If you follow my simple searing process for salmon, you are just about done with preparing this dinner salad. Then make my basic vinaigrette with a quick addition of mayonnaise to make it creamy; toss over a large bunch of salad greens and dinner is served. For a heartier meal, add roasted potatoes to the salad bowl, tossed with dressing. Dinner in less than 15 minutes. How nice.
Pan-Seared Salmon
Fresh Salmon - skin on, cut into portion size
Canola or Olive Oil
Kosher Salt
Cracked Black Pepper
Place a large stainless steel pan over medium-high heat. Allow the pan to become very hot. Add oil to thinly coat the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle the salmon with salt and pepper, drizzle a small amount of oil over the salmon. Carefully, lay the salmon flesh side down into the hot pan. Don't move or flip the salmon for at about 5 minutes. You will see the salmon changing color from the pan side moving up. You want a dark colored sear on this side of the salmon. When this side is fully seared, a spatula should easily slip under the salmon so that it can now be flipped onto the skin side. Cook on the skin side for 3-4 minutes. Turn off the heat. Flip the salmon over again so that the skin side is now facing you. Using tongs, remove the skin by pulling back at one corner, and pulling across the full piece of salmon. It should remove easily. Discard the skin. Flip the salmon over one more time so that the skin side is now down in the pan. Continue cooking the skin side for 1-2 minutes longer now that the skin is removed. The residual heat in the pan is sufficient to cook for this remaining time. Remove from the pan and place onto your serving plate.
Creamy Herb Vinaigrette
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
2 tablespoons champagne vinegar
6 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon chopped basil and chives, combined
In a small bowl, add the Dijon mustard, honey, salt and pepper; whisk to combine. Add the vinegar; whisk to combine. Slowly drizzle in the oil, whisking vigorously while doing so. Whisk in the mayonnaise. Stir in the chopped herbs.
Put It Together: Make the salad dressing. Sear the salmon. Place a large amount of salad greens in a bowl. Add the roasted potatoes, if using. Toss together with enough salad dressing to coat the greens. Divide the tossed salad greens onto serving plates. Top with the seared salmon. Drizzle a bit more dressing on the salmon.