Best Chef Johns Baked Lemon Pepper Salmon Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S SALMON

Steps:

• Season salmon fillets with kosher salt. Line a baking baking sheet with foil and brush lightly with vegetable oil.
• Preheat oven's broiler on high and set the oven rack about 8 inches from the heat source.
• Process garlic, tarragon, and parsley in a blender or mortar and pestle to form a loose paste.
• Mix mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper into garlic paste until combined.
• Place salmon fillets skin side down on the baking sheet. Spoon herb spread over the top and sides of each fillet.
• Cook under the preheated broiler until fillets are well-browned, about 5 minutes. Turn the broiler off and turn the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake until the internal temperature of the salmon is 130 degrees F (55 degrees C) and salmon flakes easily with a fork, about 3 to 4 minutes.

CHEF JOHN'S SALMON LOAF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Generously butter a loaf pan.
• Melt butter over medium heat in a saute pan until bubbling. Toss in onion, give the pan a quick shake, and stir with a wooden spoon; cook for 1 minute. Turn off the heat and allow to cool.
• Place salmon in a large mixing bowl and mash with a fork. Add cracker crumbs, salt, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, rice vinegar, butter, and onions; mix and mash with a spatula or spoon until smooth.
• Separate eggs, adding whites to a clean glass, metal, or ceramic bowl and adding yolks to salmon mixture. Mix egg yolks and salmon until well combined.
• Whisk whites to medium stiff peaks. Gently fold into salmon mixture in 2 additions.
• Transfer salmon mixture into the prepared loaf pan. Smooth the top with a spatula to even it out and shake and tap the pan to remove any air bubbles.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until a toothpick comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes, then carefully turn loaf out onto a cutting board. Slice and serve.

CHEF JOHN'S SALMON IN PARCHMENT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Take two pieces of parchment paper, fold in half, and cut a half-circle starting at each crease. They should look similar to a heart-shape when unfolded. Coat each piece of parchment with olive oil on both sides.
• Place potatoes in a saucepan and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain.
• Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add asparagus, and cook uncovered until slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Drain in a colander, then immediately immerse in ice water for several minutes until cold to stop the cooking process. Once the asparagus is cold, drain well, and set aside.
• Place 1 salmon fillet, half the asparagus, and half the potatoes in the middle of one side of a prepared parchment paper. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Fold other half of circle over and seal parchment edge by making overlapping folds around the edge. At the end, fold the last crease in the opposite direction of the rest to ensure it seals. Repeat with the second piece of prepared parchment and remaining ingredients. Place pouches on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to sit for 5 minutes before cutting open parchment. The salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork.

7-MINUTE SALMON PICCATA

Steps:

• Season salmon with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Sprinkle flour onto one side of each fillet and pat gently onto the fish.
• Heat clarified butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add salmon, floured side down, and let sear for 2 ½ minutes. Flip and sear the other side for 2 minutes. Remove to a plate and cover with foil.
• Add capers to the skillet and press with the back of a fork to gently mash. Pour in wine and lemon juice; add lemon zest. Swirl the pan to combine. Let reduce by half, about 1 minute.
• Reduce heat to low and add butter; swirl the pan or stir with a spoon or spatula until butter is almost fully melted. Transfer salmon and any accumulated juices from the plate back into the skillet. Allow butter to fully melt while spooning sauce over salmon.
• Pour in water to thin sauce if needed; continue to spoon sauce over salmon and cook until salmon is fully cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the fillets should read about 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Sprinkle parsley over top.
• Remove from heat and transfer to a serving plate; spoon pan sauce over salmon.