Skip to main content

Salmon With Cucumber–Yogurt Sauce and Carrot Salad

5.0

(2)

Image may contain Food Food Presentation Plate Seafood Beef and Meat
Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott

The crisp-skinned salmon is warmed up with spices and the sweetness of carrots. Then it's cooled down with one of the most refreshing combinations of all time: cucumbers and yogurt.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 plus 1 lunch the next day Servings

Ingredients

Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce

½ cup plain Greek yogurt
1 small garlic clove, grated
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 cucumber, peeled, thinly sliced
Fine sea salt, freshly ground black pepper

Carrot Salad

½ teaspoon cumin seeds
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
1 large carrot, shredded
1½ tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, plus more
Fine sea salt, freshly ground black pepper

Salmon and Assembly

1½ pounds salmon, preferably wild-caught sockeye or king, skin on, cut into 5 fillets
Fine sea salt, freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon neutral oil, such as canola or grapeseed, plus more for drizzling
Flaky sea salt

Preparation

  1. Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce

    Step 1

    Combine yogurt, garlic, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Fold in cucumber and season with fine sea salt and pepper.

    Step 2

    Do Ahead: Sauce without cucumber can be made up to 1 day ahead; store in an airtight container and chill.

  2. Carrot Salad

    Step 3

    Toast cumin seeds in a small dry skillet over medium heat, about 1 minute. Add turmeric for the last 15–20 seconds and toast until fragrant. Combine toasted spices, carrot, cilantro, oil, and 1 Tbsp. lemon juice in a medium bowl. Toss and season with fine sea salt, pepper, and lemon juice.

    Step 4

    Do Ahead: Carrot salad can be made up to 8 hours ahead; store in an airtight container and chill.

  3. Salmon and Assembly

    Step 5

    Season salmon with fine sea salt and pepper. Heat 1 Tbsp. neutral oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high. Cook salmon, skin side down, undisturbed, until salmon skin is crisped and browned, 3–4 minutes. Gently turn fillets and cook until salmon is just opaque at the center, 1–2 minutes for medium rare.

    Step 6

    Divide fillets among plates, skin side up, and serve with cucumber-yogurt sauce and carrot salad. Drizzle with neutral oil and sprinkle with flaky sea salt.

Read More
This garlicky shrimp scampi version of a classic bisque embraces the technique of blending seafood shells for a luxuriously silky and creamy end result.
So much more affordable than ordering from those fast casual salad chains.
Roasted radishes for the win.
Elegant enough for a dinner party centerpiece, sturdy enough to take the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
Dressed in a spiced yogurt, with ginger and garlic, then roasted until caramelized and tender.
Learn how to make salmon en papillote (parchment paper salmon) with spring vegetables and a bright lemon-dill vinaigrette for an elegant, fuss-free meal.
The golden, crunchy corners are worth fighting over.
Bathe greens and chickpeas in a garlicky, tomato-enhanced broth. Stretch a block of Halloumi by grating and toasting it into a topping for the soup.