Salmon in Garlic, Tomato & Wine Sauce

It was gratifying to soak up a wine infused sauce with a loaf of crusty bread.

As I have stretched my adventure with fish a tiny bit longer, I have started enjoying salmon. Being born in a state where fish is synonymous to life, one would expect that I would relish any seafood offered to me. Unfortunately, that has not been the case.

As much as I yearn for a good fish curry, I have only few fishes to choose from. They are hard to get here and the list belongs to my home, the fresh water fish that I loved. I never could eat a “sea fish”. They smelled “fishy”, if you know what I mean. What we had everyday for our meals were fishes found in rivers and ponds. We even had a little pond of our own behind our house, teeming with fishes.

The southern edges of my state is laced by the ocean, but we “Bongs” like to savor the river fishes…Fishes that are fresh and brought to our door step early in the morning by those who lay their nets before dawn and then pedal their way to every home with silvery glistening fishes in the baskets. Or they are found in the fish market, only a few minutes walk away from home.

I used to visit the fish market quite often my grandmother, with bags tucked under our arms, holding hands and looking forward to our find on that day.

After all these years, the sweet taste of fish from home still lingers in my tongue. I want to go back to those days when rich nigella flavored sauce  stained the white steaming rice. Or the lightly tempered “Macher Jhol” – the light soupy fish stew with loads of vegetables fill up to the brim of the plate; some white rice and a good squeeze of lemon and it is called the most satisfying meal ever.

I have got used to fetching river fish from the freezer chest of a Bangladeshi store. I have probably lost the finesse of distinguishing the taste of a fish delivered within a few minutes of being netted and a fish packaged and frozen for months. I am just happy that I get what I want – at least some of it.

Only after so many years of cooking tilapia (which tastes nothing like the ones back home), catfish and hunting through piles in the freezer chest, I dared myself to try salmon. More for health than to break the boredom.

I am glad I did take a step forward. I love it now.

Salmon in Garlic, Tomato & Wine Sauce

 

Ingredients: (serves 2)

1. 2 salmon steaks or fillets
2. 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
3. freshly ground pepper
4. 1 teaspoon olive oil
5. 2 tablespoon butter
6. red crushed pepper, to taste
7. 2 tablespoon very thinly sliced garlic
8. 1/4 cup very thinly sliced onion
9. few tablespoon of red bell pepper (optional )
10. 3/4 cup grated tomato (fresh)
11. 1 cup white wine, (or adjust to taste) – Sauvignon Blanc or any other kind
    
12. any herb you would like to use – fresh chives, flat leaf parsley, oregano etc
13. salt to taste

 

Method:

Drizzle lemon juice over salmon steak; toss it with freshly ground pepper and salt and allow to sit for about 10-15 minutes. Broil the steaks in the oven for about 6-10 minutes or until almost cooked through.

Of if you want to cook the fish in the pan; heat some oil in a thick bottom (cast iron is good) pan and cook/sear the salmon until almost done and slightly browned.

As the fish cooks, in a pan, add about 1/2 tablespoon of garlic and crushed pepper along with the oil and allow the oil to heat up. When the pepper sizzles and garlic turns golden add the onion and bell pepper (if you are using) and cook at low-medium heat,  until the onions soften – about 5 minutes.

Now add the butter and toss the onions; add the grated tomato and cook until oil/butter starts to separate and the tomato is cooked though. Stir occasionally.

When the tomatoes are cooked through, add the rest of the sliced garlic, and the wine. Allow it to simmer at low heat for 25 more minutes. Adjust salt.

Transfer the  fish steaks and herbs to the pan, cover and simmer for about 3-5 minutes more or until you have the desired consistency of sauce. If you wish to, you may break up the salmon in pieces.

Garnish with more herbs and serve over pasta, or flat bread or any crusty good bread.

 

Preparation Time: less than 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Difficulty Level: Easy

Serves: 2

 

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