stuffed salmon with balsamic butter sauce

Salmon

Stuffed Salmon with Balsamic Butter Sauce

Salmon fillet stuffed with savory herbs and vegetables, draped in a rich balsamic butter sauce. This elegant dish combines tender fish with tangy, buttery flavors for a deliciously satisfying meal.

Ingredients

1 pound jumbo lump crab meat
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon seafood seasoning, such as old bay
1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1 pound skinless atlantic salmon or wild salmon fillet, cut into 4 pieces
1/4 pound brie cheese, sliced
salt and freshly ground pepper
1 bunch asparagus, trimmed
salt and pepper
1 1/4 cups balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons minced shallots
1 stick (8 tablespoons) salted butter, cut into 4 pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
wild rice, for serving

Directions

For the crab cake mix: Gently mix the crab meat with the mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard, seafood seasoning and Worcestershire sauce in a large bowl. Form four 4-ounce crab cakes.
Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F.
For the salmon: Make a small vertical pocket in each piece of salmon. Place a slice of Brie on the bottom of the pocket, top with 1 crab cake and another slice of Brie.
Place the salmon in a large baking dish and add enough water to reach one-quarter of the way up the side of the salmon. Bake until pale and cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes.
For the asparagus and sauce: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the asparagus just until crisp tender and bright green. Drain and plunge into an ice bath to stop the cooking.
Put the vinegar and shallots in a saute pan and cook over medium heat until vigorously bubbling and reduced by three-quarters, about 2 minutes. Add a pinch salt and pepper, reduce the heat to low and slowly stir in the butter. If the sauce is too thin, continue to simmer over very low heat until desired thickness.
In a second saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add the asparagus, season with salt and pepper and cook until warmed through. (The asparagus is already cooked so don't saute it too long.)
Serve the salmon and asparagus over wild rice. Spoon over the sauce.