Blackened Alaska Salmon

Blackened salmon has become a favorite in Alaska just as blackened redfish was in the gulfcoast region of the Lower 48. This recipe is equally adaptable for use with halibut or rockfish fillets.

• Trim off the thin edges of fillets as these would burn. Pat dry and refrigerate until ready to cook. The butter sauce adheres better to cold fillets.

• In heavy 3-quart cast-iron frying pan over medium heat, melt butter, add lemon juice, cayenne, salt black pepper and thyme*. Stir to blend; cool to lukewarm.

• Place an empty 10-inch cast-iron skillet over high heat until bottom has a definite white haze and begins to smoke slightly. Remove fish from refrigerator; dip 1 fillet in warm butter sauce, coating well. Place fish in hot skillet, taking care that spits and spatters do not burn you. Fish will sear and cook almost immediately. Turn fillet over; blacken other side. Repeat with remaining fillets.

• Reserve remaining butter sauce. As fillets are cooked, place them on individual plates; keep warm. Discard accumulated butter sauce in skillet and charred bits between batches. When all fillets have been cooked, wipe skillet clean and place empty skillet back on heat. Add reserved butter sauce; carefully swirl skillet 5 or 6 times to blacken butter. Remove pan from heat; drizzle butter over each fillet. Garnish and serve hot.

  *Use only dried thyme; fresh thyme will burn in this recipe and create a bitter taste.

  Good eating,
  --KK--