Poached Salmon with Corn and White Wine–Butter Sauce

Food & Wine (September 2009)

We're not big poachers. As a cooking method, it's just never on our radar.  In fact, we've only ever poached something three times -- two different egg dishes and some rhubarb for a dessert.

But this Poached Salmon with Corn and White Wine-Butter Sauce might just bring poaching into regular rotation around The Bitten Word house. It's quick and easy, and it wraps the salmon in light, lovely flavors.

To poach the fish, you first create a fragrant broth of wine, thyme and shallots. Once that's up to heat, you simply simmer the salmon for six minutes -- six minutes! -- and the fish is ready.

Meanwhile, you make the light succotash of corn and zucchini. We still had several summer squash from our CSA, so we subbed that in for zucchini. The dish was still delicious, although maybe a little less diverse in color.

The butter sauce is basic and fantastic. Wine, butter, basil, salt -- what's not to love? It really enriches the salmon and the vegetables with great flavors.

We still love fish on the grill, or roasted in the oven. But consider us poaching converts!

What else should we poach?

Poached Salmon with Corn and White Wine–Butter Sauce

Food & Wine (September 2009)
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(This Photo: Food & Wine)   

•    ACTIVE: 45 MIN
•    TOTAL TIME: 1 HR
•    SERVINGS: 4

Ingredients

-- 4 medium zucchini (1 1/2 pounds), coarsely shredded
-- Salt
-- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
-- 3 medium shallots—2 finely chopped, 1 halved
-- Freshly ground pepper
-- 2 3/4 cups dry white wine
-- 1 cup fresh corn kernels
-- 2 lemon thyme sprigs
-- 1 bay leaf
-- Four 6-ounce skinless salmon fillets
-- 1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
-- 1/4 cup thinly sliced basil leaves

Directions   

1.    Set a colander over a bowl. Add the zucchini to the colander and toss with 1 teaspoon of salt. Let stand for 20 minutes. Squeeze the zucchini dry.

2.    In a large, nonreactive skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the chopped shallots and season with salt and pepper. Cook over moderate heat until softened, about 3 minutes. Add 1/4 cup of the wine and cook until evaporated, about 2 minutes. Stir in the corn and 1/2 cup of water. Cover and cook until the corn is tender, about 4 minutes. Stir in the zucchini and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, cover and keep warm.

3.    In a large, nonreactive saucepan, combine 2 cups of the wine with the thyme, bay leaf, the halved shallot and 2 cups of water and bring to a simmer. Season the salmon with salt, add the fillets to the saucepan and cook at a bare simmer over low heat, turning once, about 6 minutes. Transfer the salmon to a plate and pat dry with paper towels. Discard the poaching liquid.

4.    Add the remaining 1/2 cup of wine to the saucepan and bring to a simmer. Whisk in the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, until thoroughly incorporated. Season with salt. Stir the basil into the vegetables and transfer to plates. Nestle the salmon into the vegetables, top with the butter sauce and serve.