Salmon With Freshly Grated Tomatoes and Butter

Published July 11, 2024

Salmon With Freshly Grated Tomatoes and Butter
Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell.
Total Time
35 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Rating
5(262)
Comments
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With a minimal list of ingredients and prep, this light, flavorful salmon and tomato dish is an excellent contender for the perfect summer dinner. When tomato season is in full swing, this one-pan recipe makes the most of all those ripe, tender, bursting tomatoes. For fresh tomato flavor, the tomatoes are coarsely grated, yielding a delicate, low-effort sauce that is sweet and tangy, an ideal accompaniment for buttery seared salmon. Simple aromatics like freshly grated garlic, black pepper and thyme sprigs are simmered alongside the fish to round out the flavor. A piece of crusty toast to absorb all those juices completes the meal, along with an optional glass of white wine.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 3large heirloom or beefsteak tomatoes (about 1¼ pounds), halved
  • 4skin-on salmon fillets (6 to 8 ounces each)
  • Salt and pepper
  • 3tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 6thyme sprigs, plus more for serving
  • 2garlic cloves, grated
  • Toast, for serving
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

541 calories; 36 grams fat; 12 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 10 grams monounsaturated fat; 8 grams polyunsaturated fat; 11 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 4 grams sugars; 43 grams protein; 846 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place a box grater in a medium bowl. Place the flat, cut side of each tomato half against the coarse side of the grater and grate the tomatoes in the bowl, stopping when you reach the tomato skin. Discard (or snack on) the tomato skins. You should have 1¾ to 2 cups of grated tomatoes.

  2. Step 2

    Using paper towels, pat dry the salmon fillets. Season with salt on all sides.

  3. Step 3

    In a 10- to 12-inch skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Place the salmon fillets skin-side down and sear for 3 minutes, until the skin becomes crispy and easily releases from the pan. Flip the fillets and continue searing for 2 to 3 minutes, until a light crust forms.

  4. Step 4

    Decrease heat to low to prevent the butter from burning. Transfer the salmon to a clean plate.

  5. Step 5

    Carefully add the thyme sprigs, garlic and 1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper to the skillet and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant. Be careful, the butter will splatter after adding the thyme; you may want to partly cover the skillet with a lid until the splattering stops.

  6. Step 6

    Carefully pour the grated tomatoes in the skillet, season with salt and bring the mixture to a simmer. Decrease heat to medium-low and place the fish in the tomato sauce, skin-side down. Loosely cover the skillet with a lid and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until the salmon is cooked through. The sauce will reduce slightly and go from a pinkish-red to an orange-red. Serve with toast and fresh thyme.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
262 user ratings
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Comments

What a palaver. Put butter and thinly sliced garlic in pan. Heat until it sizzles. Add salmon, turn after a couple of minutes. Add can of crushed/chopped tomatoes. Add whatever herbs you like, salt and pepper (this could include hot peppers or hot smoked paprika). Cover and simmer for 5 minutes, no longer. Enjoy and hello from the UK.

I made this last night as written (maybe with a little extra garlic) with misgivings after reading the comments. I grated heirloom tomatoes (first time grating tomatoes) and it was so easy and the result was so worth it. It was sublime. It’s going into regular rotation in our house whenever tomatoes are at their peak.

i don't know what a palaver is, but I know that part of the point of this is the delicate flavor of barely cooked, fresh tomato. Notes: I doubled the garlic, left out the thyme and after searing the salmon, removed it and boiled down the tomato mixture *a lot*. And added *a lot* of salt. I put the salmon BACK in after a bit to poach it, once the sauce was reduced, but then took it out again to boil it down more and concentrate the flavor further.

Kudos to our friend from the UK. We cooked the skin side, then flipped and removed the skin with a spatula, and reflipped to brown both sides. Added a 28 oz. can of Cento Chef's Cut tomatoes with basil, garlic and crumbled dried thyme. Absolutely delicious with toasted baguette and a side of baby broccoli.

Three very average beefsteak tomatoes would weigh close to or over 3lbs. So what are we using here 1 at 1lb or 2 at 3lbs?

I don't understand crisping the skin of the salmon and then later adding the fish back into the tomato mixture *skin side down* to finish cooking. Won't that ruin the crispy skin?

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Credits

By Carolina Gelen

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