Description
Ina Garten’s seared salmon with spicy red pepper aioli creates a Mediterranean-inspired dish balancing rich fish with zesty sauce. Crisp exterior and silky center make this elegant recipe perfect for sophisticated dinner guests you can impress easily.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 (6 oz/170 g) center-cut salmon fillets, boneless and skinless
- 1 cup mayonnaise (Hellmann’s)
- 2 tsp minced garlic (2 cloves)
- 1 tbsp chopped chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
- ¼ cup roasted red peppers, seeded and chopped
- 1 tbsp lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 lime, quartered, for serving
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper, freshly ground
- Olive oil, good quality
Instructions
- Skillet Preparation: Heat a cast-iron skillet over high heat for 5 minutes, reaching 400°F (200°C) to create the perfect searing environment.
- Aioli Creation: Pulse garlic, chipotle pepper, lime juice, and roasted red peppers in a food processor until smooth. Incorporate mayonnaise, seasoning with salt and black pepper to craft a velvety spicy sauce.
- Salmon Preparation: Thoroughly dry salmon fillets with paper towels, massage with olive oil, and season comprehensively with salt and black pepper, ensuring complete coverage.
- Searing Process: Carefully place salmon skin-side down in the scorching skillet, cooking undisturbed for 2 minutes to develop a golden, crispy exterior that seals in moisture.
- Oven Finishing: Flip fillets with a metal spatula and transfer the skillet directly to the preheated oven. Roast for 3-4 minutes, targeting a rare to medium-rare doneness.
- Resting and Serving: Remove from oven and loosely tent with foil, allowing salmon to rest for 3-5 minutes. Plate with the prepared chipotle aioli and garnish with fresh lime wedges for a vibrant citrus accent.
Notes
- Skillet Selection: Choose a heavy-cast iron skillet for optimal heat retention and perfect searing of salmon.
- Moisture Matters: Thoroughly pat salmon completely dry before seasoning to achieve an incredibly crispy skin and prevent steaming.
- Temperature Precision: Use a meat thermometer to check salmon’s internal temperature, targeting 125°F for medium-rare doneness.
- Rest and Relax: Allow salmon to rest after cooking, which helps redistribute juices and ensures a tender, succulent final texture.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg