ChezCindy: Salmon Piccata with Lemon Caper Sauce

 

Salmon piccata is a dinner that seems very elegant that you might order from a restaurant.  However, it is a quick cooking meal that you can serve at home in under 30 minutes.  Be sure to have all your measuring and chopping of the ingredients before you start cooking.  Once you start cooking, everything moves along very quickly.  I like to serve this with a rice pilaf or a thin spaghetti pasta.  

Piccata was once thought to have been created for Italian nobility during the Renaissance.  Further research leads to piccata being a dish made by Italian immigrants first noted in the 1930's.  It is more commonly made with chicken or veal, but always with a buttery pan sauce spiked with lemons and capers.  When you make piccata home, you and your family may feel as if you are dining like royalty.  Enjoy!!

Salmon Piccata with Lemon Caper Sauce

4 6-ounce skinless salmon filets, center cut

1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt, divided

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

2 tablespoons chopped shallots

1/3 cup chicken broth

2 tablespoons capers, drained

1 teaspoon lemon zest

2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley

Dry the salmon filets with a paper towel.  Evenly season the filets with 1 teaspoon salt.  Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.

Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the hot skillet.  Carefully add the filets to the pan flesh-side down.  Allow to cook without moving or turning for 4-5 minutes.  This will create a deep brown color on this first side.  Using a flexible spatula, flip each filet over to cook on the second side.  Cook on this side for 2-3 minutes.  The filets should be slightly pink at the center.  Remove the filets to a plate to rest.

Working quickly, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the pan.  Add in the chopped shallots and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt.  Stir to combine, cooking for about 1 minute.  Add in the chicken broth, lemon juice, capers, and lemon zest.  Simmer for 2 minutes to slightly reduce the mixture.  Whisk in the butter and mustard until smooth.  Turn off the heat, removing the pan from the heat surface.  Spoon the sauce over the salmon, sprinkle with the chopped parsley.