Seared salmon with honey-mustard vermouth sauce

Exit

Ingredients

  • Salmon fillet, skin on (amount not given)
  • Salt; a little oil
  • Lemon: slices for the oven, plus a squeeze to serve
  • Sauce: about 1 tsp of the pan fat, 3–4 tbsp vermouth, 1 tsp mustard (IKEA Swedish, slightly sweet), ½–1 tsp honey (less if the vermouth is sweet), ½ tsp dark soy sauce, a splash of water if needed, a squeeze of lemon, an optional knob of butter
  • Side: oven-roasted vegetables (which vegetables: not given; see roasted-vegetables)

Step 1 of 9

Step 1: Seared salmon with honey-mustard vermouth sauce

Start the vegetables first in the oven at 200–220°C, fan on.

Step 2 of 9

Step 2: Seared salmon with honey-mustard vermouth sauce

Pat the salmon very dry and salt it. Let it sit 10–15 min out of the fridge if you can.

Step 3 of 9

Step 3: Seared salmon with honey-mustard vermouth sauce

Heat an oven-safe pan on medium-high with a little oil until it shimmers.

Step 4 of 9

Step 4: Seared salmon with honey-mustard vermouth sauce

Lay the salmon skin side down and press it flat for 10–15 seconds. Sear 2–3 min until the skin is crisp. Don't flip.

Step 5 of 9

Step 5: Seared salmon with honey-mustard vermouth sauce

Finish in the oven at 200–220°C for 5–7 min, in the pan or moved onto the vegetable tray. Lemon slices go on the flesh, not the skin.

Step 6 of 9

Step 6: Seared salmon with honey-mustard vermouth sauce

Done when the centre just flakes (50–55°C inside for medium, 63°C fully cooked). Hold the hot pan handle with a towel.

Step 7 of 9

Step 7: Seared salmon with honey-mustard vermouth sauce

Sauce: pour off all but about 1 tsp of fat. On medium heat, deglaze with the vermouth, scrape up the browned bits, and reduce by half (about 1 min).

Step 8 of 9

Step 8: Seared salmon with honey-mustard vermouth sauce

Stir in the mustard, honey and dark soy. Add a splash of water if it gets too thick; it should coat a spoon.

Step 9 of 9

Step 9: Seared salmon with honey-mustard vermouth sauce

Off the heat, add a squeeze of lemon and swirl in the butter if using. Taste: more lemon if too sweet, a touch more honey if too sharp. Spoon over the salmon and vegetables.

Done

That was the last step of Seared salmon with honey-mustard vermouth sauce.

Back to the recipe