Soy Ginger Salmon

bad photo, best salmon I've ever made?

This is COZY WINTER SALMON at it’s best. This one is restaurant level. The asian-inspired glaze is sweet and sticky from honey, tangy from the tamari (GF soy sauce), a little spicy from the ginger and sriracha, nutty from the sesame oil + seeds, and fresh and peppery from the scallions. There’s nothing better. I made this for my friend while we watched the Oscar’s, and she was veryyy into it.

The best way to cook the fish is in foil that has been lined with unbleached parchment paper. I used only tin foil here because I was out of parchment paper (both create a nest for the fish in the sauce), but I do not recommend cooking directly in aluminum (a heavy metal) because it leaches into the food over time which is toxic to the body.

Home Environment 101

The type of salmon you buy always informs the cooking method. Here, I used King salmon because it is flavorful, fatty, usually wild and highest in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. If you’re in NYC, it’s hard to find good, fresh fish; this is the wild Ora King salmon from Citarella (highly recommend). Ask your fishmonger what they recommend and they usually will tell you what the highest quality option is. Fattier cuts are typically more flavorful and buttery, but not always wild, which is why I love King. Sockeye is also great, flavorful and wild, but slightly less thick and firmer, so be careful not to overcook. If your cut is more lean or thin, the oven method is a little different (shorter time on broil, so as not to overcook the inside).

Why sourcing matters:

Does "Organic" Really Matter?

the color salmon should be; a perfect parchment paper nest; final beauty

KEY:

• T = Tablespoon

• tsp = teaspoon

TOOLS:

• a glass baking dish (ideally well-fitted for the amount of salmon you’re making), my favorite is pyrex

• unbleached parchment paper

• aluminum foil

• microplane/grater and vegetable peeler is helpful for the ginger

Ingredients:

serves 4

• 2 lbs salmon — I love King (flavorful, fatty, wild), see above for more info

• 3 T honey

• 3 cloves garlic, minced