2068. GRILLED SALMON with SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS, BACON and OYSTER SAUCE

serves four


1 lb. salmon fillet(s)
salt and pepper to taste
5 slices bacon cut into 1” squares
1 cup fresh shiitake mushrooms, roughly chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons minced fresh Italian parsley
3 tablespoons Chinese oyster sauce
½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons chopped parsley or chervil

Prepare your grill for direct heat (coals directly underneath the fish). Season the salmon with olive oil, salt and pepper and return to refrigerator until ready to grill (it’s almost always best to grill fish cold, but meat at room temperature).

In a bowl, combine the oyster sauce and the chicken broth. Set aside. Heat a heavy sauté pan over medium high heat for two or three minutes, then add the bacon. When crispy but not too dark, place bacon in a mesh strainer to drain the fat, and reserve 1-2 Tbsp of the fat in the pan.

To the pan add the shiitake mushrooms and sauté until golden brown. Reduce heat to medium and stir in the parsley. After 1-2 minutes add the minced garlic and cook another 30 seconds, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the oyster sauce/chicken broth mixture and reduce over medium-high heat for several minutes. Keep warm.

Mop your hot charcoal grill with oil and then quickly put the salmon on the grill – if you have skin on your salmon fillets, place the non-skin side down first, cooking for a long minute before flipping to the skin-side down. Grill the salmon until done to your liking – I like to use a fairly high heat so the skin gets crispy and the center is still pink and moist. Note, salmon often takes longer to cook than is often thought.

Meanwhile, back on your stove top - crumble the bacon into the sauce and combine. Top each salmon fillet with sauce and garnish with chopped parsley or chervil.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Dave the Wine Merchant, 3053 Fillmore Street #183, San Francisco, California 94123, June 22, 2010