Pan Fried Salmon with Passion Fruit Sauce

Ingredients:

• For the Salmon:

  • 2 (6-8 ounce) skin-on salmon fillets
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

• For the Passion Fruit Sauce:

  • 1 cup fresh passion fruit pulp (from 4-5 passion fruits)
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon butter (cold)
  • Pinch of salt (optional)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Salmon: Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

2. Heat the Oil: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

3. Sear the Salmon (Skin-Side Down): Carefully place the salmon fillets, skin-side down, in the hot skillet. Sear for 3-4 minutes, or until the skin is crispy and golden brown.

4. Flip and Cook the Flesh: Using a spatula, carefully flip the salmon fillets to the other side. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through to your desired doneness. The flesh should be opaque and flake easily with a fork.

5. Make the Passion Fruit Sauce (While Salmon Cooks): While the salmon cooks, prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan, combine the passion fruit pulp and honey. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

6. Thicken the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with a tablespoon of water to form a slurry. Add the cornstarch slurry to the simmering passion fruit mixture and whisk continuously until the sauce thickens and becomes translucent (around 2-3 minutes).

7. Finish the Sauce: Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the cold butter until melted. Season with a pinch of salt, if necessary, to balance the sweetness and tartness.

8. Serve: Plate the cooked salmon fillets and spoon the warm passion fruit sauce over the top.

Tips:

• To check for doneness, gently press the center of the salmon fillet with your finger. If it feels firm and flakes easily, it’s cooked through.
• If you don’t have fresh passion fruit, you can substitute it with store-bought passion fruit puree or juice concentrate. However, fresh passion fruit offers a brighter and more vibrant flavor.
• You can adjust the amount of honey in the sauce to your desired sweetness level.
• For a richer sauce, you can substitute the olive oil used for frying the salmon with an additional tablespoon of butter.
• Garnish your dish with fresh herbs like chopped chives or dill for an extra touch of flavor and color.

Enjoy this delicious Pan-Fried Salmon with Passion Fruit Sauce!