Valentines Salmon Recipes

Steps:

• Soak the cedar planks in warm water for 1 to 2 hours. Add a splash of bourbon to the water if desired.
• Bring the pineapple juice, soy sauce, vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, and honey to a simmer in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and stir in the sugar, 1 teaspoon black pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has reduced to a syrupy consistency, about 15 minutes. Set the sauce aside.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat. Place the planks on the grate. They are ready to cook on when they start to smoke and crackle just a little. Season the salmon with a light sprinkling of salt and pepper. Place the fillets onto the smoking cedar planks, close the lid of the grill, and cook for 10 minutes. Spoon a small amount of the sauce over the salmon fillets, and continue cooking until the fish turns opaque in the center, about 5 minutes more. Serve with the remaining sauce.

Steps:

• Arrange the oven racks so that one is in the top third. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly oil.
• Combine the red wine vinegar, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of the honey and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the paprika in a medium saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until simmering, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until reduced and syrupy, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the red pepper flakes. Set the sauce aside.
• Combine the remaining 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Arrange the salmon in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet and season with the paprika mixture. Spoon the sauce over the salmon.
• Bake the salmon until it is an opaque light pink and is partially cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove the salmon from the oven and set the oven to high broil. Baste the salmon with the sauce pooled on the baking sheet. Return the salmon to the oven and broil until the tops start to brown and caramelize, 3 to 5 minutes depending on your broiler.
• While the salmon is cooking, whisk together the lemon juice and remaining 1 tablespoon honey in a large bowl. Add the watercress, almonds, mint and currants to the dressing and toss to coat evenly. Serve the salmon warm with the watercress salad.