chiles. Cut off tops of chiles and remove seeds and ribs. Discard husks from tomatillos and peel garlic. In a blender purée roasted vegetables and all remaining coulis ingredients except water, adding just enough water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if necessary to facilitate blending. Season coulis with salt.

    Step 4

    With a paring knife make 3 slits in top of each salmon fillet and stuff each with a basil leaf. With a mortar and pestle or an electric coffee/spice grinder coarsely grind peppercorns. Brush salmon with extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with ground peppercorns and sea salt. In a large nonstick skillet heat olive oil over high heat until hot but not smoking and sear salmon fillets, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides and just cooked through, about 7 minutes total. Serve salmon with coulis.

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