PAN-SEARED SALMON WITH CELERY, OLIVES AND CAPERS

Pan-Seared Salmon With Celery, Olives and Capers image

The salsa that I spoon over the salmon here is an explosion of contrasting flavors - sweet, salty and sharp - common in Sicilian cooking. I like serving this with sautéed greens and some bread.

Provided by Yotam Ottolenghi

Categories dinner, seafood, main course

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

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Ingredients

2/3 cup/100 grams currants
Generous pinch of saffron
4 salmon fillets (about 4 ounces each), skin on
About 1/2 cup/100 milliliters olive oil
Salt and black pepper
4 sticks celery (about 6 ounces/180 grams), cut into 1/2-inch/1-centimeter dice, leaves removed and reserved for garnish
1/4 cup/30 grams pine nuts, roughly chopped
Scant 1/4 cup/40 grams drained capers, plus 2 tablespoons of their brine
8 large green olives, pitted and cut into 1/2-inch/1-centimeter dice
1/3 cup/20 grams parsley, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Steps:

Cover the currants with boiling water and set aside to soak for 20 minutes. In a separate small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of boiling water with the saffron and also leave for 20 minutes or longer.
Gently rub the salmon fillets with 2 teaspoons of the oil, 1/3 teaspoon of salt and a good grind of pepper. Set aside while you make the relish.
Add 1/3 cup/75 milliliters of olive oil to a large sauté pan over high heat. Add the celery and pine nuts and fry for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the nuts begin to brown (watch carefully as they can burn quickly). Turn off heat and stir in the capers and their brine, the olives, saffron and its water and a pinch of salt. Drain the currants and add them as well, along with the parsley, lemon zest and juice. Mix well and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add salmon fillets skin-side down and let cook for 3 minutes, until the skin is crisp. Reduce the heat to medium, flip the fillets over and cook 2 to 4 minutes more (depending on how much you like the salmon to be cooked).
Divide the salmon on 4 plates and serve with the warm relish spooned on top. Scatter reserved celery leaves (if using) and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 576, UnsaturatedFat 33 grams, Carbohydrate 21 grams, Fat 44 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 26 grams, SaturatedFat 7 grams, Sodium 511 milligrams, Sugar 17 grams