#ewew cooks Salmon a Few Ways

My first mention of Vfresh was through this post when I got some pineapple products from them to try. Besides their pineapple products of fruit, juice and tarts, they also offer frozen seafood (like prawns, fish, squid, clams, even cockles!), meat (kampong chicken, lamb, mutton) and others (like unagi, prawn tempura, ice cream).

Vfresh's salmon fillets are said to be frozen immediately after filleting so that it retains its freshness, texture and taste.  I like that the fillets are vacuum packed individually which makes it so easy for portioning (just defrost the number of pieces you want to cook).  According to Vfresh, their salmon is sourced from a Chilean farm (with sustainable practices).  My first purchase of salmon fillets from them (I noticed) were more pinkish in colour.

But when I got my second batch, they yielded a slightly more orangey colour (not sure if they were from the same source/farm).  Even though the salmon is frozen, I have to say it's of acceptable freshness, even better than some of those I get from supermarkets.  Each slice of about 180g - 200g salmon fillet retails for around RM13 - RM15.

What do you do when presented with frozen but adequately fresh salmon?  Well, you cook simple, delicious meals with them.  When I say 'presented', I actually mean that I get my supply from Vfresh and I've made repeated orders since.

#1 - Teriyaki Salmon

Buoyed by the success of grilled saba teriyaki (ahem, I say success as I did receive a glowing review from my sister-in-law's family when I made it for them together with seasoned ramen eggs), so teriyaki salmon ended up as one of the first dishes I made with the salmon.  The best and easiest way to cook salmon is to simply pan-fry them...and you start with searing the salmon on all sides, skin side down first to help it crisp up. Make sure you pat dry the salmon.  You can also rub a little cornflour on it to ensure it doesn't stick during the frying process.

The more difficult part of this recipe is the making of the sweet and savoury teriyaki sauce.  It's usually done with a ratio of 2 : 2 : 2 :1 of mirin, sake, soy sauce and sugar but you can also make a simplified version of it with just mirin, soy and sugar and it'll taste just as good.  Once the salmon is almost done, pour in the teriyaki sauce and cook it till it's reduced....hee...hee..so cheffy-like, don't you think, with all the smoke and sizzling! :D  Coat all sides with the thickened sauce to form a glaze over the salmon.

Pour any leftover sauce over the salmon.  Sprinkled with sesame seeds, the teriyaki salmon makes a great side dish.  Best eaten with a squeeze of lemon or (perhaps) some grated daikon.

But I like to make a salmon teriyaki bowl (or plate) with it for a complete meal.  You can serve it with any vegetables of your choice (this time it was sesame-seasoned spinach)...and a scattering of furikake over the top wouldn't hurt either for more umami flavours.

#2 - Pan-Fried Salmon with Avocado Salsa

This salmon dish makes for a fresh, easy and nutritious meal.  Pair it with a simple salsa like this avocado salsa which contains diced avocado, pineapple and red bell pepper tossed in lime juice and fresh coriander. It may need a little dicing and slicing but the effort is well worth it.

A mango or pineapple salsa works just as well too.  My inspiration for my salsa is not only based on the texture and taste of the ingredients but also how it'll look overall in terms of colour.  Spoon the salsa over the the crisp-skinned salmon fillets and serve it with a side of roasted broccoli and potatoes for a complete meal.

The creaminess of the avocado coupled with the sweetness of the pineapple cubes and crunchy diced red bell pepper makes for a very appetising accompaniment with the pan seared salmon.  You really can't go wrong with this method of preparation.....fresh, simple, delicious. ^o^

#3 - Honey Garlic Salmon

It's the perfect healthy dinner that you can whip up in a jiffy during your busy work days.  Dust the salmon fillet with cornflour and shake off any excess.  The cornflour coating gives the salmon (the skin especially) that nice crunch + it also helps hold the salmon together during the pan-frying process.

Then make a quick and easy sauce with honey, garlic, soy, water and fresh coriander.  You only need to infuse the garlic into the oil (not fry till golden brown) before adding the sauce.  I trimmed off the thinner part near the belly so that the fillet has a nicer presentation, you don't have to (though I still cooked the trimmed part and ate it, nothing goes to waste).  Once the sauce has reduced slightly, return the salmon to the pan to coat in the sauce or just spoon the sauce over your salmon.

Serve this Chinese-style salmon over rice with any two sides of your choice for a balanced meal.  I paired mine with a side of sauteed fresh shiitake mushrooms and some blanched broccoli this time.  You may want to make more sauce to drizzle over your rice and vegetables.

#4 - Pan Seared Salmon with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

When you've salmon that fresh, you don't have to do much to it.  Just keep it simple by pan searing the salmon in a hot pan which is one of the best ways to enjoy a fresh slab of salmon.  If you want your salmon fillets seared to golden brown perfection, use a combination of olive oil and butter (the latter gives you that extra lusciousness too).

Then make a sauce by sauteeing some (very finely minced) garlic in the leftover olive oil in the pan with butter, lemon juice, chopped coriander leaves (I just prefer the taste of coriander but you can certainly go with the more commonly used fresh parsley instead) and a little water to dilute the sauce.

Serve this with a side of mashed potatoes (mashed together with garlic and butter but I chose to leave out cream or milk), charred asparagus and blistered cherry tomatoes.  You may omit the mashed potatoes if you want to keep it low carb (or include it if you need a fuller meal).  Finish with a silky, flavourful buttery sauce drizzled over the fish and vegetables and a sprinkling of fresh coriander.  Minimal ingredients, maximum taste! ^.^

#5 - Baked Salmon in Foil Paper Packet

I got the inspiration for this dish referring to a recipe for baked salmon in foil but cooked it in a paper packet instead.  You can also use foil to fold over and seal to create a packet but it can also be cooked uncovered (like what I've done here).

Make a marinade with olive oil, minced garlic, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, black pepper and honey. Pour it over the salmon fillet that has been seasoned with a bit of salt and top it with bits of butter for better browning.  If you happen to have lemon in your pantry, it could do with a squeeze of lemon juice, some lemon zest and/or even slices of lemon over the fish.  I didn't (and I wasn't going to go out just to buy that in the midst of our second lockdown), so I made do with what I have...which were some slices of tomato for acidity (I didn't even have cherry tomatoes).

10 - 12 minutes in a 200°C oven is all it needs and out comes this tender, flaky and flavourful butter garlic baked salmon.  It's quick and easy to prepare with minimal washing to do....just discard the paper boat! ;D

Serve this with some blanched bok choy (or any greens of your choice) and you have yourselves a light, low carb meal that's not only delicious but pretty healthy too (omit the butter altogether and it can be a super healthy meal!).  The tomato slices turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it not only offered freshness and acidity to the dish, it ended up being an extra vegetable that I can eat.  We shouldn't say no to more vegetables on our plate, right?

If you love salmon in all shapes and forms (like I do), you'd want to get your hands on some fresh (or even frozen) salmon fillets and cook them simply (like I did) as it's a fish that shines even with the littlest of cooking.  Simply seasoned (with just salt & freshly cracked black pepper) and pan-fried is all it needs to turn out a pleasurable meal.  Elevate it with a marinade, sauce or more seasonings if you have the time and it'll be even more delicious.  I hope I've given you a tiny bit of inspiration to make your favourite salmon dish at home! ^_~