Smoky Salmon with Miso-Dressed Vegetables

  • 4
  • 60 mins

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup white miso
  • 1/4 cup chicken stock
  • 3 tablespoons mirin
  • 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
  • 3/4 teaspoon finely grated peeled ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon finely grated garlic
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons canola oil
  • Four 6-ounce, skinless center-cut salmon fillets, about 1 inch thick
  • Piment d'Espelette (see Note)
  • Kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup small hardwood chips, such as hickory or applewood
  • 1/4 pound shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded and caps thinly sliced
  • 1/2 small onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 small fennel bulb—halved, cored and thinly sliced
  • 4 medium carrots, thinly sliced on the diagonal
  • 4 baby turnips or large radishes, thinly sliced
  • 2 cups lightly packed baby spinach

Preparation

Step 1

In a saucepan, cook the miso, chicken stock, mirin, vinegar, ginger and garlic over moderate heat, whisking, until hot, 3 minutes. Whisk in the soy sauce and move off the heat.

In a large cast-iron skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil. Season the salmon with salt and piment d'Espelette; add to the skillet and cook over high heat, turning once, until lightly browned, 2 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.

Working in a well-ventilated kitchen, wipe out the skillet and add the hardwood chips. Cook the chips over high heat until they start to smoke, 5 minutes. Place a wire rack over the skillet and set the salmon on it. Tent the salmon with a large sheet of heavy-duty foil and smoke for 5 minutes, until the salmon is medium within. Transfer the salmon to a plate.

Meanwhile, in another large skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the shiitake and onion and cook over moderately high heat, tossing, until browned in spots and just starting to soften, 4 minutes. Add the fennel and carrots and cook, tossing, until crisp-tender, 2 minutes. Add the turnips and spinach and cook, tossing, until the spinach is just wilted, 1 minute. Season with salt and sprinkle lightly with piment d'Espelette; add 1 tablespoon of the miso dressing and toss well. Transfer to plates. Flake the salmon, scatter it over the salad and serve, passing the remaining dressing at the table.