Seared Salmon With Scallion Butter Food

BROWN-BUTTER SALMON WITH SCALLIONS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Pat salmon dry, and season with salt and pepper. Set aside. Using a vegetable peeler, peel the zest of the lemon in wide strips. Cut the lemon into wedges for serving.
• In a large, ovenproof skillet, melt the butter over medium. When it's foaming, add the scallions and the lemon peel, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter turns brown and smells nutty, 3 to 6 minutes. (If you're using a light-colored pan, you'll see the browned bits in the skillet. If you're using a dark-colored pan, look for dark spots on the white parts of the scallions; those are browned bits of butter and a sign to remove the skillet from heat.)
• Immediately remove from heat, and add ⅓ cup of water. Stir to combine. Lay the salmon, skin side down (if there's skin), into the sauce. Cover the skillet and bake until cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes, or slightly longer if you're cooking a single, large piece. (You'll know the salmon is done when the fish flakes or an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 120 degrees.)
• Eat the salmon with a spoonful of sauce and a squeeze of the lemon.

SEARED SALMON WITH RAISIN AND CAPER BUTTER

Steps:

• Make butter:
• In small bowl, combine raisins and 1/2 cup hot water. Cover and let soak 2 hours, then drain.
• In food processor, combine butter, raisins, capers, and lemon zest and pulse until well combined. Stir in chives. Transfer to large sheet of wax paper and roll into 6-inch-long log. Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate at least 1 hour to allow flavors to develop.
• Make salmon:
• Season salmon fillets with salt and pepper. In 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil until hot but not smoking. Add 4 fillets, skin-sides-up, and sear until undersides are well browned, about 4 minutes. Turn fillets over and sear until just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes more. Transfer to serving platter and keep warm. Wipe pan clean, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil, and repeat with remaining 4 fillets.
• Slice log of butter into 8 coins. Top each salmon fillet with 1 coin and serve immediately.

SEARED SALMON WITH LIME BUTTER

Steps:

• Spray a large cast-iron skillet or stainless steel skillet with nonstick cooking spray and heat it over medium-high heat.
• When the pan is hot, add half of the butter, and let it melt.
• The pan should be hot enough that the butter bubbles but doesn't brown.
• Add in the salmon, skin side down and top it with half the lime juice and half of the salt.
• Sear the salmon (cook it without moving it) for about 5 minutes until it starts to cook through.
• Add the remaining half of the butter to the pan and flip the salmon.
• Decrease the heat slightly; top the salmon with the rest of the lime juice and a little more salt.
• Cook it for 3-5 minutes until the salmon flakes easily and is cooked through.
• Remove the salmon to a plate and top it with any pan drippings.

TERIYAKI SALMON WITH SCALLIONS

Steps:

• Remove any bones from salmon and discard. Place salmon in bowl or shallow casserole. Cover with teriyaki sauce. Marinate for 5 minutes
• Meanwhile, trim roots from scallions. Trim 2 bunches of scallions so that each scallion has only 1 inch of green on top. Place trimmed scallions in nonstick skillet with enough salted water to cover. Bring to a boil, lower heat, and cook until scallions are soft, about 5 minutes. Keep warm.
• Remove salmon from marinade. Reserve marinade. Press 1/2 teaspoon of butcher-grind black pepper into skinless side of each salmon fillet. Heat 1 very large or 2 smaller nonstick skillets until very hot. Put salmon skin side up in pan(s) and cook over medium-high heat for 3 minutes. Turn over and cook 2 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, finely dice remaining scallions so that you have 1/2 cup. Add to reserved marinade. Add marinade and 1/4 cup water to salmon. Heat for 1 to 2 minutes, until salmon is cooked as desired. Serve immediately with boiled scallions.