Description
Ina Garten’s salmon with melting tomatoes brings Mediterranean charm to dinner tables. Mediterranean herbs and ripe tomatoes create a sublime sauce that elevates delicate salmon fillets, promising restaurant-quality flavors you can savor at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 (2 pounds) salmon fillet, cut crosswise into 4 pieces
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 cup chopped sweet onion (such as Vidalia)
- 2 cups (1 pint) cherry or grape tomatoes, halved through the stem
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 cloves)
Seasonings and Condiments:
- 1 ½ tablespoons good balsamic vinegar
- 1 ½ tablespoons julienned fresh basil leaves
- Good olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Warm the oven to a toasty 425°F (220°C), creating an ideal environment for cooking.
- In a medium (10-inch) sauté pan, drizzle of olive oil over medium-low heat. Gently coax the chopped sweet onion into a tender, translucent state without allowing it to brown, approximately 5 minutes.
- Introduce minced garlic to the pan, allowing its aromatic essence to bloom for 1 minute. Carefully fold in halved tomatoes, seasoning with salt and pepper. Simmer the mixture, stirring occasionally, until the liquid reduces and the sauce thickens, roughly 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove the tomato mixture from heat, infusing it with balsamic vinegar and delicate basil leaves. Set aside to allow flavors to meld.
- Position a large (12-inch) cast-iron pan over high heat, allowing it to become scorching hot for 5 minutes.
- Prepare the salmon by generously brushing each piece with olive oil, then liberally seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Carefully place salmon pieces skin side up in the blazing hot pan, allowing them to develop a rich, golden-brown crust for 3 to 4 minutes without disturbing.
- Skillfully flip the salmon using a small metal spatula, then transfer the entire pan to the preheated oven. Roast for 8 minutes, understanding the fish will not be completely cooked through.
- Gently remove the salmon from the oven, transferring it to a serving platter. Tent with aluminum foil, letting it rest for 5 minutes to complete the cooking process.
- Warm the tomato mixture, adjusting seasoning to taste. Serve alongside the salmon, offering a choice of hot, warm, or room temperature accompaniment.
Notes
- Resting allows the salmon to retain its juicy internal texture, preventing dryness and ensuring a tender bite.
- Achieving a perfect sear requires patience with the cast-iron pan, heating it thoroughly before adding the fish.
- Slow-cooking onions transforms their harsh bite into a sweet, mellow foundation that enhances the overall dish’s depth.
- Precise cooking time prevents salmon from becoming tough, maintaining its delicate, buttery consistency.
- Covering the fish with foil after cooking helps redistribute heat and lock in essential moisture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 42 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg