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Pan-Seared Salmon with Curried Couscous

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on February 13, 2020

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Pan-Seared Salmon with Curried Couscous

Ingredients

1 ½ cups chicken broth 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon curry powder 1 teaspoon table salt, divided1 cup couscous 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed1 cup baby spinach, chopped coarse4 (6- to 8-ounce) skin-on salmon fillets, 1 to 1½ inches thick¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (½ cup)

Before You Begin

Serve with lemon wedges.

Instructions

  1. Bring broth, oil, curry powder, and ½ teaspoon salt to boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in couscous, cover, and let sit off heat for 5 minutes. Stir chickpeas and spinach into couscous. Cover and set aside.
  2. Sprinkle salmon flesh with cayenne and remaining ½ teaspoon salt. Arrange salmon skin side down in 12-inch nonstick skillet. Place skillet over medium-high heat and cook until fat is rendered and skin becomes crispy, about 7 minutes.
  3. Flip salmon and continue to cook until center is still translucent when checked with tip of paring knife and registers 125 degrees (for medium-rare), about 7 minutes longer. Stir feta into couscous and serve with salmon.
Pan-Seared Salmon with Curried Couscous
Photography by Steve Klise. Styling by Elle Simone.

Pan-Seared Salmon with Curried Couscous

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 ½ cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon table salt, divided
1 cup couscous
1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed
1 cup baby spinach, chopped coarse
4 (6- to 8-ounce) skin-on salmon fillets, 1 to 1½ inches thick
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (½ cup)

Ingredients

1 ½ cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon table salt, divided
1 cup couscous
1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed
1 cup baby spinach, chopped coarse
4 (6- to 8-ounce) skin-on salmon fillets, 1 to 1½ inches thick
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (½ cup)

Ingredients

1 ½ cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon table salt, divided
1 cup couscous
1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed
1 cup baby spinach, chopped coarse
4 (6- to 8-ounce) skin-on salmon fillets, 1 to 1½ inches thick
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (½ cup)

Why This Recipe Works

Starting the salmon in a cold skillet allowed ample time to slowly render the salmon's fat and crisp the skin.

Before You Begin

Serve with lemon wedges.

Instructions

  1. Bring broth, oil, curry powder, and ½ teaspoon salt to boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in couscous, cover, and let sit off heat for 5 minutes. Stir chickpeas and spinach into couscous. Cover and set aside.
  2. Sprinkle salmon flesh with cayenne and remaining ½ teaspoon salt. Arrange salmon skin side down in 12-inch nonstick skillet. Place skillet over medium-high heat and cook until fat is rendered and skin becomes crispy, about 7 minutes.
  3. Flip salmon and continue to cook until center is still translucent when checked with tip of paring knife and registers 125 degrees (for medium-rare), about 7 minutes longer. Stir feta into couscous and serve with salmon.

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