Salmon Recipes

Photo by Photo by John Kernick, Marcia Kiesel

Salmon is one of the most versatile fish both in methods of preparation and pairing with wine. One of salmon’s advantages is its size, which allows for steaks, fillets and smaller cuts to cook perfectly through many cooking preparations. Another reason for salmon’s flexibility is its natural oil content, which keeps salmon moist when cooked but also allows for a fairly broad range of wine pairing options.

One thing to keep in mind is that many red wines, and most particularly those that are tannic, will turn bitter and bring out the fishy flavors of salmon's fat. To keep that from happening, look for low tannin options when pairing salmon with red wines. These include Pinot Noir, Gamay and even some lighter Zinfandels, which tend to be high in acid and low in tannin.

That acidity is one of the keys to food and wine pairing. With a fatty fish such as salmon, err on the side of acid when looking for a wine to pair, whether that wine is red or white. Having said that, many high acid white wines tend to be lighter-bodied, which is not the best choice for rich salmon. Instead, look for a richer, juicy white such as Chenin Blanc, Roussanne or Roussanne/Marsane blends, and barrel-aged white from Bordeaux and Rioja.

Grilled Salmon Recipes

Grilled salmon makes for one of the greatest red wine and fish pairings, it is the exception to the white wine and fish rule! Don’t feel confused, it’s simple. Salmon is a meaty fish and grilling gives it charred, smoky flavors. Pinot Noir is a high acid red wine with delicate flavors, but it usually is barrel aged, giving the wine smoky flavors and a bit of a charred note. Put grilled salmon and Pinot Noir together and the smoky, ch... Read More about Grilled Salmon pairings »

Poached Salmon Recipes

Poached salmon is the epitome of contrast. This meaty fish is prepared in the most delicate and gentle way. The cooking method adds very little flavor, so poached salmon is usually served with a sauce. Dill sauce is most common. With such a delicate set of flavors, it is not surprising to find that a delicate wine is in order here, but be careful because even though poached salmon is all about delicacy, there are still some rich flavors. Opt... Read More about Poached Salmon pairings »

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All Salmon Recipes

Ahi Tuna Seviche with Mango and Avocado
Dice tuna into 1/3-inch cubes, discarding fibrous tissue, and place in a glass bowl. Toss tuna gently with olive oil and next 3 ingredients. Cover ...
Alder-roasted Salmon with Dill and Cranberries
Combine first 6 ingredients. Preheat alder plank* in 400° oven. Place salmon, skin side down, on plank; cover with butter mixture. Bake 10 to 15 mi...
Almond-Chive Salmon
Preheat oven to 400°. Combine first 5 ingredients in a food processor; add 1/4 teaspoon salt. Process until finely chopped. Sprinkle salmon with th...
Almond-Crusted Salmon
Preheat oven to 500°. Combine first 4 ingredients in a shallow dish; set aside. Brush tops and sides of fish with juice: sprinkle with salt and pep...
Almond-Crusted Salmon with Leek and Lemon Cream
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add leeks; sauté 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook until leeks...
Ana's Honey and Soy Glazed Salmon
1 Mix the glaze ingredients together in a small bowl, and set aside. 2 Heat the olive oil in a small skillet over moderately high heat. 3 Place t...
Apple and Horseradish-Glazed Salmon
Preheat oven to 350°. Combine apple jelly, chives, horseradish, vinegar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt, stirring well with a whisk. Sprinkle salmon with 1/...
Arctic Char with Bouillabaisse Broth
Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and next 6 ingredients (onion through garlic); cook 7 minutes or until tender, ...
Arctic Char with Horseradish Cream, Sweet-and-Sour Beets, and Dandelion Greens
Grate horseradish in processor fitted with coarse-shredder disk. Transfer horseradish to medium saucepan. Add cream. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. R...
Asian Glazed Salmon
1. Place the sugar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, ginger, dash of red pepper flakes, garlic, and lime juice in a medium nonreactive saucepan. 2. Bring ...
Asian Glazed Salmon
Place the sugar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, ginger, dash of red pepper flakes, garlic, and lime juice in a medium nonreactive saucepan. Bring the mix...
Asian Salmon-and-Rice Soup
1. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Stir in the rice and boil until almost tender, about 10 minutes. Drain. 2. Coat the salmon with th...
Asian Salmon Bowl with Lime Drizzle
Heat oven to 400°F. Cook rice as directed on package. In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Sauté garlic and pepper flakes until garli...
Asian-Style Glazed Salmon with Roasted Mushroom Salad
Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 400°F. In a large bowl, toss the mushrooms with 1 Tbs. of the sesame oil. Arrange th...
Asparagus Spears with Smoked Salmon Spirals
Snap off tough ends of asparagus. Cook asparagus in boiling water 3 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain. Rinse under cold water; drain. Pat dry. C...
Asparagus with Smoked Salmon and Gribiche Sauce
Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, and lemon juice in small bowl to blend. Stir in chopped eggs, capers, parsley, tarragon, and shallot. Season sauce to...
Bacon-Wrapped Salmon with Wilted Spinach
Preheat broiler and put broiler pan under broiler so that its rack is about 4 inches from heat. Pat fish dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper, the...
Bagel Roll
Combine first 3 ingredients. Cut off top quarter of nori sheet along short end. Place nori, shiny side down, on a sushi mat covered with plastic wr...
Baked Crusted Salmon
1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Mix seasonings in small bowl. 2. Place fish, skin-side down, in lightly greased baking pan. Lightly brush with oil. Sprin...
Baked Dijon Salmon
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). 2. In a small bowl, stir together butter, mustard, and honey. Set aside. In another bowl, mix to...