Sous-Vide Salmon With Caper-Parsley Vinaigrette
Cooking salmon using a sous-vide machine produces the most buttery, flavorful fish imaginable. In this recipe, the fish is slathered with herbs before cooking, then topped with a caper-studded vinaigrette. You have two choices for preparing the salmon: One is to slightly undercook the fish, then sear it on a grill or under the broiler to crisp up the skin. The second is to cook it in the sous-vide machine until it’s perfectly done, and serve it while soft and satiny all the way through.
- Total:
- Serves: 8 persons
Ingredients
- 1(3 1/2-pound) boneless, skin-on side of salmon, cut into 4 pieces crosswise
- ½teaspoon granulated sugar
- ¼teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Fine sea salt, as needed
- ¼cup fresh dill fronds
- ¼cup packed fresh parsley sprigs
- 2scallions, thinly sliced
- 2tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing (optional)
- ¼cup thinly sliced red onion or shallot
- ¼cup fresh lemon juice, plus more to taste
- 2tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
- 2tablespoons finely chopped drained capers
- 2small garlic cloves, finely grated or mashed to a paste
- 2scallions, white and green parts only, thinly sliced
- ½teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- ½teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
- ¾cup extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
Step 1
Place salmon pieces skin-side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle flesh side with sugar and pepper, then season generously with salt to taste. Let sit while you prepare herb paste.Step 2
In a mini food processor or blender, combine dill, parsley, scallions and oil. Blend into a paste, then smear onto flesh side of salmon. Sandwich all four salmon pieces so flesh sides are touching, then place in a sous-vide bag. Transfer to the refrigerator to chill, at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.Step 3
Heat water with sous-vide machine to 113 degrees if grilling or broiling to sear the skin before serving, or 122 degrees if serving as is. Submerge salmon in its sous-vide bag in water, weighing it down if necessary to submerge, and cook for 2 hours, or until pink in the middle and barely flaking.Step 4
Make the vinaigrette: In a medium bowl, whisk together onion, lemon juice, parsley, capers, garlic, scallions, salt and pepper until combined. Whisk in oil in a slow, steady stream. Taste and add more salt, pepper and lemon juice to your liking.Step 5
If you’d like to sear the salmon skin for serving, heat grill or broiler and position rack 4 inches from heating element.Step 6
Brush salmon skin with oil. For grilling, lay pieces skin-side down in a grill basket, and grill until skin is lightly charred and crispy, 2 to 3 minutes. For broiling, transfer salmon pieces to a rimmed baking sheet and broil skin-side up until skin is lightly charred and crispy, 3 to 4 minutes.Step 7
Transfer to a serving platter and serve with vinaigrette on the side.