Salmon with balsamic strawberry glaze

This recipe is from the Salmon and Strawberries episode of A is for Apples, hosted by Lauren Gulyas.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 4 salmon fillets skin on (6 oz (170g) each)
• 2 tablespoons (30ml) olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Strawberry sauce:

• ¾ cup (187ml) balsamic vinegar
• ¼ cup (60ml) maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon (5ml) Dijon mustard
• 1 clove garlic
• 2 cups (500ml) strawberries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400F (204°C)
2. Season salmon with salt and pepper. Drizzle with ½ the oil. Add the remaining oil to a non-stick skillet. Allow to heat over medium high heat until oil is shimmering.
3. Place the salmon flesh side down into the pan and cook for 2 minutes or until golden brown.
4. Flip the fish and place into the oven.  The residual heat from the pan will crisp up the skin.
5. Cook in oven for 4 minutes for medium-rare pending on the thickness of the filet.
6. For the sauce place the balsamic, maple syrup, Dijon into a sauce pan.  Grate the garlic into pan.  Place pot over medium-high heat bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer for 10 minutes. Hull and quarter the strawberries and add to the pot of reduced balsamic. Remove from heat.
7. To serve place salmon filet on plate and scoop a generous portion of the berries and balsamic on top.

Note: removing from the oven at a medium rare temperature, the salmon will continue to cook to a medium temperature – just losing its translucent flesh colour. We think it is the best way to enjoy salmon. If you desire your salmon well done cook a further 5 minutes in the oven.