Pan seared organic salmon
Organic Irish salmon is one of the finest ingredients you can cook with and pan searing is the best way to showcase everything that makes it special. The rich deep coral flesh, the extraordinary natural fat marbling, the clean sweet flavour of the Irish Atlantic — it needs very little done to it. A screaming hot pan, a little oil, good seasoning and the confidence to leave it alone. That is the entire technique. The biggest mistake people make with salmon is moving it around in the pan and flipping it too early. Lay the fillet skin side down, press it gently for ten seconds to prevent curling, then leave it completely alone for three to four minutes depending on thickness. You will see the colour change up through the flesh as it cooks. When it is three quarters of the way up the fillet flip it once, add cold butter and baste for sixty seconds. That is it.
“A good piece of organic salmon needs almost nothing – a hot pan, good butter, a squeeze of lemon and the confidence to leave it alone”
For two people you will need two organic salmon fillets skin on and pin boned, one tablespoon of light olive oil, 40g of cold unsalted butter cut into cubes, one lemon, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. For the wilted spinach — two large handfuls of fresh spinach, a knob of butter and a little grated nutmeg. Season the salmon generously on both sides. Heat a stainless steel or cast iron pan over a high heat until it is very hot. Add the olive oil. Place the salmon skin side down and press gently. Reduce to medium-high and cook for three to four minutes without touching. Flip once. Add the cold butter cubes and tilt the pan, basting the flesh continuously for sixty seconds. Remove and rest for one minute. While the salmon rests wilt the spinach in a separate pan with butter and nutmeg. Plate the spinach, place the salmon on top skin side up to keep it crispy and squeeze over fresh lemon. Finish with sea salt flakes. Our organic salmon fillets are available fresh online — delivered to your door the same day.
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