Baked Salmon with Tarragon-Glazed Cucumber
Cooked cucumber? Trust us. A little heat makes it slightly creamy and helps it soak up the gently seasoned pickling mixture. Thin-skinned cucumber is a must here for its tender texture and bright color.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Preheat oven to 375°. Dice enough cucumber to make 3/4 cup. Cut remaining cucumber in half lengthwise. Scrape out any coarse seeds with a small spoon and discard. Thinly slice cucumber crosswise.
Step 2
2
Set salmon skin side down on a work surface. Cut fish down to the skin, but not through it, to divide into 4 portions.
Step 3
3
Line a 9- by 13-in. baking dish with foil. Put salmon skin side down in dish. Melt 1 tbsp. butter and mix with lemon juice, 1/4 tsp. salt, and the pepper; spoon over fish and into crevices.
Step 4
4
Bake salmon until barely opaque but still moist in center of thickest part, 10 to 13 minutes. Remove from oven; keep warm.
Step 5
5
While salmon bakes, combine shallots, chopped tarragon, and the vinegar in a 10-in. frying pan. Boil over high heat, stirring often, until vinegar evaporates but shallots still look wet, 4 to 5 minutes. Add 1 tbsp. butter, remove from heat, and stir until it melts. Stir in diced cucumber; set aside.
Step 6
6
Transfer cooked fish to a warm platter or plates, using a wide spatula to lift it from skin. Return cucumber mixture to high heat and cook, stirring often, until slightly translucent and hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Add remaining 3 tbsp. butter and 1/4 tsp. salt. Stir just until butter melts and sauce looks creamy. Remove from heat and stir in sliced cucumber and parsley.
Step 7
7
Spoon cucumber sauce over salmon and scatter tarragon leaves on top. Serve immediately so colors stay bright, and season to taste with more salt if you like.
Step 8
8
*Ask your fishmonger to remove bones, or do it yourself: Run a finger over flesh to locate bones, then pull them out with fish tweezers (see how at sunset.com/salmonvideo).
Ingredients
8 ounces thin-skinned cucumber, such as English, Persian, or Armenian
1 center-cut king salmon fillet (1 1/2 lbs., 1 to 1 1/2 in. thick), pin bones removed*
5 tablespoons butter, divided
1 tablespoon lemon juice
About 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup minced shallots
1 tablespoon coarsely chopped fresh tarragon, plus 1 tbsp. tarragon leaves
1/2 cup Champagne vinegar
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley
Directions
Step 1
1
Preheat oven to 375°. Dice enough cucumber to make 3/4 cup. Cut remaining cucumber in half lengthwise. Scrape out any coarse seeds with a small spoon and discard. Thinly slice cucumber crosswise.
Step 2
2
Set salmon skin side down on a work surface. Cut fish down to the skin, but not through it, to divide into 4 portions.
Step 3
3
Line a 9- by 13-in. baking dish with foil. Put salmon skin side down in dish. Melt 1 tbsp. butter and mix with lemon juice, 1/4 tsp. salt, and the pepper; spoon over fish and into crevices.
Step 4
4
Bake salmon until barely opaque but still moist in center of thickest part, 10 to 13 minutes. Remove from oven; keep warm.
Step 5
5
While salmon bakes, combine shallots, chopped tarragon, and the vinegar in a 10-in. frying pan. Boil over high heat, stirring often, until vinegar evaporates but shallots still look wet, 4 to 5 minutes. Add 1 tbsp. butter, remove from heat, and stir until it melts. Stir in diced cucumber; set aside.
Step 6
6
Transfer cooked fish to a warm platter or plates, using a wide spatula to lift it from skin. Return cucumber mixture to high heat and cook, stirring often, until slightly translucent and hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Add remaining 3 tbsp. butter and 1/4 tsp. salt. Stir just until butter melts and sauce looks creamy. Remove from heat and stir in sliced cucumber and parsley.
Step 7
7
Spoon cucumber sauce over salmon and scatter tarragon leaves on top. Serve immediately so colors stay bright, and season to taste with more salt if you like.
Step 8
8
*Ask your fishmonger to remove bones, or do it yourself: Run a finger over flesh to locate bones, then pull them out with fish tweezers (see how at sunset.com/salmonvideo).
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