Poached Salmon with Saffron Sauce

The rich flavor of Norwegian salmon is combined with a subtle sauce of saffron, butter, and fennel to create this elegant dish.

  • Serves

    serves 4

Ingredients

  • 18 tsp. crushed saffron threads (about 12 threads)
  • 9 tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 12 cup minced fennel bulb, fronds reserved
  • 1 large shallot, minced
  • 4 (6-oz.) skinless, boneless Norwegian salmon filets
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 24 mussels
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 3 tbsp. dry white vermouth
  • 1 tbsp. minced fresh chives
  • 1 tbsp. minced fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
  • 1 tbsp. minced fresh tarragon leaves

Instructions

Step 1

Heat oven to 225. Combine saffron and 1 1⁄2 cups warm water in a small bowl; set aside. Grease a 10" straight-sided skillet with 1 tbsp. butter. Arrange fennel and shallots in bottom of skillet. Season salmon with salt and pepper; arrange in skillet. Scatter mussels around filets; pour the reserved saffron liquid and the wine around the salmon. Cover and bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the mussels open, about 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat; set aside, covered, to let steam until salmon is cooked through, about 3 more minutes. Using a metal spatula, transfer fish and mussels to a baking sheet, and transfer baking sheet to oven.

Step 2

Return skillet to high heat; add vermouth and bring to a boil. Whisk in remaining butter 1 tbsp. at a time. Remove pan from heat and stir in chives, parsley, and tarragon. Season broth with salt. Divide fish and mussels between 4 bowls and spoon broth over top. Garnish fish with reserved fennel fronds.
  1. Heat oven to 225. Combine saffron and 1 1⁄2 cups warm water in a small bowl; set aside. Grease a 10" straight-sided skillet with 1 tbsp. butter. Arrange fennel and shallots in bottom of skillet. Season salmon with salt and pepper; arrange in skillet. Scatter mussels around filets; pour the reserved saffron liquid and the wine around the salmon. Cover and bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the mussels open, about 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat; set aside, covered, to let steam until salmon is cooked through, about 3 more minutes. Using a metal spatula, transfer fish and mussels to a baking sheet, and transfer baking sheet to oven.
  2. Return skillet to high heat; add vermouth and bring to a boil. Whisk in remaining butter 1 tbsp. at a time. Remove pan from heat and stir in chives, parsley, and tarragon. Season broth with salt. Divide fish and mussels between 4 bowls and spoon broth over top. Garnish fish with reserved fennel fronds.
Recipes

Poached Salmon with Saffron Sauce

  • Serves

    serves 4

TODD COLEMAN

The rich flavor of Norwegian salmon is combined with a subtle sauce of saffron, butter, and fennel to create this elegant dish.

Ingredients

  • 18 tsp. crushed saffron threads (about 12 threads)
  • 9 tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 12 cup minced fennel bulb, fronds reserved
  • 1 large shallot, minced
  • 4 (6-oz.) skinless, boneless Norwegian salmon filets
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 24 mussels
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 3 tbsp. dry white vermouth
  • 1 tbsp. minced fresh chives
  • 1 tbsp. minced fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
  • 1 tbsp. minced fresh tarragon leaves

Instructions

Step 1

Heat oven to 225. Combine saffron and 1 1⁄2 cups warm water in a small bowl; set aside. Grease a 10" straight-sided skillet with 1 tbsp. butter. Arrange fennel and shallots in bottom of skillet. Season salmon with salt and pepper; arrange in skillet. Scatter mussels around filets; pour the reserved saffron liquid and the wine around the salmon. Cover and bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the mussels open, about 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat; set aside, covered, to let steam until salmon is cooked through, about 3 more minutes. Using a metal spatula, transfer fish and mussels to a baking sheet, and transfer baking sheet to oven.

Step 2

Return skillet to high heat; add vermouth and bring to a boil. Whisk in remaining butter 1 tbsp. at a time. Remove pan from heat and stir in chives, parsley, and tarragon. Season broth with salt. Divide fish and mussels between 4 bowls and spoon broth over top. Garnish fish with reserved fennel fronds.
  1. Heat oven to 225. Combine saffron and 1 1⁄2 cups warm water in a small bowl; set aside. Grease a 10" straight-sided skillet with 1 tbsp. butter. Arrange fennel and shallots in bottom of skillet. Season salmon with salt and pepper; arrange in skillet. Scatter mussels around filets; pour the reserved saffron liquid and the wine around the salmon. Cover and bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the mussels open, about 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat; set aside, covered, to let steam until salmon is cooked through, about 3 more minutes. Using a metal spatula, transfer fish and mussels to a baking sheet, and transfer baking sheet to oven.
  2. Return skillet to high heat; add vermouth and bring to a boil. Whisk in remaining butter 1 tbsp. at a time. Remove pan from heat and stir in chives, parsley, and tarragon. Season broth with salt. Divide fish and mussels between 4 bowls and spoon broth over top. Garnish fish with reserved fennel fronds.

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