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Pistachio-Topped Salmon with Two Sauces

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  • ACTIVE:
  • TOTAL TIME:
  • SERVINGS: 6
  • •MAKE-AHEAD

The leftover curry and orange sauces can also be sprinkled on roast lamb, chicken, vegetables and fish.

Curry and Orange Sauces

  1. 2 tablespoons Madras curry powder
  2. 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon peanut oil
  3. 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon minced shallots
  4. 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
  5. 1/4 cup plus 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
  6. 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  7. 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
  8. 1 tablespoon honey
  9. Salt and freshly ground pepper
  10. 2 cups fresh orange juice
  11. 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh jalapeño chiles
  12. 1 small navel orange
  13. 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
  14. 2 teaspoons olive oil
  15. 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil

Salmon

  1. 3 tablespoons olive oil plus more for brushing
  2. Six 6-ounce skinless salmon fillets, preferably center cut
  3. Salt and freshly ground pepper
  4. 1/2 cup finely chopped unsalted pistachios
  5. 4 cups fresh baby spinach or torn large spinach leaves
  6. 2 medium carrots, cut into 1 1/2-by-1/8 inch matchsticks
  7. 2 medium leeks, white and tender green, cut into 1 1/2-by-1/8-inch matchsticks
  8. 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1 1/2-by-1/8-inch matchsticks
  9. 1 tablespoon black or white sesame seeds (optional)
  1. In a small dry skillet, stir the curry powder over moderate heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and stir in 3/4 cup of the peanut oil. Let stand overnight.
  2. In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon of the shallots, 1 teaspoon of the ginger, 1/4 cup of the rive vinegar, the lime juice, soy sauce and honey. Whisk in the curry oil in a thin stream until emulsified, then season with salt and pepper.
  3. In a nonreactive saucepan, combine the orange juice and jalapeños with the remaining 2 tablespoons shallots and 2 tablespoons ginger. Boil over moderately high heat until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 30 minutes; let cool. Meanwhile, peel the orange with a sharp knife, removing all the bitter white pith. Cut between the membranes to release the sections.
  4. Add the orange sections, red wine vinegar and remaining 2 teaspoons rice vinegar to the orange juice reduction. Gradually whisk in the remaining 1 tablespoon peanut oil, the olive oil, sesame oil and season with salt and pepper.
  5. Preheat the oven to 350°. Lightly brush a nonstick baking sheet with olive oil. Heat the 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet. Season the salmon with salt and pepper and press 1 side of the fillets into the chopped pistachios. Add 3 fillets to the skillet, pistachio sides down, and cook over high heat until lightly golden, about 2 minutes. Carefully transfer the salmon to the baking sheet, nut sides up, and repeat with the remaining 3 fillets. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the flesh flakes but is still slightly opaque in the center. Let rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before serving.
  6. In a small, nonreactive saucepan, heat 1/3 cup of the curry sauce. In a large bowl, combine the spinach, carrots, leeks and red pepper and toss with the warm curry sauce. Spoon the vegetables onto 6 plates and top with the salmon. Drizzle each plate with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the orange sauce and sprinkle with the sesame seeds.
Make Ahead The curry and orange sauces can be refrigerated separately for up to 3 days. Let return to room temperature before serving.

Suggested Pairing

Go for a distinctive white Burgundy from France or a well-balanced California Chardonnay.