PAN-SEARED SALMON WITH NO-FAIL HOLLANDAISE AND ASPARAGUS

Pan-Seared Salmon with No-Fail Hollandaise and Asparagus image

Provided by Andrew Zimmern

Time 30m

Yield 2 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 skin-on salmon fillets, about 6 ounces each
Sea salt
Ground white pepper
3 tablespoons safflower or other vegetable oil
1/2 pound asparagus, trimmed
3 large egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Pinch cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, plus more for seasoning
1 tablespoon minced fresh chives, plus more for garnish
1 tablespoon minced fresh dill, plus more for garnish
1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon, plus more for garnish
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cubed and at room temperature
Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil.
Season your salmon with sea salt and white pepper.

Steps:

Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and heat for a couple minutes.
Salt the boiling water, add the asparagus and cook for 2 minutes. Drain and reserve on a paper towel-lined plate.
Add the salmon skin-side up to the pan and cook for 4 minutes. Flip and cook skin-side down until the skin is crisped and salmon is cooked just past medium-rare, about 6 more minutes.
Meanwhile, make the hollandaise sauce: Bring a couple inches of water to a simmer in a small saucepan. Whisk together the egg yolks, mustard, cayenne, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon each of the herbs in a medium metal bowl. Set the bowl over the simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water) and whisk until the hollandaise has thickened, about 2 minutes. You can move the saucepan on and off the heat to regulate the temperature, so the eggs don't cook too quickly.
When the mixture is hot and thickened, gradually add the butter in several batches and whisk after each addition until fully incorporated, about 3 minutes. Add sea salt and white pepper to taste.
Place the salmon fillets and asparagus on individual serving plates and spoon the hollandaise over the top. Garnish with the remaining minced herbs and serve.