Yukon King Salmon in Mango Purée

Yesterday, I picked up 1 1/2 pounds of Yukon King Salmon from Mutual Fish ($17.99 p/p). Later on, inspired by all the beautiful produce I found while at the Columbia City Farmers Market and after browsing a recipe on my new book, The Williams-Sonoma Collection: Fish for Pan Roasted Salmon Fillets In Mango Juice I could not wait to get home to start cooking . Taking advantage of a care package my mom had Fedexed only a few days ago, loaded with beautiful mangos and Key limes I knew this was the perfect combination for the evening.

Instead of bottled mango juice as the recipe recommends, I cut up and pureed a few of my beautiful mangoes to get not only the texture and thickness but the lovely bright color and without compromising the flavor. The fish was marinated in the purée for 20 minutes (add salt & pepper to taste and reserve after removing fish from it) and sautéed skin down with one tablespoon olive oil on an All-Clad non-stick pan, for about seven minutes, then transferred to the oven (450F) to finish cooking.

The purée was reduced stove top and poured over the fish after transferring the fish to a platter. I served the salmon with Zucchini Blossoms (deep fried, in a Bellwether Farms Fromage Blanc, While Lily flour, organic heavy cream, sea salt and red pepper batter) and Crème Fraîche Mashed Potatoes (a mix of Yukon Gold and reds, also purchased at the market, mashed by hand with the peel instead of using the Potato Ricer as usual since by the time I got home from work I was not in the mood for ricing potatoes and the hunger go the best of me.

The wine, a 2003 Chatter Creek Columbia River Pinot Gris and the dessert, fresh Tayberries, (a cross between a blackberry and a red raspberry), both purchased at the market, were light and lovely.

The salmon, just as I had read on the paper yesterday morning, was like butter. Like butter I tell you. Delectable, flaky, moist and it cooked to perfection. And that color! Heaven! The potatoes, Zucchini blossoms and wine were a wonderful match. I ate every single morsel of fish and look forward to buying some more to cook this Sunday on the grill.

I must say, As much as I love my Copper River Salmon , last night, Yukon was King.

Columbia City Farmers Market
Columbia Plaza,
4801 Rainier Ave South
(at South Edmunds)
Seattle, WA