The total time is still minimal, but the result is a true revelation: tender, silky wedges of salmon, easily cut with a spoon. Serve the salmon on top of lightly seasoned greens, and you have a meal that appeals to the eyes and to the palate.
The Best Salmon for Slow-Roasted Salmon
When buying your fish, look for a center-cut piece salmon. This part of the fillet has the same thickness throughout, which ensures that the whole piece will cook evenly. If you’re buying your fish at a fish counter, just ask the person helping you for a center-cut piece. While you are at it, ask them to remove the skin and any pin bones. Removing the skin means that side can absorb some of the glaze during cooking, and pin bones can be annoying to pull out yourself at home. (It’s also fine to cook the salmon with the skin on; it just won’t get quite as flavorful throughout.) If you end up needing remove the pin bones yourself, try this trick: Lay the salmon on top of an upside-down bowl so the fish is convex. Run your fingers along the length of the fish to find the bones—you’ll feel them poking up out of the salmon, nearly perpendicular to the surface and spaced an inch or so apart. Use tweezers or needle nose pliers to firmly grasp the tip of each pin bone and smoothly pull them out. This is a fantastic and fancy-looking meal for company, but it’s also a great weeknight dinner option. You can coat the fish with the glaze several hours in advance, refrigerate it, and roast it later. It can also be served at warm, room temperature, or even cold. The ease of preparation can be your own little secret!
How To Remove Pin Bones
Place a bowl upside down on a cutting board and cover with a paper towel to keep the fish from sliding. Lay the fish on top of the bowl. Run your fingers down the length of the fish to find the pin bones. With tweezers or needle nose pliers, firmly grasp the bone ends and pull them out. Dip the tweezers in a cup of water as you work to rinse away bits of bone and make it easier to grasp the next one.
A Note About Buying Salmon
According to Prevention Magazine, wild-caught salmon has half the fat of farm-raised salmon and is not plagued by contaminants that might be found in farm-raised salmon. Wild salmon is also much higher in nutrients, such as calcium, iron and zinc, and has less salt. That said, both wild and farmed salmon are good for you. My personal preference is for wild salmon, when I can find it. If you can, ask someone at the fish counter to remove the skin and pin bones from your salmon for you. If not, be sure to remove the pin bones yourself, but it’s fine to cook and serve the salmon with the skin left on; just pour all of the glaze over top of the salmon. (Removing it helps to flavor the salmon on all sides instead of just on top.)
1/2 cup sweet Thai chili sauce
1 teaspoon Sriracha
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced
For the salmon
1 1/2 pounds center-cut salmon fillet, skin and pin bones removed
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
To serve:
2 to 3 handfuls baby greens (arugula, spinach, kale or a combination)
1 tablespoon olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon lime juice
Leaves from 2 to 3 sprigs cilantro
Leaves from 2 to 3 sprigs mint
1 lime, cut into wedges, for serving
Spread about 1/3 cup of the glaze in the center of a 9- x13-inch baking dish. Set the salmon fillet on top and move it around a little so that the bottom is coated with glaze. Spread the top with the remaining glaze. If you like, you can do this ahead, cover it, and refrigerate for up to 2 hours.
