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    Home » Seafood

    Poached Salmon with Blueberry Sauce

    Published: Jul 16, 2017 · Modified: Jan 18, 2024 · 18 Comments

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Save Recipe Saved!

    This Poached Salmon with Blueberry Sauce is made with decadent King salmon poached in spiced white wine, and served with an easy blueberry sauce.

    Poached Salmon with Blueberry Sauce in a Serving Dish

    The husband and I have been eating a lot of salmon lately — so much so that I think we're probably walking balls of omega-3!

    We've eaten our salmon seared, grilled, baked, and even cured — any way that I'd prepare this pretty pink fish, we'd eat it.

    Recently, though, I was looking through an old Julia Child cookbook, and saw something else that I wanted to try: poached salmon.

    This Poached Salmon with Blueberry Sauce is made with luxurious King salmon, comes together in minutes, and is perfect for Date Night!

    Is Poached Salmon Difficult to Make?

    No!

    In fact, it's entirely possible that this is the EASIEST way to prepare salmon.

    Poaching means to cook something in liquid.  When you poach fish, you cook it in simmering liquid until it's cooked through.

    It's quick, your salmon will stay moist, and the cook time is forgiving — much more forgiving than with baking, searing, or grilling.

    Learn more in this article: How to Cook Salmon

    Want more king salmon?  Try these:  Grilled Salmon with Plum Sauce, Seared Salmon with Cherry Almond Topping, and King Salmon Recipe Ideas.

    I Can't Find King Salmon.  Can I Use a Different Type of Salmon?

    Yes!  Try this with either sockeye salmon or BAP certified Atlantic salmon.  (And then make sure to keep looking for King salmon!  It's amazing!)

    Learn more about salmon: Wild Salmon vs. Farmed Salmon and Types of Salmon

    How to Make Poached Salmon

    Julia Child's poached salmon used water and wine vinegar, but I wanted to switch things up!

    For this poached salmon-- you'll need a few cups of white wine, along with some green cardamom pods, a cinnamon stick, and a little salt.  You'll simmer the fish in the wine and spices until it's cooked through.  (You'll be able to see that the translucent flesh has turned opaque.)

    While the fish cooks, make the simple blueberry sauce.  Serve the sauce and salmon together, but keep in mind that the blueberries will stain your fish!

    I like to serve the sauce on the side, or underneath the fish.

    Enjoy your fancy-schmancy meal immediately while everything is still hot, and bon appetit!

    Flaking Apart Poached Salmon inside the Serving Dish

    This Poached Salmon with Blueberry Sauce is made with decadent king salmon poached in spiced white wine, and served with an easy blueberry sauce. champagne-tastes.com #ad
    Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    5 from 12 votes

    Poached Salmon with Blueberry Sauce

    This Poached Salmon with Blueberry Sauce is made with decadent King salmon poached in spiced white wine, and served with an easy blueberry sauce.
    Author: Sarah Trenalone
    Prep Time2 minutes mins
    Cook Time13 minutes mins
    Total Time15 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Servings: 2 people
    Calories: 577kcal
    Freezer Friendly?
    No
    Will It Keep?
    No
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    Blueberry Sauce:

    • 2 cups blueberries
    • 1 tablespoon sugar (optional, depending on sweetness of berries)

    Poached Salmon:

    • 8 ounces King salmon See Recipe Notes
    • 3 cups dry white wine
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 4 green cardamom pods
    • 1 inch cinnamon stick

    Instructions

    • Place blueberries in a medium nonstick covered pan over medium-low heat.  Once berries burst, turn heat to low.  Taste sauce, and add sugar if desired.
    • Crush the cardamom pods with the back of a knife.  
    • Use the smallest pot that will comfortably fit both pieces of salmon, and add the wine, salt, cardamom, and cinnamon. If the liquid level is lower than 3", add water until the liquid is deep enough to cover the salmon fillets.
    • Bring the liquid to a simmer over medium heat.  Add the salmon, and poach the salmon in simmering liquid for 8 minutes, or until the salmon pushes back against the tip of a wooden spoon.
      *Note: King Salmon is exceptionally thick.  If using a different type of salmon, check for doneness at 5 minutes.
    • Remove salmon from the poaching liquid using a thin metal spatula, and gently remove the skin if desired.
    • Serve immediately with blueberry sauce.  
      Note- the blueberry sauce WILL STAIN the fish, so serve the sauce on the side or beneath the salmon.

    Notes

    Salmon Types + Cook Time: This recipe is specifically written for thick King salmon fillets.  For thinner fillets of Atlantic, pink, or other salmon-- reduce cook time to 5 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 577kcal (29%) | Carbohydrates: 40g (13%) | Protein: 24g (48%) | Fat: 8g (12%) | Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 62mg (21%) | Sodium: 1233mg (54%) | Potassium: 972mg (28%) | Fiber: 5g (21%) | Sugar: 24g (27%) | Vitamin A: 127IU (3%) | Vitamin C: 15mg (18%) | Calcium: 76mg (8%) | Iron: 3mg (17%)
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!

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    About Sarah Trenalone

    Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. She's a photographer, food writer and traveler, and is certified in Backcountry Kitchen and Backcountry Navigation from the Colorado Outward Bound School and Identifying Wild Plants from Backpacker.

    5 from 12 votes

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    Comments

    1. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

      July 17, 2017 at 11:20 am

      5 stars
      If this doesn't say summer to me, I don't know what does! Salmon plus delicious blueberries = yummy in my tummy 🙂

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes says

        July 17, 2017 at 3:14 pm

        Thanks Dawn! Salmon + summer fruit are one of my favorite combinations!!

        Reply
    2. Elaine @ Dishes Delish says

      July 17, 2017 at 5:11 pm

      5 stars
      This poached salmon looks so fabulous! Your photos make me feel like I would know how it would taste. Mmmmm.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes says

        July 17, 2017 at 5:12 pm

        awww thanks Elaine!!

        Reply
    3. Mary // Chattavore says

      July 17, 2017 at 8:34 pm

      5 stars
      Honestly, I never would have thought to pair salmon and blueberries...but this looks amazing. Thanks for the idea!

      Reply
    4. Brandi Crawford says

      July 17, 2017 at 9:00 pm

      5 stars
      This blueberry sauce sounds amazing! I haven't had this combo. I definitely need to try this.

      Reply
    5. Teri says

      July 17, 2017 at 9:02 pm

      5 stars
      I am in love with everything about this recipe. Thanks for the tip on this brand of salmon. i haven't had much success in the past with other brands, so I'm definitely checking this out. Also, fantastic idea on the spiced white wine poach. I can almost smell it. Great recipe!!

      Reply
    6. Lisa Bryan says

      July 17, 2017 at 9:51 pm

      5 stars
      Salmon is my favorite fish, though don't think I've ever had it with a blueberry sauce. Sounds amazing - and agree that high quality salmon is totally worth it!

      Reply
    7. Debra C. says

      July 17, 2017 at 10:05 pm

      5 stars
      Salmon is my very favorite! I'm from the Pacific Northwest and I'm right with you on eating salmon 😀 Your recipe looks just delicious, pinning!!

      Reply
    8. Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says

      July 22, 2017 at 9:40 am

      5 stars
      I have never paired salmon and blueberries together. I happen to have both in the fridge, and was wondering what I would make for dinner tonight. Great idea.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes says

        July 24, 2017 at 3:06 pm

        Yay! Enjoy!

        Reply
    9. Donna says

      July 22, 2017 at 5:30 pm

      5 stars
      I would never in a million years thought to pair salmon with blueberries, but it sounds just fantastic! And I love that the blueberry sauce is so simple. My kids would eat salmon every night of the week if I let them, so I will be adding this to the meal plan for the week. They will be so excited about the blueberry sauce 🙂

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes says

        July 24, 2017 at 3:06 pm

        Enjoy Donna!! That blueberry sauce is one of my favorites (I put it over pancakes too!)

        Reply
    10. peter @Feed Your Soul Too says

      July 24, 2017 at 12:48 pm

      I make salmon all the time but rarely poach it. The fish looks super tender. I also really like the blueberry sauce - good flavor and color contrast.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes says

        July 24, 2017 at 3:01 pm

        Thanks Peter! Let me know if you give it a try 🙂

        Reply
    11. michele says

      July 24, 2017 at 10:28 pm

      5 stars
      you always come up with great pairings that I would have never thought of.... I just bought some fresh blueberries so now I need to head back to get some salmon to give this a spin! Love it!!

      Reply
    12. Chava says

      July 25, 2017 at 9:02 pm

      5 stars
      Interesting, I would have never thought to make this combination, but I'd love to give it a try!

      Reply
    13. Amanda says

      July 28, 2017 at 6:20 pm

      5 stars
      I love the texture of poached salmon. What a great idea to add cardamom to the poaching liquid. So fragrant! The blueberry sauce must be such a great pairing. Definitely unique and company-worthy!

      Reply
    bio

    Hi, I'm Sarah! I'm a traveler who loves to eat.   Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road.

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