Recipe: Perfect Oven-Broiled Salmon with 3-Citrus Butter

PERFECT OVEN-BROILED SALMON

FOR THE THREE-CITRUS BUTTER:
Zest and juice from 1 lemon
Zest and juice from 1 lime
Zest and juice from 1 orange
1 tablespoon sugar
1 clove garlic, crushed
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
12 ounces (3 sticks) butter, chilled, cut into tablespoon-size pieces

FOR THE SALMON:
4 salmon filets (8 ounces each)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

TO MAKE THE THREE-CITRUS BUTTER:
In a small saucepan over high heat, stir together the zests and juices from the lemon, lime and orange with the sugar, garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook, stirring, until the mixture is reduced to 1/4 cup.

Remove the pan from the heat and immediately whisk in 2 pieces of the chilled butter. As the butter softens and incorporates into the liquid, whisk in a few more pieces. Then return the saucepan to the stove. Adjust the heat to low and, whisking constantly, continue adding pieces of butter in the same manner until the mixture is thickened. Remove from the heat; cover and set aside.

TO PREPARE THE SALMON:
Preheat the broiler.

Brush the salmon fillet with the oil and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Broil the salmon about 6 inches from the heat for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the salmon bake for another 5 minutes without opening the door. (Cook salmon fillets 10 minutes per inch of thickness.)

TO SERVE:
Transfer the salmon to a platter and drizzle with some of the three-citrus butter. Cover and refrigerate remaining citrus butter for another use.

Makes 4 servings
Source: The Northwest Essentials Cookbook by Greg Atkinson