With time-starved schedules and the desire to eat healthy, everyone needs fast recipes they can turn to. Here is one I’ve done a lot this summer – Steamed Salmon. Never done it? It’s so easy. You can have dinner on the table in just minutes. About six minutes to be exact. Steaming: it’s not just for vegetables. Read on to learn how to steam salmon.
How To Steam Salmon
For years I have roasted, seared and oven finished, sautéed in the pan, baked in parchment, poached, even grilled salmon. A few months ago I started steaming salmon. Steaming produces delicious, healthy, nutritious, moist salmon in a matter of minutes. Once water passes the boiling point, it turns to steam, and steam cooks quickly and gently. It’s a great cooking technique for delicate seafood. An average thick filet takes about 5-6 minutes to steam.
How to Prep Salmon Filets
First, skin the fish. Either ask the person at the seafood counter to do it for you, or do it yourself with a thin, flexible knife like a fillet knife. Here is how to skin a salmon filet and trim out the blood line. The bloodline is the purple area you will see after skinning the salmon. It can be strong tasting, which is why many people think they don’t like salmon. Try trimming out the bloodline.
Next, remove pin bones. Run your fingers lightly over the fish to feel for any pin bones. If you find any, gently pull them out with clean pliers. You can buy fish pliers just to keep in the kitchen. I use mini fishing pliers because the are small and don’t take up much room in the drawer. You can also use tweezers.
Lastly, portion and fold if needed. If your salmon filet has a thick end and a flatter, thinner end, not to worry. So that the thinner end does not over-cook, fold it under to create a more evenly thick piece of fish.
Steaming Salmon
You will need a large pot with a tight fitting lid. I use a Le Creuset 5 1/2 quart Dutch oven, another great addition to your kitchen collection. To hold the salmon, use a stainless steel steamer rack. Be sure it opens flat and has a removable center post. The silicon ones work well too.
Create a quick and flavorful broth for your salmon to steam in. Add water, lemon juice, white wine (optional), dried or fresh herbs, bay leaf, and garlic plus salt and pepper to the bottom of the pot.With the lid on, bring to a boil, then turn down to low to simmer for 15-20 minutes to allow flavors to develop. If you are really in a hurry, skip the simmering part.
Next, give the steamer a spritz of non-stick spray to insure easy release. Insert the steamer and add the salmon. Place the lid back on and time for 5-6 minutes. The salmon will be a pale orange color. If you are nervous about cooking fish, it should be at 145º (63º C) when measured with a digital thermometer.
How to Serve Steamed Salmon
Steamed salmon can be served hot, warm or even chilled. If serving chilled, you can steam and chill it a few hours ahead of time. For serving ideas, add a squeeze of lemon or sauce such as:
- Creamy Citrus Mango Sauce (works nice with chilled steamed salmon as a dressing over fresh salads greens)
- Blackberry-wine sauce (from this recipe)
- A dollop of fresh basil pesto
- A tropical pineapple-mango salsa
- Nectarine and tomato chutney
- Preserved Lemon Sauce
Steamed salmon is great used in a classic South-of-France salad called a Nicoise. It’s a meal unto itself. Steaming salmon is an easy way to get this heart healthy fish into your diet.
How To Steam Salmon
Equipment
- Steamer rack (without center post if round)
- Large pot or Dutch Oven
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds salmon filet preferably wild, skinned
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 3 cups water
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 garlic cloves peeled and crushed
- 1 cup white wine optional, add 1 cup water if not using
- 1 handful fresh thyme sprigs or 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 lemon quartered and squeezed into water and rinds added
- A few pinches of salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cut salmon filet into four equal pieces. If one has a flatter, thinner end, fold it under first to create an even piece. Drizzle with the oil then sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic.
- Add water, bay leaf, garlic, wine, thyme, lemon, salt and pepper to the pot. Bring to a boil with lid on, then turn down to a low simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes to create a flavorful steaming broth. Note – the broth should come just to the bottom of your steamer. The quantity might need to be adjusted depending on the legs of your steamer. Turn the heat up until the broth is boiling and steam is coming out of the pan lid.
- Spray steamer rack with non-stick (or use a little oil), add to pot, add salmon, and steam with lid on for 5-6 minutes or until salmon reached 145º internally when measured with a digital thermometer. Timing will depend on the thickness of your salmon. Serve warm or chilled with sauce of choice. See post for ideas and recipe links.
hi mrs.cameron! we had ur crusted salmon 2night and it was delicious! i cant belive u made that up!
Hi Allison! You are so cute! Glad you liked the salmon. If you like salmon I have lots more good recipes for you! Keep practicing those knife skills we worked on. And you can call me Sally! And hey chef always works 🙂
Looks gorgeous with the white and black sesame seeds!
I love watching you prep food. I love seeing what you use to prep/cook/serve. It always looks so pretty. Now I need a filet knife.
I am a big fan of salmon but I have never tried it steamed. Bookmarking this to try some time soon. LOVE your green Le Creuset pan. 🙂
Its so easy and fast Rivki! You will be amazed. Please report back if you try it.
Me too Rivki! I have the Fennel Green Le Creuset in the #26 (5 1/2 qt) and the smaller orange Flame in #22, about 3 1/2 qt. Use them both all of the time. Great sizes. Hope you enjoy the salmon. Steaming the salmon is so easy and fast you will be amazed. Let me know!
Best steamed recipes I’ve ever seen!
What is the oven temperature?
There is no oven temperature Stevie. Its steamed on the stove top in a pot.
I am glad to be one of many visitors on this great site (:
, regards for putting up.
Very nice and easy recipe. Thank you. Having it today for thanksgiving….
Cheers Sally.
How do you prevent the “white stuff” that comes on the top of salmon while cooking. I use the Tupperware Steamer and 2 fillets cook in 6 minutes. Should I turn them half way, because I noticed there was no “white stuff” on the bottom.
Hi Sarah. The white stuff is just coagulated protein, also known as albumin. Totally natural. You might also be overcooking the salmon. And no, you do to need to turn the filets. Hope this helps!
You are the only one to direct putting lid on pot. Thank you..
In step 3 are you supposed to bring the Water back to a boil before inserting fish? WHat other fish are good to steam?
Hi Ben. The water should still be very hot and steaming. Just quickly remove the lid and place the salmon in the spot and steam. Does that make sense? It’s almost too easy!
Coming from a family that ran a Chinese restaurant, my Mom would steam the salmon by itself for 15-20 minutes then lay it on a platter. She would put crushed black beans, minced garlic, salt & pepper & then pour VERY hot vegetable oil on the salmon (Do this in a clean sink as the hot oil will splatter). When that hot oil hits the minced garlic on the salmon, what an incredible aroma! Then add dark soy sauce (not too much) & fresh cilantro or green onions on top. Served with steamed rice, it is delish! I do that now for my kids & grand kids.
Sounds delicious Glenn, lucky family!
can you use the water again right after to cook a few more pieces?
Yes you sure can Rashvir!
Absolutely!
Hi there ms. Cameron
If you presoak the salmon for 15 min or so in about 6cups of water with a couple tbsp of sea salt, you eliminate the white protein coming out. Saw it on ATK last year.
Love, love, steamed salmon
Hi Pauline. Thanks for your comment. Like you, we love steamed salmon. So easy, fast and healthy. The white stuff that comes out of salmon, when it is cooked too quickly, too hot, or too long, is albumin; basically coagulated protein. Brining can help, although I have not done that, as I don’t overcook my salmon. Over-cooking fish is easy to do and common as many people are unsure of cooking fish at the beginning and are fearful of under cooking. Then it gets over done, and sometimes the albumin comes out. I also season my salmon a few minutes ahead of time with sea salt, pepper, and granulated garlic, which might affect it as in brining. What ever you do, happy cooking and enjoy your salmon!
Streaming salmon!? That sounds incredible! Thank for giving a brand new ways to cook salmon, How long can it be preserve in refrigerator if I have some leftovers!?
Hi Lita. If you are steaming the salmon and plan to use it chilled, such as in a salad or as a chilled main, it will last up to three days in the fridge. Great as we go into hot summer weather. Steam on Sunday and enjoy during the week with an herbed aioli, pesto, out many other sauces. I like to mix Veganaise with Dijon, capers, lemon, a little finely minced shallot and, if I have it, finely chopped fresh dill. Makes a great chilled topping.
I don’t cook but this recipie made me feel like I do Delicious and healthy too!
It is SOO easy! You can do this! Try it!
We just tried it without thyme (just run out of it) but still tastes outstanding! I think the broth makes it juicy and yummy in every bite! Thanks for sharing!
And so easy too, right? Use the herbs you have. I cook with a lot of thyme. If you do
n’t have fresh, use dried. The ratio from fresh to dried is 1 tablespoon of fresh = 1 teaspoon of dried.
Thanks, that was pretty good
Hi, it sounds delicious indeed, but can you steam a whole fish using a fish kettle?
In this case for how long should we steam the fish?
Hi Jao. I’ve not done a whole salmon that way. This is quick and easy for portions of salmon, easier to manage than a whole fish. But if you have one of those big oval special pans with a steamer rack just for steaming fish, it should work fine. Place the liquid and herbs in the bottom, add the rack on top, place the whole filet on top, cover and steam. You don’t want the whole fish, skin, bones, and all. Does that make sense?
Do you discard the broth or is it served over the salmon?
Hi Judy, good question. I discard it.
I am going to try this tonight! I bet it would be yummy with this salad dressing I make! Delicious as a sauce!
https://food52.com/recipes/16940-april-bloomfield-s-lemon-caper-dressing
Followed directions but middle of salmon was raw after 6 min :(. Not sure what I did wrong
Hi Matt. Hmm, that is strange. Sorry you had that experience and thank you for telling me. I hope you just let it go longer until it was done. Fish is done when it reaches 145°F in the center (good to know) and use a digital cooking thermometer. I do this all of the time with salmon. Is your water really boiling and creating steam? Can you see it coming out from under the lid of the pan? It could be the thickness of your fish compared to what I get. I use a 4-5 quart pan and a folding steamer rack. Hope you will try it again and please let me know so I can try to help you!
I used a 2 tier steamer you can do the veg under the salmon on top I fry them altogether at the end in butter just to coat them to add flavor with onion salt and garlic granules and Pepper , delicious quick meal !!!
Nice and simple recipe. Was a bit skeptical about the length of time but it worked beautifully!
Thanks
nyshaoren@me.com
I know, right? It goes so quick.
Hi, how long to steam a filet of salmon (1.5kg)? Thanks
Yvonne, looks like you talking about and entire filet, a side of salmon. It will depends on the thickness of the fish. Best way to tell is to use a digital thermometer. It should register 145°. Steaming salmon goes quick. Keep your notes in a kitchen journal. Hope that helps.
Try Steamed Salmon with a Butter, Lemon and Caper Sauce. It really is tasty and also gives a lift to green Vegetables.
I followed (mostly) Glenn’s mom’s recipe. Didn’t have the black beans. It was really good. I did it with the Kasilof River coho salmon my husband caught a couple of weeks ago and I didn’t want to mess it up for sure! Thanks, Glenn’s mom.