Ways to Cook Salmon

There are many ways to cook salmon, ranging from baking to poaching. Cooked salmon can be incorporated into soups, salads, and even pizza. Whether you're watching your waistline and trying to limit fat or seeking restaurant-style dishes, with so many ways to cook salmon you can try a recipe a week and still not run out of ideas. So head to the fish market or fish counter, find a cut of salmon you like, and explore the many ways to prepare this healthy fish.

Baking is one of the easiest options. Care must be taken so that salmon is not baked too long. If you keep it in the oven too long, it will dry out. Marinating salmon before baking it imparts flavor and juiciness to the fish. Never salt salmon before baking it. The salt draws moisture from the fish and the fish will turn out dry. Bake salmon for about 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven. More or less time may be needed depending upon the thickness of the fish.

Salmon may be cooked under the broiler or grilled. High heat is used to sear the outside of the fish, keeping it moist and juicy. It's a faster way to cook salmon than baking. Be sure to choose thick cuts of salmon so that it holds together on the grill. It helps to preheat the grill too, so that it's piping hot when you grill the salmon. Quick, high heat is best.

While many people like fried white fish such as cod or flounder, salmon can be fried too. Pan fried salmon may be breaded and fried like white fish, or deep fried in lard or hot oil. If you're eating fish for health, you may wish to try one of the other ways to cook salmon instead of frying, which tends to add fat to a recipe.

Another way to cook salmon is to poach it. Poaching is a method of cooking meat or fish in a liquid bath. Salmon is often poached in a bath of white wine and water with a little butter and herbs. The liquid bath ensures that the salmon remains juicy and moist. Many cold salmon recipes actually start with poached salmon. The cooked salmon is then incorporated into green salads, pasta salads, or other dishes.

Although baking, broiling or grilling, frying and poaching salmon are the main ways of cooking salmon, there are many more ways to serve it. Salmon makes a tasty accent to pasta dishes. Served with ribbon pasta and a light cream or herb sauce, the succulent chunks meld with the dish's flavors for a real treat.

Serve cooked salmon as part of a salad. Poached, grilled or broiled salmon is often used in salads. It's best to wait until the last moment before adding the salmon to the greens. You may also want to simply lay the slices or chunks of salmon on top of the salad after placing the salad onto individual plates. Tossing salmon chunks may break them up into bits instead of keeping them as tasty morsels.

With so many ways to cook salmon, and even more to enjoy it, try a recipe tonight. There are recipes for Salmon Bisque soup, Salmon filets, and more. Broil, bake, poach or fry salmon and make one of these recipes and more. Maybe you'll even try a salmon pizza someday!