TORCHED SALMON IN GREEN JUICE SAUCE

TORCHED SALMON IN GREEN JUICE SAUCE

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“REVELATIONAL… INGENIOUS… DO YOU JUICE?”

Last week I discovered something revelational… ingenious… a recipe that isn’t just a recipe, but an idea. A method with infinite possibilities. The final product tasted so extravagantly delicious, the word “healthy” didn’t even come within a mile in association, and I was simply going to pitch it to you as the best and easiest damn salmon dish you’ll ever encounter. Little did I know that I almost regrettably left out the single greatest marketing value it may possess, until last night, I ran into this question:

Do you juice?

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Have you heard? Juice is very happening. Last night, just before I almost published without knowing, I had the pleasure of meeting a new friend visiting from New York, who’s a member of an uprising grassroots (literally) movement sweeping NYC. They are the people who pay $10~$12 on a daily basis for a religious cup of organic vegetable fluids (aka juice) that tastes like… the sublimity of kale on kale. Yum~. Of course, while juicing is a great way to absorb all the healthy vitamins you need, not everyone is a fan of the taste. In that case, it may be worth researching Private Label Supplement Products since you can create a pill which will have the nutrients you need without the taste. I still highly recommend giving juicing a go since it is so beneficial. It’s the KOK party and they aren’t kidding around. They will dominate the world by outliving you by 30 years by drinking KOK juice…

What now? Juice is trending? If it was last month, I’d roll my eyes cuz what am I? Do I look like Gwyneth Paltrow’s colon to you? But now? Yes, yes I actually juice! In fact I’ve been juicing relentlessly for the past couple weeks, only in a slightly different, more edible context. It involves a concoction of green veggies and herbs with jalapeño pickling vinegar and a dab of whisked sour cream, being poured over a bed of flame-torched, soft-baked salmon. And it tastes like foods, great foods that doesn’t make you feel like you’re only eating it to shrink a tumor. Just when I thought this post is about salmon, it’s actually about it-juice. Shit, I can never keep up…

But, fads will be fads. The juice sauce was unexpectedly great, but it’ll never be completed without this equally fabulous salmon.

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This idea from Bon Appetit of using vegetable and herb juice as a “sauce” came at a perfect timing when, for the first time in my life, I’ve been enjoying eating salmon. Actually, cooked salmon. I mean obviously me and raw salmon have been quite cozy over dishes like Hawaiian salmon poke, or mini salmon hand-rolls, so I hope it’d understand when I say it loses its suppleness and looks 10-years older when it decides to take a bake and turn itself into pink chalk.

Salmon, my dear, perhaps a fake tan would be sufficient next time?

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But of course, I was wrong. Again. A mid-section fillet of salmon, baked in a relatively low temperature for a reasonable 20 min, will a yield gently cooked outer layer and a still pink, borderline-undercooked interior that is… well, perfect. But the part where it gets better, yes, as I discovered while looking for a way to warm up cold salmon without further cooking it, is that if you just leave it alone to cool down, or even in the fridge to chill through completely. Then right before serving, you break apart the tenderness with your hands and softly softly kiss it on the forehead… with a flaming torch! Blistering the surface fat and warming through the flesh just slightly is the answer to smoky and intensified baby-pink salmon, which I’ve been addicted to with just a sprinkle of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Until I started to juice of course.

The union of two tasty ideas doesn’t always equal happy marriage, but in this case, it does. No more to be said. Torch your salmon, and juice this way.

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Serving: 2

This recipe is a great entertaining dish because the actual cooking of the fish can be done even the day before. That’s right! Because the salmon can be lightly warmed up by the torch with parts of it still pink and slightly cold. Think torched salmon sushi! To cook salmon perfectly: the cooking-time is based on a typical mid-section salmon fillet that’s 1 1/2″ (4 cm) at its thickest part. The temperature of the salmon, right before it goes into the oven, should be cold (refrigerated temperature) but not borderline frozen (for example, the exterior is defrosted but the center is icy-cold). I typically treasure the skin of salmon as crispy chips from the sea, but in this particular case, it isn’t applicable. I like to keep the skin on during baking because it keeps the salmon moist, but this cooking method won’t turn it crispy so I remove it after baking.

You can make the sauce with a juicer, or a blender like I did. The procedure varies slightly. The recipe from the magazine uses white wine vinegar, which I’ve switched with the pickling juice of jalapeño. I think it did wonders for the sauce because it added not just acidity, but a bit of heat and flavours. I also added a little sour cream to make the juice “rounder” and “smoother” in texture and taste. The sauce actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge for 1 hour so make it before you start cooking the salmon (if you aren’t doing the salmon the day ahead).

Ingredients:

  • 17.6 oz (500 grams) of skin-on salmon fillet, preferably mid-section
  • Extra virgin olive oil to coat + more for serving
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to season
  • Green juice sauce: inspired by Bon Appétit
    • 1 large or 2 small stalks of celery (3.3 oz/93 grams)
    • 1 very small cucumber (2.6 oz/75 grams)
    • The green part of 3 large spring garlic, or leeks (1.4 oz/40 grams)
    • 2 tbsp of chopped cilantro
    • 1 tbsp of pickled jalapeño
    • 1 tbsp of chopped ginger
    • 2 tbsp of pickling juice from pickled jalapeño
    • 1 tbsp of lime juice
    • 1 tbsp of sour cream
    • 1/2 tsp of salt + more to adjust
    • 1/4 tsp of freshly ground black pepper

To make the green juice sauce with juicer: Juice each vegetable separately. Then combine the juice of cucumber, celery, spring garlic or leeks, cilantro, pickled jalapeño and ginger. Whisk in the pickling juice, lime juice, sour cream, salt and freshly ground black pepper, then cover the surface with plastic wrap and let sit in the fridge for at least 1 hour (to chill and also for the flavours to combine).

To make the green juice sauce with blender: Cut all the vegetables and herbs into very very small pieces (the smaller they are the easier they’ll blend). Blend all the ingredients together in a blender until very smoothly pureed, then pour into a very fine sieve, or very fine cheese clothes sitting over a large bowl. Press on the pulp with a spoon/or tighten the cheese clothes with your hand to squeeze as much juice out as you possibly can. You should have about 1 cup. Cover the surface with plastic wrap and let sit in the fridge for at least 1 hour (to chill and also for the flavours to combine).

To cook the salmon (can be made up to 1 day ahead): Preheat the oven on 320ºF/160ºC.

Make sure the salmon fillet is cold but not icy-cold. Pat dry with a clean towel then rub a layer of extra virgin olive oil all over. Place on an oiled baking-rack over a baking-sheet, skin-side up, and bake in the oven for 20 min (for a mid-section salmon fillet that’s 1 1/2″ (4 cm) at its thickest part). Remove from the oven and let it cool and rest for at least 20 min (do not cover with foil which will further cook the salmon), or keep in an air-tight container in the fridge until needed.

To assemble the dish: Peel the skin off the salmon and break the meat into large chunks, then scatter over a large serving dish. The center of the salmon should be still pink and just borderline-cooked. Season generously with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, then light up the torch and start charring the surface of the salmon. DO NOT over-torch! You’ll over-cook the salmon as a result. Just some blistering and smokiness on the surface-fat is the goal. Pour the green juice sauce onto the bottom of the plate/dish, and drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil. Serve immediately.

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21 Comments
  • Melinda

    April 7, 2014 at 11:14 PM Reply

    I am SOOOO making this! I have most ingredients on hand PLUS I am a juicer and I don’t care who knows!

    Thanks, Mandy. I’ll circle back & let you know how it goes. Flames will come from my BBQ. I’m not allowed near torches by court order.

    • mandy@ladyandpups.com

      April 8, 2014 at 12:30 AM Reply

      Melinda, if you don’t have a torch I would say the soft baked salmon itself is good enough! Grill heat may overcook the salmon.

  • Laurie

    April 8, 2014 at 2:55 AM Reply

    For some reason my poor little brain never thought of blending and straining for juicing. I didn’t want to buy a juicer because of the cost and having to find room for one more thing in the kitchen! I have a little torch that is brand new that a friend gave me and now I will have to christen it with this recipe. Such beautiful colors!

    Salmon is probably my favorite fish but you’re right about when it is overcooked. Went to someone’s house for dinner and I had to try and wash the salmon down with wine since it was determined to stay stuck in my throat! What a waste.

  • Nik@ABrownTable

    April 8, 2014 at 3:10 AM Reply

    This looks delicious, Mandy. I love the vibrant green sauce color against the pink salmon, beautifully shot!!!

  • Norma

    April 8, 2014 at 4:11 AM Reply

    I think this would work as well if the fish were steamed. I just steamed some in my Instant Pot. My salmon was just 1/2 to 3/4″ thick and took 4 minutes to cook. I’ve told several friends about your website. I cook way more than they do, but they enjoy reading it too.

  • Erika

    April 8, 2014 at 7:24 AM Reply

    I would’ve of said no I don’t juice.. well unless said juice contained something of the gin or bourbon variety.. but now I must juice cause I’ve gotta get down with this dish..

  • Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health

    April 9, 2014 at 12:13 AM Reply

    this is a great way to juice up the vegetables and enjoy it too..lovely shots.

  • Erika

    April 9, 2014 at 5:06 AM Reply

    Wow!!!! Mandy, you just amaze me with your creativity. I just one question semi-dumb question since I’m not a juicer. Why just the juice? Would the sauce be gross/not work as well with all the little blended vegetable tidbits included as well?

    My boyfriend will looooove this :)

    • mandy@ladyandpups.com

      April 9, 2014 at 1:25 PM Reply

      Erika, OH the blended vegetable is really really thick and FIBROUS with the pulp still in it so I think it’d be not very pleasant to eat. I think the idea’s great for people who wants something “refreshing” and requires no-ccoking as the weather’s getting warm? I originally thought “Ugh… raw vegetable juice.. gross!”. But it actually tastes really good! Probably because of the garlic-ness/herby-ness from the leeks and cilantro… and pickling juice… and sour cream…

  • SuperChef

    April 9, 2014 at 3:00 PM Reply

    I am one, hard-to-impress chef, but you got me! I love what you’re doing. I don’t have a torch, and neither do most folks, so I’ll lay the entire fillet on a scorching hot wood-fired grill for a minute and take it from there. I throw whatever is available in my garden into the juicer. Had some phenomenal results with New Zealand spinach, marjoram, lemon verbena, nasturtium flowers, cucumbers, ginger and mint ( in varying proportions). Awesome! Glad I found you. Keep pushing the envelope.

  • Susan

    April 15, 2014 at 7:10 PM Reply

    Ooh – I am just so excited about using my blow torch again! Plus this looks so healthy that I could still eat creme brûlée for dessert!

  • Dawn

    July 13, 2014 at 9:48 AM Reply

    My husband asked for something cool for dinner since we are having a little heat wave here in the Seattle area. I made this. Wow. Beautiful colors and flavors. I’m not even a salmon fan unless it’s sushi. I’ll definitely make it again. Maybe for the luncheon I’m hosting later this summer. Thank you!

  • Betty | le jus d'orange

    June 4, 2015 at 9:13 PM Reply

    Ran over here after your instagram post, and gahhh. So dreamy. Even more reasons to get a kitchen torch…

  • Ausra

    February 4, 2016 at 12:09 AM Reply

    Mandy, it’s such a wonderful dish!! very very tasty; and fast; and easy; and all that green goodness of the veggie sauce; and the fish was fantastic; thank you a ton for a great recipe and for all the inspiration you put into your blog;

  • Gary Hayton

    January 4, 2018 at 2:41 PM Reply

    Looks and sounds delicious, but maybe a little scary. I’m just learning a little about sous vide, never tried it; but your salmon is only in the oven 20 minutes to attain such praise? Too much for me to hope for. I’m a 73 year old man, and I want to learn to cook meals that will wow my wife, kids, and grandkids. Well, just wish me luck…

    Thanks for your inspiring version; I will try it!

  • Tash

    May 17, 2018 at 7:57 AM Reply

    Is salmon more likely to break if I undercook it or overcook it ?
    (For eg. the salmon was taken off the heat carry over cooking was going on it was in sauce it broke in half while it was being plated)

    • mandy@ladyandpups

      May 17, 2018 at 12:12 PM Reply

      Tash, in my experience it’s easier to break if it’s overcooked. but did it taste overcooked?

  • Di

    June 22, 2020 at 6:12 AM Reply

    Is there a reason to juice each vegetable separately if using a juicer?

    • mandy@ladyandpups

      June 22, 2020 at 1:34 PM Reply

      Di, if you have a juicer you can juice them all together :)

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