Celebration Fish Platter With Spiced Cucumber Salad Recipes

CRISPY SALMON WITH CUCUMBER SALAD AND SPICY MAYO

Steps:

• Whisk together the vinegar, lime juice, sesame oil and a large pinch of salt in a large bowl. Thinly slice the cucumbers lengthwise about 1/8-inch thick with a mandoline or vegetable peeler. Add the cucumbers to the bowl with the dressing; add the cilantro and peanuts and toss until evenly coated. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt, if needed. Stir together the mayonnaise and chile-garlic sauce in a small bowl until smooth. Set both aside for serving.
• Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Season the salmon fillets with a large pinch of salt. Place the arrowroot or cornstarch in a medium shallow bowl or baking dish and whisk in the cayenne and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Dredge the salmon fillets until each side is well coated.
• Once the oil is shimmering and hot, carefully add the salmon. Cook until well browned and just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
• Give the cucumber salad a toss, then transfer to a serving bowl. Place each salmon fillet on a plate, drizzle with the spicy mayo and serve with the cucumber salad.

SMOKED FISH PLATTER WITH MUSTARD-CAPER SAUCE AND FENNEL-CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Sauce
• Mix first 3 ingredients in 2-cup glass measuring cup; gradually whisk in oil. Season with pepper. Pour half of mixture into small bowl; mix in 3 tablespoons sugar, capers, and shallot for sauce. Mix 1 tablespoon sugar into remaining mixture. Reserve for dressing salad.
• Salad
• Mix sliced fennel and cucumbers in large bowl. Mince enough fennel fronds to measure 3 tablespoons; add to bowl. Season to taste with dressing in measuring cup. Season with salt and pepper.
• Assembly
• Cover large platter with lettuce leaves. Arrange smoked fish and salad atop lettuce. Garnish with caper berries, lemon wedges, and eggs (if desired). Serve with bread, butter, and Mustard-Caper Sauce.

GRILLED FISH WITH SPICY CANTALOUPE-CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high. Clean and lightly oil hot grill. Pat fish dry with paper towels, lightly brush with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Grill, skin side up, until opaque throughout, about 10 minutes, flipping once.
• In a large bowl, combine cucumber, cantaloupe, fish sauce, lime juice, jalapeno, ginger, and mint. Transfer fish to plates and serve with salad.

SALTY-SWEET SALMON WITH GINGER AND SPICY CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Make the preserved ginger: The day before, whisk together the fish sauce, rice-wine vinegar and sugar, then add the ginger. Make sure it is covered by the liquid.
• Combine the honey, soy sauce, garlic, ketchup and 1/4 cup water. Marinate the salmon in this for 2 hours, turning after 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, prepare the cucumber salad: Bring the vinegar to a boil. Add the sugar, salt, togarashi and ginger. Return to a boil, then let cool to room temperature. Put the cucumbers in a nonreactive container and cover with the vinegar mixture. Let sit at least one hour before serving.
• Preheat grill to low. Arrange salmon on a hinged grill basket, then cook, basting occasionally with the marinade, over a low flame for 5 minutes per side, or until just flaky. (Or broil, skin side down, 6 inches from the flame for 4 minutes, baste, then turn and broil for 2 minutes.) To serve, use a slotted spoon to place the cucumber salad on each of 4 plates. Lay the salmon next to the salad and serve topped with preserved ginger.