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Pan-Roasted Salmon with Fennel and Orange Salad

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 10, 2015

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Pan-Roasted Salmon with Fennel and Orange Salad

Ingredients

2 oranges 1 fennel bulb, 1 tablespoon fronds minced, stalks discarded, bulb quartered, cored, and sliced thin crosswise3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar Salt and pepper 4 (6-ounce) skinless center-cut salmon fillets, 1 ¼ inches thick½ cup pitted kalamata olives, sliced thin

Before You Begin

Add the olives just before serving so they don’t discolor the salad.

Instructions

  1. Cut away peel and pith from oranges. Quarter oranges, then slice thin crosswise. Combine orange slices and their juice, sliced fennel, 2 tablespoons oil, vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in bowl. Transfer salad to platter.
  2. Pat salmon dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Cook salmon until well browned and temperature registers 125 degrees, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer salmon to platter with salad. Sprinkle olives over salad and fennel fronds over both. Serve.
Pan-Roasted Salmon with Fennel and Orange Salad
Photography by Steve Klise. Styling by Elle Simone Scott.

Pan-Roasted Salmon with Fennel and Orange Salad

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 oranges
1 fennel bulb, 1 tablespoon fronds minced, stalks discarded, bulb quartered, cored, and sliced thin crosswise
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
Salt and pepper
4 (6-ounce) skinless center-cut salmon fillets, 1 ¼ inches thick
½ cup pitted kalamata olives, sliced thin

Ingredients

2 oranges
1 fennel bulb, 1 tablespoon fronds minced, stalks discarded, bulb quartered, cored, and sliced thin crosswise
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
Salt and pepper
4 (6-ounce) skinless center-cut salmon fillets, 1 ¼ inches thick
½ cup pitted kalamata olives, sliced thin

Ingredients

2 oranges
1 fennel bulb, 1 tablespoon fronds minced, stalks discarded, bulb quartered, cored, and sliced thin crosswise
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
Salt and pepper
4 (6-ounce) skinless center-cut salmon fillets, 1 ¼ inches thick
½ cup pitted kalamata olives, sliced thin

Why This Recipe Works

The brightness of the citrus balances the richness of the seared salmon. The crunch of the fennel adds textural contrast.

Before You Begin

Add the olives just before serving so they don’t discolor the salad.

Instructions

  1. Cut away peel and pith from oranges. Quarter oranges, then slice thin crosswise. Combine orange slices and their juice, sliced fennel, 2 tablespoons oil, vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in bowl. Transfer salad to platter.
  2. Pat salmon dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Cook salmon until well browned and temperature registers 125 degrees, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer salmon to platter with salad. Sprinkle olives over salad and fennel fronds over both. Serve.

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