Poached Fish With Cucumbers Recipes

POACHED SALMON WITH CUCUMBER SAUCE

Steps:

• Grate cucumber and toss with vinegar and salt in a colander. Set aside for 30 minutes to drain. With your hands squeeze juices from cucumber. Combine cucumber in a mixing bowl with remaining sauce ingredients and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Skin salmon fillets and remove bones. Fill a wide saucepan with water, about 3 inches deep. For one quart of water, add 2 teaspoons salt and 3 tablespoons vinegar; adjust proportions accordingly for more or less water. Bring to a boil. Carefully add salmon to pan and adjust heat until water is just below simmering -- it should shiver, and not quite bubble. Cook until fish has turned from translucent to opaque and feels springy to touch, about 8 minutes.
• Remove salmon with a spatula and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Transfer to serving platter, garnish with sauce and decorate with dill sprigs.

OVEN POACHED SALMON WITH DILL SAUCE AND CUCUMBER

Steps:

• Peel, seed and grate the cucumbers. Place in a dish cloth, roll up and squeeze/ring out as much moisture as possible. Set aside.
• In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard and lemon juice. Stir in chopped dill and chives. Remove grated cucumber from cloth and stir into mayonnaise mixture, along with the salt and pepper.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cut a piece of cheesecloth large enough to wrap the salmon completely. Line a glass baking dish large enough to hold the salmon in one layer with the cheesecloth. Lay salmon fillet(s) on cheesecloth.
• Spread lemon slices over top of salmon. Top with sliced onions. Scatter peppercorns over the top. Place bay leaves evenly on top. Fold over cheesecloth to cover completely and tuck in sides. Pour wine over the top. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until an instant read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the fillet reaches around 125 to 130 degrees.
• Using two large flat spatulas, carefully remove fish from pan and place on a cutting board to cool. Once cool, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• When ready to serve, remove cheesecloth, bay leaves, onions and peppercorns. Carefully remove lemon slices and set aside. With a damp paper towel, gently wipe off any white residue on top of salmon. (It's coagulated protein and it's fine to eat, it just doesn't look pretty!) Using two large flat spatulas, move salmon to a serving platter.
• Wipe any white residue off of lemon slices; arrange decoratively on top of cooked salmon (see photo). Garnish with fresh dill. Place cucumber sauce in a bowl and serve on the side.

SIMPLE POACHED SALMON

Steps:

• In a large, deep, straight-sided skillet or heavy pot, combine carrots, celery, onion, lemon, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 6 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook 8 minutes.
• Season salmon with salt and gently lower into simmering liquid (liquid should just cover fish). Reduce to a very gentle simmer. Cover and cook until salmon is opaque throughout, about 5 minutes (longer for thicker fillets). Using a wide slotted spatula, remove salmon from liquid.

DAD'S POACHED SALMON WITH CUCUMBER SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all poaching liquid ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring the poaching liquid to a very low simmer and cook 30 minutes. Skim the top as needed to remove any foam from the surface. Lay some cheesecloth over the top of the poaching liquid, making a bed for the fillets. Submerge salmon in poaching liquid and cook for 8 to 10 minutes.
• 1 English cucumber, unpeeled, roughly chopped
• Fronds from 1 bunch dill (about 1 cup)
• 1/2 small red onion
• 2 large lemons, juiced
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup yogurt
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Combine first four ingredients in a blender and puree. Gradually blend in mayonnaise, oil and yogurt and then season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• Serve poached salmon with side of sauce.