If you want a dish with the impact of a whole fish but don't love the idea of cooking anything with its head on, this is the perfect solution. A gentle, slow roasting ensures that the fish doesn't dry out. The mustard and spices create a tasty crust that both perfumes the flesh and adds a nice textural counterpoint to the buttery salmon. It's a true showpiece that I make for springtime celebrations, because it's festive and vibrantly colored but not as heavy as ham or leg of lamb.
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Giada's Slow Roasted Salmon

Category

Main Course

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

60 minutes

Image of Giada's Slow Roasted Salmon

Ingredients

  • 1 fennel bulb with stalks
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (plus more for drizzling)
  • 1 4-pound skin-on side of salmon, pin bones removed (see Cook's Notes)
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup whole-grain mustard
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons coriander seeds (toasted and crushed (see Cook's Notes))
  • 3 teaspoons fennel seeds (toasted and crushed (see Cook's Notes))

Instructions

  1. Recipe from Giada's Italy by Giada De Laurentiis.
  2. Preheat the oven to 300°F.
  3. Trim the stalks from the fennel bulb, reserving the leafy fronds for garnish. Thinly slice the bulb crosswise.
  4. Arrange the sliced fennel down the middle of a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Place the salmon, skin-side down, on top of the fennel and season it with the salt. Spread the mustard evenly over the salmon flesh and sprinkle with the coriander and fennel seeds. Press gently to help the crushed seeds adhere.
  5. Roast for about 1 hour, or until a fork easily pierces the thickest part of the fish and the flesh flakes. Carefully transfer the salmon to a serving platter, leaving the fennel behind. Sprinkle the salmon with the reserved fennel fronds and drizzle with olive oil.
  6. protruding, use a pair of sturdy tweezers or your fingers to gently extract them, trying to rip the flesh as little as possible. You can also ask your fishmonger to do this for you.
  7. To toast the spices, place the seeds separately in a small dry skillet over medium heat. Heat them, stirring often, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until fragrant and starting to color. Transfer to a plate to cool completely, then grind (together is fine) using a mortar and pestle or a clean coffee grinder.
dairy free
gluten free
nut free