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Broiled Salmon with Mustard and Crisp Dilled Crust

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 22, 2007

Time

55 minutes

Yield

Serves 8 to 10

Broiled Salmon with Mustard and Crisp Dilled Crust

Ingredients

3 slices hearty white sandwich bread, crusts removed4 ounces potato chips, crushed into rough ⅛-inch pieces (about 1 cup)6 tablespoons chopped fresh dill 1 (3½-pound) skin-on side of salmon, pin bones removed and belly fat trimmed1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil ¾ teaspoon table salt ¾ teaspoon pepper 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Before You Begin

We prefer thick-cut or kettle-cooked potato chips here; ridged chips will work in a pinch. Heavy-duty aluminum foil measuring 18 inches wide is essential for creating a sling that aids in transferring the cooked fillet to a cutting board. Use a large baking sheet so that the salmon will lie flat. If you can’t get the fish to lie flat, even when positioning it diagonally on the baking sheet, trim the tail end. If you prefer to cook a smaller 2-pound fillet, ask to have it cut from the thick center of the fillet, not the thin tail end, and begin checking for doneness a minute earlier than advised in the recipe. Serve with lemon wedges.

Instructions

  1. Adjust 1 oven rack to upper-middle position and second rack about 3 inches from broiler element. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Pulse bread in food processor to fairly even 1/4-inch pieces about the size of Grape-Nuts cereal (you should have about 1 cup), about 10 pulses. Spread bread crumbs evenly on rimmed baking sheet; toast on lower rack, shaking sheet once or twice during toasting, until golden brown and crisp, 4 to 5 minutes. Toss bread crumbs, potato chips, and dill together in small bowl; set aside.
  3. Cut piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil 6 inches longer than salmon fillet. Fold foil lengthwise in thirds and place lengthwise on rimmed baking sheet; position salmon lengthwise on foil, allowing excess foil to overhang sheet. Rub salmon evenly with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil salmon on upper rack until surface is spotty brown and center is still translucent when checked with tip of paring knife and registers 125 degrees (for medium-rare), 9 to 11 minutes. Remove salmon from oven, spread evenly with mustard, and press bread crumb mixture onto salmon. Broil on lower rack until crust is deep golden brown, about 1 minute.
  4. Using foil sling, transfer salmon to cutting board. Remove sling and serve.

Broiled Salmon with Mustard and Crisp Dilled Crust

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

55 minutes

Yield

Serves 8 to 10

Ingredients

3 slices hearty white sandwich bread, crusts removed
4 ounces potato chips, crushed into rough ⅛-inch pieces (about 1 cup)
6 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
1 (3½-pound) skin-on side of salmon, pin bones removed and belly fat trimmed
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
¾ teaspoon table salt
¾ teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

3 slices hearty white sandwich bread, crusts removed
4 ounces potato chips, crushed into rough ⅛-inch pieces (about 1 cup)
6 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
1 (3½-pound) skin-on side of salmon, pin bones removed and belly fat trimmed
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
¾ teaspoon table salt
¾ teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

3 slices hearty white sandwich bread, crusts removed
4 ounces potato chips, crushed into rough ⅛-inch pieces (about 1 cup)
6 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
1 (3½-pound) skin-on side of salmon, pin bones removed and belly fat trimmed
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
¾ teaspoon table salt
¾ teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

To get broiled salmon with flavorful flesh and a golden, caramelized crust, we broiled the fish until it was almost cooked through and then applied a thin coating of mustard with a topping of fresh bread crumbs and crushed potato chips flavored with dill. We finished our salmon right under the broiler to make the topping crisp.

Before You Begin

We prefer thick-cut or kettle-cooked potato chips here; ridged chips will work in a pinch. Heavy-duty aluminum foil measuring 18 inches wide is essential for creating a sling that aids in transferring the cooked fillet to a cutting board. Use a large baking sheet so that the salmon will lie flat. If you can’t get the fish to lie flat, even when positioning it diagonally on the baking sheet, trim the tail end. If you prefer to cook a smaller 2-pound fillet, ask to have it cut from the thick center of the fillet, not the thin tail end, and begin checking for doneness a minute earlier than advised in the recipe. Serve with lemon wedges.

Instructions

  1. Adjust 1 oven rack to upper-middle position and second rack about 3 inches from broiler element. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Pulse bread in food processor to fairly even 1/4-inch pieces about the size of Grape-Nuts cereal (you should have about 1 cup), about 10 pulses. Spread bread crumbs evenly on rimmed baking sheet; toast on lower rack, shaking sheet once or twice during toasting, until golden brown and crisp, 4 to 5 minutes. Toss bread crumbs, potato chips, and dill together in small bowl; set aside.
  3. Cut piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil 6 inches longer than salmon fillet. Fold foil lengthwise in thirds and place lengthwise on rimmed baking sheet; position salmon lengthwise on foil, allowing excess foil to overhang sheet. Rub salmon evenly with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil salmon on upper rack until surface is spotty brown and center is still translucent when checked with tip of paring knife and registers 125 degrees (for medium-rare), 9 to 11 minutes. Remove salmon from oven, spread evenly with mustard, and press bread crumb mixture onto salmon. Broil on lower rack until crust is deep golden brown, about 1 minute.
  4. Using foil sling, transfer salmon to cutting board. Remove sling and serve.

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