Stoplight Piperade with Spicy Broiled Salmon Recipe

By
Kerry Saretsky
a photograph of Kerry Seretsky, a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Kerry Saretsky

Kerry Saretsky interned at Serious Eats in 2008, and wrote the French in a Flash recipe column. She also writes her own blog on modernized French cuisine called French Revolution Food.

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Updated May 15, 2019
20120516-fiaf-piperade-salmon-primary.jpg
Kerry Saretsky

Light but punchy, this dish is made from simple salmon broiled on a bed of piperade, a stewed mix of red, yellow, and green bell peppers, onions, garlic, olive oil, and, the secret ingredient, piment d'Espelette, a red pepper powder from the Basque region of France that is lightly spicy, and very earthy. Traditionally, you would cook eggs in place of the salmon, but I like this little update that gives everyday salmon so much exotic flavor.

Recipe Details

Stoplight Piperade with Spicy Broiled Salmon Recipe

Active 20 mins
Total 2 hrs 20 mins
Serves 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus 2 teaspoons
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 medium cloves garlic, chopped (about 1 tablespoon)
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, diced (about 3/4 cup)
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced (about 2/4 cup)
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced (about 3/4 cup)
  • 1/2 teaspoon piment d’Espelette (or red pepper flakes), plus a pinch
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can of diced tomatoes
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 boneless, skinless salmon fillets (about 12 ounces total)
  • A few mint leaves

Directions

  1. To make the piperade, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a sautépan over medium-low heat. When the oil shimmers, add onion. Cook, stirring frequently until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, bell peppers, and piment d’Espelette. Cook, stirring frequently until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and their juice, and season well with salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat all the way down, cover, and cook slowly for 2 hours, stirring every half hour or so.

  2. Adjust a rack to 6 inches below broiler element and preheat broiler to high. Remove lid from piperade pot, increase heat to high, and let it boil until the pan is nearly dry and the tomato broth has evaporated. Transfer the piperade to a food processor, and pulse until roughly chopped, about 6 one-second pulses.

  3. Transfer the piperade to a broiler-safe baking dish. Rub the salmon fillets with 2 teaspoons of olive oil, and season with salt and piment d’Espelette. Place the salmon on the piperade, and broil for 10 minutes, until the top is golden brown, and the salmon is cooked through. Tear some mint over the salmon. Serve with warm bread.

Special equipment

food processor

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