Horseradish Honey Salmon: Like a great pair of shoes

I've been spending altogether too much time looking for a perfect pair of shoes.  I want that pair that goes with everything - dressy, casual, and funky.  I'm currently on the quest for such shoes, hoping I'm going to find it somehow.

In cooking, there is also the same thing - the dish that can go with everything.  Finding that one thing that works in a variety of contexts is much like that search for a great shoe.  This salmon dish can be dressy as an entree.  It can also be casual as a burger/sandwich and it also manages to get down and get FUNK-y as a hash.  A hash you say?  Yes, a hash, with potatoes and a fried egg on top.

Turns out that this dish is perfect for my crazy family.  Son can't eat many things - so the salmon, simply as an entree with spinach and roasted potatoes on the side works perfectly for him. He's dressy.  Daughter #1 is a huge sandwich lover, so the salmon sandwich/burger didn't last long on her plate.  She's casual.  Daughter #2 loves anything with a fried egg on top, and if everything is bite sized, she loves it more.  She'll take it as a hash.  She's funky.

And me you ask?  Well - I like to consider myself multi-faceted.  I had it all three ways. Dressy, Casual and Funky.

Now, if only finding the shoes were this simple.

Horseradish Honey Salmon (adapted from Food and Wine | June 2010)
Serves 4

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/4 cup prepared horseradish, drained
2 tablespoons honey
Four 6-ounce skinless salmon fillets
Vegetable oil, for rubbing
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Grilling Option
Light a grill. In a small bowl, mix the mustard, horseradish and honey. Rub the salmon with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the salmon over moderate heat, skinned side down, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Turn and grill for 3 minutes longer, until the salmon is almost cooked through. Turn the salmon again and spread each fillet with 1 tablespoon of the horseradish glaze. Turn and grill until glazed, about 30 seconds. Serve the remaining glaze on the side.

Oven Option
Set the oven to broil with rack close to heat.  Rub salmon with oil and season with salt and pepper.  Place salmon in the oven until lightly brown, about 5 minutes.  Flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes.  Turn again and spread each fillet with horseradish glaze.  Cook for another minute, or until glaze caramelizes.  Remove from oven and serve as you wish.

Printable recipe

Dressy option - elegant and perfect with a side of garlic spinach and roasted potatoes.

Casual option - as a burger, topped with bacon, garlic spinach, sliced apples.

Salmon Sandwich (for 4)

Horseradish Honey Salmon
8 slices of thick bacon, cooked crispy
1/2 a granny smith or fuji apple, cut into slices
Sauteed garlic spinach OR some sort of lettuce

Make your sandwich!

Funky option - as a hash with roasted potatoes, sauteed spinach and a fried egg on top

Salmon Hash

Horseradish Honey Glazed Salmon

Roasted potatoes

Garlic spinach

Fried egg

Layer potatoes on the bottom.  Add a nice portion of garlic spinach and finish the top with a fried egg, cooked to your preference.