The Frozen Juice That Takes Salmon Up A Flavor Notch

While you might be overusing the same standard recipe to spice up your salmon, it can also be daunting to take on a challenging one, although you might just need a refresher course on how to best follow recipe books. Impressively, salmon doesn't take much to taste delicious because it absorbs salt and marinates so well. For a more diverse flavor profile, it's smart to add in a sweet ingredient as well. Luckily, you can quickly and conveniently transform the taste of salmon by sautéing it with just a handful of ingredients.

Taking inspiration from James Barber, host of the 1990s Canadian cooking show "The Urban Peasant," you'll learn that there are two ingredients that combine especially well when paired with salmon. In a clip posted on YouTube, Barber shared that these two key ingredients are butter and frozen orange juice concentrate. Together, they allow the fish steak to gain a crispy exterior, complete with a golden pan-sear and a juicy, slightly sweet interior. Barber recommends placing your salmon on a pan at medium-high heat with one tablespoon of butter before seasoning your salmon filet with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

After cooking for a couple of minutes on either side, the next step is to add a spoonful of frozen orange juice concentrate. The concentrate will melt and mix with the butter to create a thick sauce that balances sweet, buttery, and peppery flavors. Be sure to cook the salmon once more, on both sides, to really soak up the sauce. Although frozen orange juice concentrate is preferred for stronger flavors, you can use orange juice in a pinch. Or if you have a bottle of orange juice that's expiring soon, freeze the remaining juice in an ice tray to make your own concentrate that you can utilize in future recipes.

While butter and citrus make for a tasty combo, there are limitless possibilities to spruce up your salmon's flavor with minimal effort. You're going to need the basics -– olive oil or butter, salt, and pepper. Remember that salmon is great at soaking up salty flavors, so incorporating additional sweet and sour flavors can do wonders to harmonize your dish. Capers and fresh lemon embody this idea well, as the briny and citrussy flavors make way for a tasty Mediterranean-inspired dish. Similarly, maple syrup and soy sauce work together to create a lovely, caramelized glaze.

Need more ideas? Honey and lemon juice make for a beautifully glazed and tangy fish. Ginger and scallions work together well to make a fragrant and earthy dish. Rosemary and white wine are a more sophisticated duo, resulting in a notably aromatic depth. Meanwhile, Dijon mustard and lemon-flavored salmon sautéed in olive oil is a classic combination.

To further make use of your butter and orange juice concentrate, try pairing these ingredients with garlic, chili flakes, soy sauce, and/or ginger for an easy Asian-inspired salmon steak. You don't need to head to the grocery store for this one; this is a clear-the-pantry and use-it-before-it-expires kind of meal. And if you're feeling ready to level up past flavor combinations and focus on the technique and science behind perfecting a salmon filet, get advice from professional chefs on easy-to-avoid mistakes when cooking salmon.