Recipe: Salmon with Sweet and Sour Peppercorn Sauce (with mixed pepper seasoning)

SALMON WITH SWEET AND SOUR PEPPERCORN SAUCE

FOR THE PEPPER MIXTURE:
1 teaspoon white peppercorns
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon dried green peppercorns
1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
FOR THE SALMON:
4 salmon fillets, 6 to 8 ounces each
3 to 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled, divided use
FOR THE SAUCE:
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon green peppercorns in brine, drained
1/2 cup fruity white wine (such as Viognier)
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Salt (Hawaiian alae preferred)

TO MAKE THE PEPPER MIXTURE:
Using a suribachi, or heavy mortar and pestle, grind the white and black peppercorns to a medium coarseness. Add the green peppercorns and grind the mixture together until all the peppercorns are uniformly ground to a medium-fine coarseness; add 1 teaspoon kosher salt and mix together.

TO PREPARE THE SALMON:
Set the salmon fillets on a work surface and use your fingers to sprinkle the pepper mixture over the entire surface of the salmon, pressing lightly to make it stick.

Melt 1 to 2 tablespoons of the butter in heavy saute pan over medium heat, add the fillets skin-side up, and cook until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn the fillets skin-side down, reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 5 minutes. Remove the lid and cook until done, about 5 to 8 minutes more, depending on the thickness of the fillets. Transfer the fillets to a serving platter and keep warm.

TO MAKE THE SAUCE:
Increase the heat to medium, add the sugar, brined peppercorns and wine to the saute pan, and simmer until the wine is reduced by about 2/3.

Add the lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of the remaining butter to the pan. Swirl the pan as the butter melts, but do not let it boil. Add the remaining butter, swirl until it melts, taste, and add a generous pinch of salt to balance the flavors.

TO SERVE:
Pour the sauce over the salmon, sprinkle each serving with a little salt, and serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings
Source: Salt and Pepper by Michele Anna Jordan