salmon Archives | CaribbeanPot.com

This recipe is loosely based on a ‘newer’ method my mom has used for making Stewed Salmon the past 12 years or so. It’s definitely not your typical “Caribbean” stewed fish, however it ranks right up there with the flavors we have across the region.

You’ll Need…

1 lb salmon fillet
1 lime (juice)
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 cloves garlic (chopped finely)
1 teaspoon black pepper (divided)
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon Caribbean Green Seasoning
1 medium onion (sliced)
2 scallions (chopped)
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups veg oil
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium bell pepper (sliced)
1 package Sazon
1 tablespoon tomato paste (concentrate)
2 tablespoon tomato ketchup
1- 1 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 medium tomato (large chunks)
2 scallions (chopped)

Notes! May I recommend that you use the video below to follow along as much more about the recipe is discussed there, especially why I used a package of Sazon and how you can take up the heat/spice level by adding your favourite hot pepper/s.

There are 3 simple steps to this recipe. Prep the ingredients, fry the fish, then finish with the sauce. Cut the salmon fillets into 1 inch strips, make sure to do a once-over to verify and remove any bones (sometimes there can still be some even though they are fillets) and wash with the juice of the lime and cool water.

Season the salmon pieces (skin on one side) with the Caribbean Green Seasoning, salt, 1/2 of the black pepper, garlic, onion and smoked Paprika. I also added the white (bottom) parts of the scallions. Mix well and allow to marinate for about 10-15 minutes.

It’s now time to fry the salmon (explained why in the video). Heat the vegetable oil on a medium flame, then flour dust the pieces of salmon (shake off the onions, but keep in the same bowl) and fry for about 5-7 minutes. Basically until they get a bit of color and crust. Be sure to flip them as they fry, so they cook evenly.

As they come out of the frying pan, you can set them on a paper-towel lined plate or wire rack to drain off the excess oil.

The final step is to create the base sauce to which we’ll add back the salmon pieces to finish up. Heat the olive oil in another saucepan (yes you can use a tablespoon of the same oil you fried the fish with if you prefer) on a medium flame, then add the bell pepper and stir well. Then add the Sazon to the bowl where we marinate the salmon and mix well. Everything in that bowl will also be added to the saucepan as well. Stir well and turn the heat down to medium low.

Add the remaining black pepper and stir well. After 4 minutes add the tomato paste to the pan and stir. The goal is to get the natural sugars from that tomato paste (as explained in the video) to heighten.

Add the water to the bowl you marinated the salmon in and swish it around to pick up any marinade which may still be there. Add that water to the pan, along with the tomato ketchup and bring to a boil (raise your heat to medium).

Let it boil for about 3-4 minutes, then add the tomato pieces (cut large) and bring to a boil and cook for another 2 minutes before adding the fried salmon pieces to the pan.

Cook on a simmer for 3 minutes, then it’s time to personalize things. Taste (sauce) and adjust the salt to your liking and determine if you’re happy with the sauce’s consistency. Reduce further or add a bit more water. Keep in mind that the sauce will further thicken as it cools and with the residual heat from the pan.

Top with the green parts of the scallion (or parsley) and should you want to finish with a few drops of lemon juice, it’s all up to you.

The perfect accompaniment to the Coconut Rice Recipe I shared last week.

Seafood

Incredible Jerk Salmon.

December 19, 2023December 19, 2023Leave a Comment

Traditionalists will argue (always) that if there’s no pimento wood and resulting smoke involved, it’s not truly Jamaican jerk. So with that in mind (they do have a point as the flavor of that open fire as it kisses the pimento wood is incredible) we’ll loosely call this “jerk” to avoid the hateful comments.

You’ll Need…

3 salmon fillets
1 tablespoon Jamaican Jerk Marinade
2 tablespoon olive oil (divided)
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoon golden brown sugar
1/8 cup rum
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoon chilled butter
2 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
1/4 lemon (juice)

Notes! Please use the video below to follow along, especially since I have limited photos for the post as I usually do. I used a spicy jerk marinade, however you may use any you prefer. Even your own homemade Jerk Marinade.

With your clean (check for bones and remove) salmon fillets on your cutting board (or plate), season with the black pepper and salt. NOT THE SKIN SIDE!. Then mix the jerk marinade with one tablespoon of the olive oil and brush the salmon flesh (not the skin) with it.

Now preheat your oven to 450F as we’ll finish off the recipe in there.

Heat the remaining oil in an ovenproof saucepan (I used a cast-iron pan) on a medium heat and add the1 tablespoon of butter as the pan gets warm and then the salmon fillets (skin side down).

Try to spoon on some of the butter/oil combo over the salmon to help cook the top and to add some moisture to it.

About 4 minutes later, move the pan away from the heat source and add the run, then tip the pan towards the heat and allow the rum to catch on fire (Flambé). It will burn (flame) for 5 seconds and in doing so. burn off most of the alcohol, leaving that rich rum flavor.

After a minute, add the orange juice and top each salmon fillet with the brown sugar (evenly), bring back to a boil, then into the oven for 3 1/2 – 4 minutes on the middle rack.

As you take it out of the oven add the cold butter to the pan, along with the juice of 1/2 lemon and the parsley. Stir well to create a sort of lemon butter sauce (watch the video below) and top the salmon fillets with said sauce.

Seafood

Incredible Cabbage With Salmon.

September 7, 2021August 13, 20212 Comments

Here’s another example showcasing the creativity of my Caribbean culinary heritage. Using a can (say tin in the Caribbean) of humble salmon (yea not appetizing for most) to add a wonderful flavor and body to basic cabbage. I’m sure this dish came about when someone wanted to stretch a can of salmon to feed a few people and remembered they had a cabbage laying around.

You’ll Need…

1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion (diced)
3 thin slices scotch bonnet pepper
3-4 cloves garlic (crushed)
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 can salmon
1/2 lemon (juice)
1/3 cup water
1/2 large cabbage (rough chopped)
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon water
10-12 grape tomatoes (any tomato will work)
4-6 sprigs thyme
1-2 tablespoon parsley (chopped)

Heat the olive oil in a wide pan on a low heat. Add the onion, garlic and scotch bonnet pepper and allow to cook on that low heat for about 3 minutes. As it cooks, add the black pepper.

Now add the curry powder and stir well and cook for 2 minutes. Then add the tomato paste and stir. The goal is to allow the heat to cook the tomato paste and bring out the natural sweetness. And speaking about sweetness. Should you not have curry powder or maybe you don’t like curry (crazy), feel free to use Smoked Paprika instead.

Add the thyme (leaves) and cook for a further minute.

It’s time to add the can of Salmon (I got wild caught packed in water) including the liquid it was packed in. To help degalze the pan, I added the 1/3 cup of water and turned my heat to medium and added the lemon juice.

It will take 1-2 minutes to come to a boil. Cook for 4 minutes. Here is when you’ll add the chopped (as big as you want) cabbage and the salt. It will seem like a lot, but it will cook down.

Add the cherry tomatoes along with the 2 tablespoons of water and stir. Place the lid on and allow the steam action to help cook the cabbage. Be sure to stir. Yes the salmon will break-up.. that’s fine.

Now here is where you get to personalize things. Seven minutes later and it’s time to taste for salt and adjust. Check on the texture of the cabbage to see if it’s to your liking (I like a slight crunch) and decide of you want it cooked longer.

Turn off the stove, toss in the parsley (stir) and ENJOY with steamed rice, hot roti or in bread as a sandwich.

Drop me your comments below, tag me on Instagram and don’t forget you can now get my cookbook – The Vibrant Caribbean Pot, 100 Traditional And Fusion Recipes @ CaribbeanPot.com/CookBook/

Gluten Free Seafood

The Ultimate Grilled Salmon Recipe.

September 5, 2017August 19, 20172 Comments

As we wrap up the annual July Month of Grilling for 2017, I thought I’d share one of my favorite salmon recipes with you. While we had a lot of fresh-from-the-ocean fish and seafood on the islands when I was growing up, for some reason our salmon always came from a can (say ‘tin’) for some reason. Especially around Easter-time when mom would prepare a host of ground provisions, topped with stewed canned salmon. While I still use the canned stuff, I do enjoy the fresh (as can be expected since I don’t live near the ocean) salmon we get here Ontario.. when I can afford such!

You’ll Need…

2 large salmon steaks
1/2 cup crushed pineapple
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoon light soy sauce
1 birds’s eye pepper (diced fine)
1 scallion (chopped)
1 tablespoon honey
1 clove garlic (crushed)
1/2 lemon (juice)
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

IMPORTANT! If doing this recipe Gluten Free, please go though the list of ingredients to ensure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs. Especially the Soy Sauce.. please substitute for a gluten free version.

Basically all you have to do is place all the ingredients into a bowl (except the fish) and give it a good whisk to combine the flavors. As I mentioned in the video below, I forgot to include the diced pineapple in this version of the recipe, but I strongly recommend you include it.

Then pour 1/2 of the marinade over the cleaned/dry salmon steaks and marinate for ONLY 5 minutes. IMPORTANT – any longer and lemon juice and pineapple the marinade will start breaking down the salmon.

Then it’s just a matter of grilling them over a coal fire (propane gill works fine too) until they are cooked to your liking. I grilled indirectly for the first 5-7 minutes, flipping and basting with the reserved marinade. Then I had them over the direct heat for 2-3 minutes.

Do keep in mind that the sugars in the marinade will cause the fish to char very easily (I like a bit of that char though) and the cooking time will vary on how thick your salmon steaks are, the temp of your fire and how ‘cooked’ you like your fish. I’d also recommend saving a tablespoon of the marinade to drizzle over the cooked salmon after you remove them off the grill (but while still warm).

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Gluten Free Seafood

Simple Recipe For Tasty Salmon In The Oven.

December 27, 2014December 27, 20144 Comments

Island life is closely connected to the ocean as well as the land on so many levels. Like the fresh herbs,vegetables and fruits we’re blessed with, the Caribbean Sea is packed with some the most delicious fish and seafood known to man. However when it comes to Salmon, it was more of a Good Friday dish and usually the salmon came in the form of a can (or “tin salmon” as it’s known). But if you’ve ever had stewed or curry salmon (yes the same stuff from the can) done the Caribbean way.. lets just say you’ll be amazed! Living in North America means fresh salmon is readily available in most supermarkets, so this is one of my go-to recipes when Tehya (shes the only one who really deals with the fish and seafood) and I get a hankering for baked salmon.

* You will notice that this is isn’t necessarily a “Caribbean” recipe, but I thought I’d still share it so you have some variety in your fish recipes repertoire. If doing this recipe gluten free do go through the entire list of ingredients to make sure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs.

You’ll Need…

2 salmon steaks
1/2 white onion (sliced)
1 cup chopped grape tomatoes
1 tablespoon chopped chives
2 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 sprigs dill
4 slices lemon

* Parchment paper

In a small bowl place the chopped tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, salt and black pepper and give it a good mix. Now tear off a large piece of parchment paper and in the middle drizzle on 1/2 the remaining olive oil, then layer on two lemon slices, a few onion rings and a sprig of dill. Place one of the salmon pieces on top of it and pour on 1/2 the tomato mixture we made.

Carefully wrap the fish as a package and try to seal it so the salmon steam cooks in its own juices and with the flavour ingredients we added to the parcel. If you want you can add additional black pepper and salt on top of the fish before sealing the parcels. Do the same of the next piece of salmon, then place them in an oven proof dish (you can add a bit of cooking spray or veg oil in the bottom of the dish)

Heat your oven to 375 F and place the dish on the middle rack. After about 15-18 minutes the salmon should be fully cooked (depending on how thick they are). Now you can personalize this by adding a bit of scotch bonnet pepper to give it a wicked kick and you certainly cook it longer if you so desire. But salmon (like all fish) can go dry and have a sort of cardboard texture if its overcooked.

There are so many flavors going on here in this simple baked salmon dish, I dare your kids and picky eaters not to enjoy this one. Well, unless they are Indy and Kieana who refuse to eat any fish but their grandmother’s fried King Fish, dipped in ketchup. They’ve been eating that ever since they could eat solids as toddlers.

salmon

How to Make Delicious Stewed Salmon at Home.

Incredible Jerk Salmon.

Incredible Cabbage With Salmon.

The Ultimate Grilled Salmon Recipe.

Simple Recipe For Tasty Salmon In The Oven.

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