Brandy Glazed Salmon & Blistered Shishitos

 

Brandy Glazed Salmon & Blistered Shishitos

Brandy (or Bourbon) Sauce:
3 tablespoons butter
1 small shallot chopped very fine
1 garlic clove micro-minced
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons agave syrup or honey
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
1 tablespoon soy sauce or aminos
1/2 teaspoon dried ginger
dash or more of dried cayenne pepper
1/3 cup brandy (or bourbon)
salt and pepper to taste (watch your salt since soy is salty)

Make brandy sauce ahead of salmon and peppers. I really wanted to use bourbon but we had none. It isn't as sweet as brandy. Melt butter and add chopped shallot. Sauté shallot on medium till very soft then add the minced garlic. Sauté for one more minute, add remaining ingredients except brandy. Sauté till ingredients are completely incorporated. Next add brandy, turn up heat slightly and cook till mixture is reduced by at least 1/2 and is nice and thick. Don't make it too thick because it congeals when it cools. Set aside to cool. (Sauce can be heated up slightly when salmon is ready for it).

Blistered Shishito Peppers:
8 ounces or more of shishito peppers
dash of olive oil for cast iron pan
salt and pepper to taste

Heat olive oil in cast iron pan till oil is shimmering. Add shishito peppers to pan and salt and pepper. Keep tossing till they are wilted and blistered. Your peppers and salmon will take about the same length of time to be ready serve. Sprinkle with some black sesame seeds if you wish.

Salmon Steaks:
2 salmon steaks or fillets, enough for one serving per person
dash of olive oil to cook salmon
salt and pepper to taste

Pat salmon dry and let it come to room temperature. Salt and pepper salmon liberally on both sides. Put olive oil in sauce pan and heat on medium high till olive oil is shimmering. Place steaks in pan and cook on one side for 5 minutes. Flip and cook another 5 minutes. (These are thick steaks). Spoon some of the brandy sauce over the salmon steaks and cook for another 3 minutes. Serve immediately with extra sauce in a gravy boat for those who want more. Gary raved about the sauce, who wouldn't.