Description
Ina Garten’s seared salmon with spicy red pepper aioli delivers restaurant-quality elegance right to home kitchens. Mediterranean-inspired flavors dance across perfectly crisp salmon, complemented by a zesty, creamy sauce that elevates this dish from simple to spectacular.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood:
- 4 (6-ounce) boneless, skinless, center-cut salmon fillets
- Good olive oil
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 cup good mayonnaise, such as Hellmann’s
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 tablespoon (canned) chopped chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 cloves)
- ¼ cup jarred roasted red peppers, seeded and chopped
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Garnish:
- 1 lime, quartered, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C), ensuring an optimal cooking environment for the salmon.
- Craft the zesty aioli by finely mincing the garlic and chipotle pepper into a fragrant paste. Transfer the mixture to a food processor, incorporating lime juice and roasted red peppers. Blend thoroughly, then fold in mayonnaise, seasoning with precisely salt and black pepper until silky smooth.
- Prepare the salmon fillets by thoroughly patting them dry with paper towels. Gently massage olive oil across the entire surface of each fillet.
- Heat a 12-inch (30-centimeter) cast-iron skillet over high heat for 5 minutes, creating an intense cooking surface.
- Season the salmon generously with 1½ teaspoons salt and ¾ teaspoon black pepper, focusing on even distribution.
- Carefully position the salmon in the scorching skillet, placing the rounded side down. Sear for exactly 2 minutes without disturbing the fillets, allowing a perfect golden crust to form.
- Delicately flip the salmon using a sturdy metal spatula, transferring the skillet directly into the preheated oven.
- Roast for 3 to 4 minutes, aiming for a rare center. Remove from the oven and loosely tent with aluminum foil.
- Allow the salmon to rest for 3 to 4 minutes for medium-rare, or up to 5 minutes for a medium doneness, letting the juices redistribute.
- Plate the salmon immediately, accompaniedby the vibrant red pepper aioli and a fresh lime wedge for a burst of citrusy brightness.
Notes
- Sear salmon in a scorching hot skillet to lock in flavors and create a stunning golden-brown crust that crackles with every bite.
- Gently blot salmon fillets with paper towels to remove excess moisture, ensuring a restaurant-quality sear that’s crisp and never soggy.
- Let the salmon rest undisturbed during cooking, allowing a delightful caramelized exterior to develop without disrupting the delicate cooking process.
- Shield your perfectly cooked salmon with a loose aluminum foil tent after roasting, trapping precious juices and maintaining its succulent texture.
- Chill the aioli beforehand, creating a refreshing temperature contrast that elevates the warm, rich salmon to a gourmet experience.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet (of 4 servings)
- Calories: 273
- Sugar: 0.7g
- Sodium: 117.7mg
- Fat: 13.9g
- Saturated Fat: 1.9g
- Carbohydrates: 2.3g
- Fiber: 0.7g
- Protein: 34.3g
- Cholesterol: 93.6mg