PAN-SEARED SALMON WITH SESAME SEED CRUST

By blum099

With the addition of the fish fi llets, the pan temperature drops; compensate for the heat loss by keeping the heat on medi um -high for 30 seconds after adding them. If cooking two or three fillets instead of the full recipe of four, use a IO-inch skillet and medium-high heat for both preheating the pan and cooking the salmon. A splatter screen helps reduce the mess of pan-searing. Serve salmon with a sweet and sour chutney (see
related recipe), a fresh salsa, an herb-spiked vinaigrette, or squirt of lemon or lime. For heightened sesame flavor, rub the fish fillets with Asian sesame oil instead of canola or vegetable.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup sesame seeds
• 4 salmon fillets skin -on, each about 6 ounces and 1 to 1 1/4 inches thick (see illustration below)
• 3 teaspoons canola oil or vegetable oil

Preparation

Step 1

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Heat a 12-inch heavy-bottomed skillet for 3 minutes over high heat. Spread sesame seeds in a pie plate. Rub salmon fillets with 2 teaspoons canola or vegetable oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then press flesh sides of fillets in sesame seeds to coat.
2.Add remaining oil to pan; swirl to coat. When oil shimmers (but does not smoke) add fillets skin side down and cook, without moving fillets, until pan regains lost heat, about 30 seconds. Reduce heat to medium-high; continue to cook until skin side is well browned and bottom half of fillets turns opaque, 4 1/2 minutes. Turn fillets and cook, without moving them, until
they are no longer translucent on the exterior and are firm, but not hard, when gently squeezed: 3 minutes for medium-rare and 3 1/2 minutes for medium. Remove fillets from pan, being careful not to break sesame crust; let stand 1 minute. Pat with
paper towel to absorb excess fat on surface, if desired. Serve immediately.
TECHN IQUE
Cutting the Fish
T r) to get all your fi II ets from
the thicker end of the fish , so
they all have the same thickness and thereforc will cook in the same amount of time
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