Saturday, August 7, 2010

Thai-Style Steamed Salmon with Tamarind-Ginger Sauce - Pink Saturday



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This is one of those recipes I stumbled on and pondered for a ridiculous amount of time before actually making it. I hope you occasionally do the same thing and understand how that can happen. I kept this recipe on the back burner for several years before taking down my steamer and having a go at it. I regret not making it sooner. I found the original recipe on the Dean and DeLuca Web site, which you can find here. I have no affiliation with them, but I greatly admire their site and the recipes I've found there. The dish requires some chopping and access to a source for tamarind pulp or concentrate, but it is really simple to do. The finished dish is a delightful blend of flavors resembling those used in the best of Thai cooking. It is a wonderful alternative to teriyaki glazed salmon. I prefer salmon fillets to salmon steaks so I've altered the recipe to reflect my preference. If you decide to use tamarind concentrate, dilute it as you would orange juice, using three parts water or stock to one part of concentrate. I serve this with jasmine rice which I find has a unique and distinctive flavor that pairs well with the flavors in this dish. Those of you who try this will become instant fans. It's a wonderful way to prepare good salmon. I know you'll like it. Here's the recipe.

Thai-Style Steamed Salmon with Tamarind-Ginger Sauce...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite inspired by from Dean and DeLuca

Ingredients:

1 ounce dried tamarind pulp or 2 tablespoons of tamarind concentrate
1/4 cup vegetable oil
4 shallots, slivered lengthwise
2 tablespoons julienne strips peeled fresh ginger
4 garlic cloves, slivered lengthwise
1/4 cup palm sugar or light brown sugar
3 tablespoons nam pla (Thai fish sauce)
4 salmon fillets (each about 1 1/4 inches thick)
Fresh cilantro for garnish

Directions:

1) If using tamarind pulp: Place pulp in a small bowl and cover with 1/2 cup boiling water. Let sit for 30 minutes. Break up tamarind with fingers. Add tamarind and soaking water to a small saucepan. Simmer for 30 minutes. Strain through a sieve into a bowl, pressing on tamarind solids wit a wooden spoon. Strain liquid through a sieve into a bowl, pressing on the tamarind solids with a wooden spoon. Reserve liquid.
2) If using tamarind concentrate: Dilute with 6 tablespoons water. Set aside.n
3) Heat oil in a medium skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Stir in shallots, ginger, and garlic and stir-fry for 1 minute, or until very aromatic. Stir in palm sugar, 3 tablespoons nam pla, and 1/2 cup of tamarind liquid, and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Reserve.
4) Lay salmon fillets on a lightly oiled plate that will fit into a steamer basket. Spread about 1 tablespoon of reserved ginger-tamarind sauce on each side of each filet, and let marinate for 20 minutes.
5) Bring enough water to sit just below (but not touch) steamer basket in a wok or deep skillet. Bring to a simmer. Place plate in basket, cover with a lid, and steam salmon just until opaque, about 10 minutes for medium-rare. Remove basket from the wok and plate from basket. With a spatula carefully remove salmon to serving plates. Pour enough liquid from steaming plate into reserved sauce to reach the desired consistency.
6) Quickly reheat sauce and spoon over salmon. Garnish with cilantro and serve hot. Yield: 4 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Almond Crusted Salmon Fillets with Lemon Leek Cream Sauce - Good Things Catered
Wasabi Glazed Salmon - One Perfect Bite
Slow Roasted Salmon - One Perfect Bite
Poached Salmon - Simply Recipes
Red Grape Salmon Fillets - A Food Year
Salmon Fillet on Leek and Fennel Sauce - The Passionate Cook

This post is being linked to:
Pink Saturday, sponsored by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.

52 comments :

Annie said...

Mary this recipe seems to be delicious and I would like to try it.
Have a very nice weekend

Sara's Sweet Surprise said...

Hello Mary~Salmon is a staple here in the PNW. My hubby is our chef when it comes to cooking salmon, he has created his own recipe with an Asian influence. He has converted many of those who'd swear salmon wasn't something they liked to eat.
I love the versatility of having leftovers to add to a simple salad or many other dishes not to mention the health benefits.

Sweet wishes,
Sara

Sanyukta Gour(Bayes) said...

gorgeous pink...looks mindblowing mary...healthy n nutritious

PranisKitchen said...

thats so innovative.delicious thai dish.. like the tangy and sweet salmon

scrambledhenfruit said...

We love salmon here. It's always good to have new ways to prepare it- I've never used tamarind but I've seen it in the grocery. Now that I know what to do with it, it may find its way into my kitchen. Thanks for the recipe!

Jayanthy Kumaran said...

that looks delightful ...perfect recipe dear.

Gloria Baker said...

I love salmon Mary and I love this recipe, have a nice weekend, huggs, gloria

Debbi Does Dinner Healthy said...

This looks gorgeous!! LOVE the sauce!

Allie and Pattie said...

Mary, this looks and sounds so good. I will be looking for the tamarind tomorrow. And yes, there are recipes I've had in my "to try" pile for a ridiculous length of time
xoxo Pattie

Char said...

Always looking for another great way to do salmon. Looks fantastic. Happy Pink Saturday, Char

Melinda said...

Yummy--I love salmon.


Have a super Saturday!

Melinda

Mama Hen said...

What a great blog! Come and join my new blog network Mama's Little Nestwork! I will have a featured recipe blogger each week! I would love for you to join! Come and visit www.mamaslittlenestwork.com. I am following your blog!

Mama Hen

Lori said...

I love salmon too. I fell in love with tamarindo tea in AZ. It opened up a whole new world of flavor for me. All the tamarind in Asian cooking and Indian cooking- I love it. I know I would love this salmon!

Kim said...

I have never tried tamarind before, but would love too! Your salmon has such a beautiful color to it and looks perfectly prepared. Looks like a delightful meal, Mary. Have a wonderful weekend :)

Joanne said...

How did you know that I loved anything and everything Thai! This dish looks right up my alley. SOOO making it!

Unknown said...

I push recipes to the back burner all the time...then when I make them, I'm always sorry it took me so long to get to it too! WHEW..nice to know I'm in good company! The salmon sounds delicious!

J e l e n a said...

looks like it came out of the best restaurant! Beautiful!

Sook said...

Salmon with ginger sauce sounds terrific! I will have to try that.

Ginny Hartzler said...

I have never tried any kind of tamarind, and am not even sure what it is! But I do love steamed salmon and ginger, as well. This does look so delicious!

Nina said...

I love tamarind; I use it for soups a lot! Your salmon looks very good!
compliments for everything you do!

3 hungry tummies said...

That looks delicious. Tamarind works well with salmon, it cuts down the richness of the fish.

Deb in Hawaii said...

Mmm...delicious! My favorite Malaysian restaurant here makes a tamarind sauced fish that is incredible this looks even better. ;-)

giorno26 ¸¸.•*¨*•. said...

Questa ricetta ha un aspetto molto delizioso !!!
Buongiorno Mary, da oggi sono finalmente in ferie !!!
Buona giornata :-))

Diane said...

As I love salmon and ginger this sounds like my type of combination. Diane

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

wow Mary... So those are strips of ginger on the top? That must be wonderful. Certainly different from anything I have served... you are right, this is a keeper!

Faith said...

I love finding new recipes for salmon since my hubby and I are eating more of it! This recipe looks like a wonderful blend of sweet and savory flavors!

Anonymous said...

I have a whole stack of recipes that I've printed off the Internet or cut out of magazines - some years old! One day I'll get around to them, but I'm constantly adding new recipes so I don't think I'll ever make them all, lol. Your salmon looks perfect! What a great recipe. Have a lovely weekend Mary!

Katerina said...

Since I am not a big fan of fish, I always try to find ways to cook it, so that it does not have the intense smell fish usually carries. This is a perfect way for me. Thanks for trying it and share it with us.

Pam said...

What a great recipe, Mary! We love salmon and must try this. Tamarind is new to me and I will be checking it out! Have a lovely weekend!

Adelina said...

Sometimes time consuming recipes produce outstanding results, and am sure your dish was great in any regard!

Baking is my Zen...sweet nibbles for the soul said...

This looks delish!

Carmen

tinyskillet said...

Yum! This looks packed with flavor! We love salmon, but it's become so pricey lately we have to save it for a special meal! This is perfect!

Catherine said...

You have such a wonderful site here!
All your recipes look simply delicious Mary!
Cheers~

Angie's Recipes said...

This is great for any seafood fan! I have never made salmon with tamarind sauce...and it's "steamed"! I believe the salmon would taste very tender and succulent!

Jamie said...

Mary! I couldn't keep myself from taking a peek in while on vacation - I knew I'd find something luscious! This salmon has the flavors I love and the word SIMPLE has me smiling. I rarely make fish (it scares me) but this looks easy, delicious and just fabulous! xo Thinking of you.

Jen_from_NJ said...

I actually have tamarind concentrate on hand. Thank you for the advice on how to substitute it for the pulp. I am glad that you made this salmon and shared it.

StephenC said...

I have never used tamarind, but will give it serious consideration.

Susi's Kochen und Backen said...

What a unique and delicious sounding blend of flavors! The salmon looks fantastic!

Rita said...

I wonder if I can find tamarind around here. We are big fans of salmon and this recipes sounds fantastic.
Rita

Unknown said...

Mary, the salmon looks utterly delicious. It's almost I can taste it, almost. I also much prefer salmon fillet to salmon steak.
Have a great weekend Mary. Michael

PS. I did it. I prepared my first live lobster today. I am officially a lobster killer. :)

PJ said...

very interesting and new recipe for Thai style salmon.

Kerstin said...

What a unique way to prepare salmon - it looks very taste. I already have tamarind paste in the pantry, so maybe I could use that.

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Happy Pink Saturday Mary Sweetie...
As always you have a delightful recipe to rev up our tastebuds and make us drool.

Salmon sounds so delightful this time of year. It is so hot, sometimes we just need something a little lighter on the tummy. Sounds wonderful and it might just be one of those I am going to HAVE to try.

Thank you as always sweetie for sharing with me. I so love it when you do. I will go to the website and check their recipes and goodies out.

Leftover (if any) sure would be good for a cool salad addition the next day.

Many hugs sweetie...Sherry

hobby baker Kelly said...

Wonderful! I love Thai food and the fact that this has no soy sauce means our whole family can enjoy it. I even have the tamarind concentrate in the pantry. Thank you thank you!

Monet said...

What an unusual salmon preparation. I get bored with the normal honey glaze I prepare, so this would be a great recipe to get me out of my salmon rut!

Maison Mutt said...

When will I learn to look at your blog AFTER I eat? I'll admit...i've never used tamarind before. Is it easy to find?
Licks & Wags, Niki

GLENDA CHILDERS said...

Happy Pink Saturday to you, Mary!
You have done it again ~ another delicious pink recipe.

Fondly,
Glenda

penny aka jeroxie said...

I love salmon but don't eat enough of it.... to market soon!

My Little Space said...

The tamarind sauce sounds awesome! And it looks a little like our 'Asam Sauce'. It makes you salivate! Enjoy your day.
Cheers, kristy

Salsa Verde said...

That recipe and I have to try soon!!
Love,
Lia.

Beverly said...

Happy very belated Pink Saturday, Mary.

We love salmon, and I am always looking for new ways to prepare it. I'll add tamarind to my list for the next time I go shopping.

Carolyn said...

Seems to be a really good recipe on Salmon. I use to try most of the salmon recipes on this site, they have almost all recipes related to salmon

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