Of all the delicious fish out there, my absolute favorite is wild-caught salmon. It all started in 1996 at a restaurant near Mt. Denali in Alaska. I ordered the King Salmon, and to tell you the truth, I left my heart at that little restaurant! I also learned a whole lot of ways to incorporate wild-caught salmon into my menu plans at home.There are several species of Pacific wild-caught salmon including King Salmon which is sometimes called Chinook, Coho Salmon, also called Silver Salmon, Pink (or Humpback) Salmon (used mostly for canning), Sockeye Salmon, also known as Red Salmon, and Copper River Salmon, which could be Coho, Sockeye or King.
For seasoning, you can simply sprinkle wild salmon with salt, pepper and other herbs and seasonings, then brush with olive oil or melted butter if desired. Drizzle with lemon, lime or orange juice. Make it colorful by laying slices of citrus fruit over the salmon before cooking. While cooking, baste the salmon with a favorite sauce, if desired, but remember, marinating is not necessary and acidic marinades will begin the cooking process, so half-hour is the maximum amount of time to marinate. Here are some ideas and recipes:
Grill, broil, roast or bake, but don’t overcook! This is especially true for the less fatty varieties. Try our Roasted Wild Salmon opens in a new tab, our Pan-Roasted Wild Salmon with Lemongrass or Basil opens in a new tab, or our Easy Matzo-Crusted Wild Salmon opens in a new tab.
Make patties from raw or canned wild salmon with seasonings, bread crumbs, onions, garlic, etc. Bake or broil. Here’s a recipe for Mini Wild Salmon Cakes opens in a new tab.
Flake salmon over green leafy salads, or simply top salad with a cooked salmon filet. This Balsamic-Citrus Wild Alaska Salmon opens in a new tab is fabulous over a fresh spinach salad. This Wild Alaska Salmon and Avocado Salad opens in a new tab is both nutritious and delicious!
Pan-sauté wild salmon in butter or olive oil sprinkled with salt and pepper and drizzled with lemon juice.
Wild salmon pairs beautifully with vegetables, rice, pasta, potatoes, quinoa and millet. This Wild Coho Salmon and Sunshine Rice opens in a new tab recipe makes a wonderful family dinner.
Poached wild salmon is simple and delicious. Poaching liquid can include broth, wine, coconut milk, tomato juice or simply water. This Poached Wild Salmon with Skillet Tomatoes opens in a new tab is elegant and easy.
Make your own Wild Salmon Gravlax with Pink Peppercorns opens in a new tab.
Make casseroles and salads. Use wild salmon in any recipe that calls for tuna.
Enjoy smoked wild salmon with salads, on bagels or crackers with capers, onions, and cream cheese, or flake into eggs while scrambling, or fill an omelet. Smoked Wild Salmon Toasts opens in a new tab make a great appetizer, light lunch or dinner.
For your next barbeque, bring on the wild-caught salmon. It’s great on the grill or in the barbeque pit, basted with teriyaki sauce or any favorite barbeque sauce. Try these Rosemary-Lime Wild Alaska Salmon Kabobs opens in a new tab at your next cookout.
Do you have a favorite recipe for wild-caught salmon? Let me know.
