Weeknight Cooking

Maple-Cardamom Glazed Salmon

by:
April 30, 2012

Jenny is in perpetual search for easy, weeknight recipes to attempt to feed her family. When they balk, she just eats more.

Maple-Cardamom Glazed Salmon

 

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There are simple answers to dinner, and then, there are insanely simple answers.  Enter Maple-Cardamom Glazed Salmon. You brush a sweet little overcoat of maple syrup on your main man, Mr. Delicious Salmon and cook him. The end. 

But wait I have more to say!

The first thing you will notice is that our author has tied together a sultry, nectarous adhesive with an array of woody spices that work together effortlessly -- I am talking Lyle Lovett and his large band. 

(Although I am told there is some sort of equal symmetry with the boys of the ambiguously named One Direction. I would ponder further musical metaphors but there is at this very moment a woman in a black muscle shirt walking through the gate where I am sitting in the Chicago airport carrying a banjo, so I am distracted.)

What alasully has for you here is a recipe in which you take apart your fish, glaze it with maple syrup, cardamom and paprika and gently place it on the skillet, where it cooks somewhat rapidly, skin side down. I have no doubt in this method. 

Here was mine, with my 2 pound fish for guests. I rubbed it with my lovely spices, held together with my new discovery at the Bethesda Farmer’s Market -- Wildwood's Hickory Syrup produced from hickory bark, which is excellent for savory dishes and I am guessing, though I have to try it, on a hot stack on pancakes, too. 

Then, I placed my fish on a foil-lined pan in a 425 degree oven and checked it often, removing it after about 13 minutes. Your time will vary with the thickness of your fish and how pink you like your interior.  Your salmon, resting gingerly like so much silk on the fork, will soon be waiting. That surprise of cardamom is going to get you, I mean that in a good way, as is the familiar paprika (I used smoked just to get all daring on a Sunday night) boosted by the syrup. 

Delicious. Guest worthy. Week-night easy. Okay now I am done. 

 

Maple-Cardamom Glazed Salmon by alasully

Makes 1lb. of fish

1 pound wild salmon filet, de-boned
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons ground cardamom
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
pinch cayenne pepper
salt and pepper

See the full recipe (and save it and print it) here.

 

Photo by James Ransom

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Jestei

Written by: Jestei

The ratio of people to cake is too big.

20 Comments

Ashley M. May 8, 2012
The glaze sounds amazing, but I'm not a salmon fan. What other fish would you recommend and would it work on chicken? If yes to chicken, how long would you recommend cooking it? Thanks.
 
mcs3000 May 7, 2012
Made it tonite. SO delicious. Seared it in a cast-iron pan on the stove before putting it in the oven. Gave it a candy-like caramelization. Can't wait to make it again.
 
bostongal May 6, 2012
I make a brown sugar - cumin - mustard rubbed salmon that is awesome but this recipe has me. I love cardamom and maple syrup so can't wait to make this for DH.
 
Caradamom on Salmon! I am liking you already! Do you think honey comb would we a nice alternative for Maple Syrup? That was the Berstien Bears favorite combo.. it must be pretty good!
 
charlotte A. May 5, 2012
I made this with flounder fillets and it was so delicious! Thanks Jenny and alasully!
 
MrsWheelbarrow May 2, 2012
Week after week I look at that hickory syrup and think, if I had a good reason to buy that, I would. Now I do. Thanks, Jenny!
 
Jestei May 2, 2012
its good stuff
 
Jestei May 2, 2012
its good stuff
 
TinyTinaT May 1, 2012
Delicious. Cardamom is one of our favorite spices and it was so good to enjoy it in an unusual way. After taking the wonderfully glazed and cooked fillets out of the cast iron skillet, we poured a bit of the white wine we were enjoying into the pan. It reduced into a terrific sauce of bright flavours. We poured it over the fillets. A nice contrast to the sweet and gorgeous richness of the fish!
 
Jestei May 1, 2012
that is an excellent idea!
 
Jestei April 30, 2012
i really hope so!
 
mrslarkin April 30, 2012
You had me (and my 16 yr old daughter) at One Direction.
 
Jestei April 30, 2012
they are quite the thing, no?
 
Shalini April 30, 2012
Yum. Cardamom, maple syrup, and salmon cooked quickly. Thanks! I love the distracting woman in muscle tee with the banjo.
 
Jestei April 30, 2012
I love how fast this comes together, don't you?
 
Burnt O. April 30, 2012
What did you serve it with?
 
Jestei April 30, 2012
i am sorry to report: cous cous. and some of that great asparagus in the markets now, roasted.
 
BlueKaleRoad April 30, 2012
Ok, now I need some Lyle Lovett! This salmon looks divine and the spice mix sounds terrific. Maple and salmon pair so well together - I've made a glaze before with maple syrup and rice wine vinegar that was easy and tasty. I can't wait to try this one now! Thanks for sharing another great recipe. This is always such a marvelous way to begin Monday!
 
Jestei April 30, 2012
i can't believe i never thought of it myself. also one always needs lyle lovett.
 
Tracy A. April 30, 2012
Yay! I bought new maple syrup yesterday and have salmon defrosting as we speak (I am leery of unfrozen fish in Central New York), and I have the remaining ingredients in a cupboard - this post is timely - I know that my family will love this!