Pan Fried Salmon

Photo and Recipe Courtesy: Dr. Debarshi Chatterji

Have you ever had pan fried Salmon? It tastes amazing! You can serve it with garlic fried asparagus or green salad. Light up a candle and you got yourself a nice restaurant style meal at home.

Debarshi and I regularly eat Salmon. It makes a nice weeknight dinner option. You can prepare it within minutes and serve it hot. If you love Salmon, then you will be surprised to know the innumerous health benefits of this fish. Salmon is very rich in Omega 3 fatty acids which are useful in protecting heart diseases. Salmon is also rich in iron, zinc, vitamins, protein and minerals.

Buying Salmon

You can purchase Salmon in the form of steaks or fillets. You can get it fresh, frozen, canned or smoked. Personally I am big on buying organic fresh Salmon. Even if you are a novice (like me) at buying fish, you can always tell by smelling if the fish is fresh or not. 

Storing Salmon

Try to consume the fish within a few days. Plan the quantity and cook accordingly. If you feel that you wont be able to finish it, freeze it as soon as you can. I always freeze raw Salmon in small portions. That gives me the flexibility to thaw and cook a small quantity whenever I want. Remember, you should never freeze a fish that has been thawed before.

How to cook perfect Salmon every time

First comes the flavor, make sure to season your Salmon properly. Make a rub and apply it generously on both the sides. A well balanced seasoning can turn even the blandest dishes into mouth watering meals. Ignore it and you can turn a delicious pan fried Salmon into a tasteless dish which you will never feel like cooking again.

Good non stick pan does the trick

This is very important. The fish can still stick on the bottom of the pan even after you do all the steps (pat it dry, use the correct amount of oil to fry, perfect temperature). A good non stick pan ensures that nothing sticks on it making the fish crisp. It also helps with the cleaning. Preheat the oil and only then place the Salmon on the pan. Ensure that the temperature is not too high because it will over cook the fish. Lower the heat right before adding the fish into the pan.

Safety first

Be very careful while adding the fish in the pan. There will be hot oil so lower the fish on the pan and place it away from you gently and slowly. Do not drop the fish from a height because it will lead to dangerous splashes.

Finally, Dinner!

Pan frying is not tough. All you go to do is follow the directions properly and make sure not to do anything in haste. When prepared properly, you will get a nice crispy skin and flaky fish.

Bon Appetit!

Ingredients:

• Salmon Fillets – 2 center-cut, about 1-inch-thick, skin on or off
• Tandoori Chicken Masala - 3 tablespoons
• Garlic Powder - 1 teaspoon
• Ginger Powder - 1 teaspoon
• Salt - (to taste) about ½ teaspoon
• Black Pepper Powder - 1 teaspoon
• Turmeric Powder - ½ teaspoon
• Olive Oil – 2-3 tablespoons + ½ cup
• Green chilies – 2, slit in halves
• Garlic – 2 cloves, sliced

Let’s do some preparations first:

• Rinse the Salmon in running water to remove any loose scales and then gently pat them dry using a paper towel. Remove all excess water prior to adding the rub.
• Prepare the rub. Mix together the Tandoori Chicken Masala, Garlic and Ginger Powder, Salt, Black Pepper Powder, Turmeric Powder and Olive Oil (2-3 tablespoons). 
• Rub the spice mixture on both sides of the Salmon fillets.

Directions to pan fry:

• Heat a large nonstick skillet with Olive oil (½ cup) over medium-low heat. 
• Wait for about a minute then turn down the heat to low and place the salmon, skin-side up in the pan. 
• Sprinkle the sliced Garlic and Green Chili on it. 
• Cook until golden brown on 1 side, about 4 minutes. 
• Turn the fish over with a spatula. Cover and cook until it feels firm to the touch and the skin is crisp, about 3-4 minutes more. 
• Transfer to a plate and serve with Garlic fried Asparagus and Egg Salad.

Recommended Reading:

• Egg Salad
• Romaine Salad with Basil and Nuts
• Cream of Asparagus Soup
• Tandoori Masala

More recipes with Salmon:

• Grilled Salmon with Shrimp and Peppers
• Doi Mach (Bengali Recipe: Succulent Fried Fish in Yogurt Gravy)