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Ponzu salmon is an easy Japanese-style salmon recipe that combines tender fish with bright citrus soy flavor for a fresh and savory meal. The salmon is usually pan fried, baked, or broiled until the edges become lightly golden while the center stays moist and flaky. Ponzu sauce brings a balance of soy sauce, citrus, vinegar, and umami, while butter, garlic, ginger, mirin, or a little honey can add richness and depth. As the sauce warms and lightly reduces, it coats the salmon with a glossy finish without making the dish feel heavy. The final ponzu salmon is fast, clean tasting, and satisfying, pairing well with steamed rice, cucumber salad, miso soup, roasted vegetables, noodles, or pickles for a simple Japanese-inspired dinner.
Transcript
00:00This is the best salmon dish I've ever made, says one of my readers,
00:03and the battered citrus aroma filling the kitchen is exactly why.
00:07Let me show you how to make it.
00:09If you'd like a printable version of this recipe to keep you in your kitchen,
00:13just google ponzu salmon statue to find it.
00:16First, mix your ponzu glaze.
00:18Combine 4 tablespoons of ponzu sauce with 1 tablespoon of sake,
00:22and 1 tablespoon of mirin.
00:25That is it.
00:26Three ingredients.
00:27The ponzu is doing all the heavy lifting here with its citrus soy complexity.
00:33The sake adds depth and helps tenderize,
00:36and the mirin rounds everything out with a touch of sweetness.
00:40Now your salmon.
00:41You want skin on fillets about 2-3cm thick.
00:45Farmed Atlantic or King salmon are great choices here because
00:49their higher fat content keeps them moist and forgiving.
00:53White sockeye works too, but it's leaner so it cooks faster,
00:57and you will need to keep a close iron.
01:00Pat your salmon completely dry with paper towels,
01:03press firmly on every surface, and get all the moisture off.
01:08Season both sides with salt, then dust with about 1 tablespoon of potato starch.
01:14You want a thin, even coat.
01:16The starch creates a light crispy shell on the outside of the fish when it hits the hot pan.
01:22Second, when the ponzu glaze goes in later, the starch dissolves into the sauce and thickens it,
01:29helping it cling to the fish instead of running off onto the plate.
01:33If you don't have potato starch, corn starch will work too.
01:37Rice flour is another option that gives you an ultra-crisp finish,
01:42but the coating is more delicate and can break apart if you handle the fish too much.
01:47Whichever you use, keep it light.
01:49Too much starch creates a pasty layer that actually prevents the sauce from reducing properly.
01:56Place a tablespoon of butter in your pan over medium heat.
01:59When the butter melts and starts to form, it's time.
02:03You could use a neutral oil instead and it will still work.
02:07Lay your salmon fillet skin side down.
02:11Do not touch the fish.
02:13Do not peek underneath.
02:15Do not nudge around.
02:16Leave it completely alone for a full 4 minutes.
02:24After 4 minutes, carefully flip each fillet.
02:27Say the flesh side for about 2 minutes.
02:30If you use tall fillets like mine today, a bit more like 30 seconds each for the sides,
02:36it's also needed.
02:38You're not trying to cook it all the way through on this side,
02:42just getting a bit of colour and firming up the surface.
02:46Then, remove the salmon from the pan and set it aside on the plate.
02:49We're coming back to it soon.
02:51In the same pan, with all those battery salmon flavoured bits still in there,
02:56add 30g of sliced bell pepper, and 50g of maitake mushrooms.
03:02If you can't find maitake, any mushroom works well,
03:06king oyster mushrooms bring a nice meaty texture,
03:09or even creamini will do the job.
03:11For the bell pepper, snap peas or asparagus are solid swaps if you prefer.
03:16Saute for 2-3 minutes until they soften, but still have a little bite to them.
03:22Nestle the salmon back into the pan, skin side up this time.
03:26Keeping the skin facing up protects the crispy texture we worked so hard to get.
03:31Now, pour your pons glaze mixture around the pan, around, not over the fish.
03:36By pouring it around the pan, the sauce heats up from the edges,
03:41starts reducing immediately, and you'll control exactly how much ends up on the fish.
03:47Grab a spoon and start basting. Scoop the sauce from the pan,
03:51and spoon it over the fish continuously for about 1 minute.
03:55You will see the sauce transform right in front of you.
03:58It goes from thin and watery to glossy and syrupy.
04:01When it coats the back of your spoon and the bubbles in the pan,
04:05slow down to a lazy, thick rhythm, you're done.
04:10Time to plate.
04:11Scoop about 150g of rice onto one side of your plate.
04:16Arrange a handful of baby leaf salad, about 50g next to it.
04:20Lay the sautéed vegetables down, place your salmon on top,
04:25and spoon the rest of the gorgeous glossy ponzu sauce right over everything.
04:30Finish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds, and a crack of black pepper if you like.
04:36Look at that. Crispy skin, tender flesh, and this tangy battery ponzu glaze that ties the whole plate
04:42together. The acidity of the ponzu cuts right through the richness of the salmon,
04:47and the batter pours it all into one cohesive bite.
04:52Want even more delicious recipes? Grab my free cookbook from the link in the description.
04:58Okay, let's go over the ingredients one more time, and if you're ready to cook,
05:02grab the written instructions by clicking the full recipe box with a picture that's about to pop
05:07up on your screen. That's a wrap. You can find the full printable version of this recipe on my
05:12website, linked right here on the screen. It has all the extra details to help you get perfect every
05:17time. If you enjoyed this, check out my salmon playlist. And next week, I'm making tonjuru.
05:22Hit subscribe so you don't miss it. See you then.
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