Salt-crust salmon recipe | Jamie Oliver whole salmon recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do I cook a whole salmon in Jamie Oliver? ›

Drizzle the fish lightly with olive oil, then lay on top of the potatoes and fennel. Slice up one of the lemons, then stuff into the cavity with the remaining herbs. Bake the fish in the screaming hot oven for 15 minutes, then turn the temperature down to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4 and cook for a further 30 minutes.

Salting the salmon at least 12 hours before and placing the fillets on paper towels both cures and dries the fish and results in the characteristic salinity and texture of the salmon that's typically served in a Japanese breakfast.

Baked salmon is best when cooked at 425°F in the oven.

Even thicker fillets don't take long. We recommend baking the salmon uncovered. Simply rub the fillets with a little oil, sprinkle them with salt and pepper, then place them in the roasting pan skin-side down before popping them in the oven.

Spices: Dried spices, such as onion powder, garlic powder, and cumin, can add depth of flavor to salmon. Smoked paprika or sweet paprika can add smokiness to the salmon. To add heat, try chili powder, cayenne pepper, jerk seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or Chinese five-spice powder.

Salmon does not need to be rinsed before cooking, says Dr. Farzad, who points out that, “food safety guidelines suggest that rinsing meat including fish/salmon can increase the risk of spreading pathogenic (disease causing) bacteria around your kitchen.”

Seafood. Once you've salted your fish — say, a nice salmon fillet or a cod — you have to cook it right away. If not, "you'll pull out a lot of moisture in the fish, making it dry and unpleasant," warns Booth. That means if you've over-salted your fish, you have to jump into action ASAP.

After drying, make sure to season the salmon generously with salt and pepper on both sides. If you have a little time to spare, seasoning it at least 45 minutes in advance and letting it rest in the fridge up to several hours can help the fish retain more moisture as it cooks.

For smaller, crispy, skin-on Salmon; a crispy pan sear is recommended. For bigger fillets, and succulent, skin-off King Salmon; the best method would be cooking in an oven.

Does salmon taste better with butter or oil? ›

A seared fish necessity. Butter + Oil. Butter makes everything better, and the oil is key for helping create the crispy exterior. Make sure to use an oil with a high smoke point like canola, grapeseed, or avocado oil to avoid burning it.

Pat the salmon steaks with a little olive oil, season and place skin-side down in the frying pan. Leave them for 2 minutes to get really crispy then check how they're doing. They'll want around 4 minutes on the skin side and 1 minute on the other.

Choose a Hefty Piece of Skin-On Fillet

It adds flavor, picks up char from the grill or pan, helps protect the fish from overcooking, prevents sticking, and is your best chance for keeping the delicate flesh intact.

So when you're cooking salmon, keep that skin on: It provides a safety layer between your fish's flesh and a hot pan or grill. Start with the skin-side down, and let it crisp up. It's much easier to slide a fish spatula under the salmon's skin than under its delicate flesh.

Season with a small pinch of sea salt and black pepper, and drizzle with a little olive oil. Fold in the foil overhang, and twist the edges to seal. Bake at the bottom of the oven for 15 minutes, or until the salmon is beautifully cooked through.