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Salmon With Cucumber–Yogurt Sauce and Carrot Salad

5.0

(2)

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Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott

The crisp-skinned salmon is warmed up with spices and the sweetness of carrots. Then it's cooled down with one of the most refreshing combinations of all time: cucumbers and yogurt.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 plus 1 lunch the next day Servings

Ingredients

Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce

½ cup plain Greek yogurt
1 small garlic clove, grated
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 cucumber, peeled, thinly sliced
Fine sea salt, freshly ground black pepper

Carrot Salad

½ teaspoon cumin seeds
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
1 large carrot, shredded
1½ tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, plus more
Fine sea salt, freshly ground black pepper

Salmon and Assembly

1½ pounds salmon, preferably wild-caught sockeye or king, skin on, cut into 5 fillets
Fine sea salt, freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon neutral oil, such as canola or grapeseed, plus more for drizzling
Flaky sea salt

Preparation

  1. Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce

    Step 1

    Combine yogurt, garlic, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Fold in cucumber and season with fine sea salt and pepper.

    Step 2

    Do Ahead: Sauce without cucumber can be made up to 1 day ahead; store in an airtight container and chill.

  2. Carrot Salad

    Step 3

    Toast cumin seeds in a small dry skillet over medium heat, about 1 minute. Add turmeric for the last 15–20 seconds and toast until fragrant. Combine toasted spices, carrot, cilantro, oil, and 1 Tbsp. lemon juice in a medium bowl. Toss and season with fine sea salt, pepper, and lemon juice.

    Step 4

    Do Ahead: Carrot salad can be made up to 8 hours ahead; store in an airtight container and chill.

  3. Salmon and Assembly

    Step 5

    Season salmon with fine sea salt and pepper. Heat 1 Tbsp. neutral oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high. Cook salmon, skin side down, undisturbed, until salmon skin is crisped and browned, 3–4 minutes. Gently turn fillets and cook until salmon is just opaque at the center, 1–2 minutes for medium rare.

    Step 6

    Divide fillets among plates, skin side up, and serve with cucumber-yogurt sauce and carrot salad. Drizzle with neutral oil and sprinkle with flaky sea salt.

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