There are plenty of reasons to choose salmon as your Easter food. For one, it’s more affordable than other fish, such as oysters. Salmon is also a fantastic fish that you can use to make leftover recipes, which means that nothing goes to waste.
To get the most benefits from your Easter salmon, you have to ensure that you properly cook it. How do you go about it? Here are tips to guide you.
Pick The Right Salmon
There is no way you will benefit from the salmon if you buy the wrong one. As a rule of thumb, you should take your time when shopping. When you visit the market, go for salmon that is lively and fresh. There should be no fishy odor or coating on the flesh.
Many people ask for the salmon with the deepest color, but this is not always the best way to purchase salmon.
Remember that the flesh salmon can be pale, but it will still be just as good, if not better, than one that’s darker red. For example, King salmon is a highly valued salmon species.
Because of all the yummy fat, King salmon often appears pale pink rather than red, but it’s a great fish.
A good way to go about it is to learn about the types of salmon available and ask for the freshest one possible. To increase your chances of getting fresh salmon, buy from a busy market. When you get into the market, you should gauge how busy it is. To be on the safe side, the busier the market is, the better.
As with any other seafood, choose sustainable salmon. Wild salmon is the best to go for, but if you can’t find this in your area, go for farmed salmon.
For peace of mind, if you are buying from a reputable seller, look for the Marine Stewardship Council’s “blue fish” mark on the label and ask the fishmonger if the fish is sustainable.
You can go to the fish market and buy your desired salmon, but if you aren’t ready for this and want to buy from an already established company, go for Mowi Salmon.
Mowi offers farm-raised Atlantic Salmon from around the world, including Norway, Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, the Faroe Islands, Canada, and Chile. Mowi sets industry standards through top certifications such as The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP).
When you buy this salmon, you are guaranteed quality.
Mowi Salmon is available in a variety of sizes, including 6 oz pieces, ideal for quick lunches. These pieces are BAP-approved, so you don’t have to worry about their quality.
Recently, Mowi collaborated with Celebrity Chef George Duran to create enticing recipes for the Lent and Easter Season, including “Mowi Salmon Bites with Crispy Pistachio Crust,” “Brown Sugar Mowi Salmon Citrus Fennel Salad,” and “Lightly Smoked Ducktrap Flatbread.” Try them out for a great Easter season.
Cook The Salmon For The Right Time
Buying the right salmon isn’t enough—you need to cook it for the right time. For moist, tender salmon, cook it to medium. This means it will be semi-translucent in the center. To test whether it’s done, carefully poke the fish with a fork to see whether the flesh flakes.
To tell whether your fish is done, use a thin metal cake tester. Insert the tester horizontally into the thickest portion of the fish, wait a few seconds, and then touch the tester to the back of your hand (or the inside of your wrist) to get a good feel for its temperature.
If it’s simply warm, that’s ideal. If it’s chilly, it isn’t ready. And if it’s screaming hot, it’s overcooked.
Another way to determine how well done the salmon is, in addition to using a thermometer, is by using color.
When baking, look for salmon that has gone from bright pink to pale orange and has tiny white beads on the surface at the thickest section. Alternatively, the center should register 120°F on a thermometer.
Cook The Salmon The Right Way
For you to enjoy your salmon, you need to cook it right. To help you out, here is a guide on how to go about it.
Ingredients
- Mowi Atlantic Salmon Portions (6 oz. each).
- Finely chopped, unsalted pistachios.
- Breadcrumbs (Italian seasoned is an excellent choice)
- Parmigiano cheese
- A low-fat honey mustard dressing
- Sour Cream Dip. Ingredients (Optional)
- Low-fat sour cream
- Finely chopped parsley.
- Juice from two lemons
- Salt and pepper
Preparation
- If your salmon is not skinless, you must remove the skin first.
- Cut the fish sections into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
- Coat the air fryer tray or base with oil or nonstick cooking spray.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 °F.
- In a medium bowl, combine pistachios, breadcrumbs, and parmesan cheese.
- In a shallow bowl, pour the honey mustard dressing and dip the salmon bites in it, making sure to thoroughly coat them.
- Then, immediately coat all sides of the salmon bites with the pistachio mixture.
- Place the salmon into the air fryer. Keep it in a single layer and cook for about 10 minutes, flipping once. Cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of the servings. The interior temperature of salmon should be 145°F.
- While the salmon is cooking, make a delicious sour cream dip to complement it.
- Mix the sour cream dip ingredients in a small mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper, then serve. This makes the perfect game-day snack, or you can serve them alongside your favorite side!
Parting Shot
Here is how to cook your salmon to perfection. As you have seen, finding the right salmon is as important as properly cooking it. So, don’t be in a hurry to buy the first one you come across. Instead, you should take your time to visit a number of stores and compare the various salmons there.
As a rule of thumb, only buy the highest quality. For guaranteed quality, go with Mowi salmon.
