Asian flavors accentuate the best fresh salmon that is available to you. If you don't have access to good quality fresh salmon, substitute tuna, mahi mahi, swordfish, monkfish, or wahoo.
Preparation Time
1 hr 10 mins
Cooking Time
25 mins
Total Time
1 hr 35 mins
Calories
1163 Calories
Recipe Instructions
Step 1
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Step 2
To make the cucumber salad, stir together sesame oil, dill, rice vinegar, mirin, and sesame seeds in a glass or plastic bowl; add cucumber, and toss until well coated. Cover, and refrigerate for 2 hours. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
Step 3
To prepare the ginger crust, stir together the ginger, green onions, and garlic in a sturdy, metal bowl; set aside. Heat 1/4 cup peanut oil in a small saucepan over high heat until it begins to smoke. Remove from heat, and carefully stir in the ginger mixture; set aside.
Step 4
Heat 2 tablespoons peanut oil in a large, ovenproof, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Season salmon fillets to taste with salt and pepper. Sear salmon until golden brown on both sides, 30 to 40 seconds per side. Transfer to a plate, and wipe excess oil from skillet. Spread honey over top of fillets, then evenly spread with reserved ginger crust.
Step 5
Replace salmon into the skillet, and place into the oven. Bake until the center of the salmon turns opaque, 6 to 7 minutes.
Step 6
Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, stir in shallots, and cook until softened and translucent, about 2 minutes. Pour in white wine, then simmer until nearly evaporated. Add the ponzu sauce and heavy cream, reduce by 1/2. Remove from heat, then whisk in cold butter pieces until dissolved; season to taste with kosher salt.
Step 7
To assemble the dish, season the cucumber salad to taste with salt. Divide the salad evenly onto four plates, spreading it out into a 4 to 5-inch circle. Drizzle the ponzu butter onto the bare area of the plate, around the cucumber salad. Place a salmon fillet, crust-side up, on top of the salad, and serve.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons honey
½ cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons sesame oil
¼ cup peanut oil
4 green onions, thinly sliced
½ cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons peanut oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
kosher salt to taste
½ cup rice wine vinegar
¼ cup mirin (Japanese rice wine)
1 teaspoon white sesame seeds
1 teaspoon black sesame seeds
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 shallots, minced
2 cucumbers, halved, seeded, and cut into very thin slices
⅓ cup minced fresh ginger root
4 (8 ounce) center-cut salmon fillets
3 tablespoons ponzu sauce
½ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
