This Poached Salmon with Blueberry Sauce is made with decadent King salmon poached in spiced white wine, and served with an easy blueberry sauce.
This recipe is sponsored by Regal New Zealand King Salmon.
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 cook book, 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 Poaching Fish Difficult?
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
Cooking with King Salmon
Recently, I had the chance to try out some luxurious King salmon from Regal New Zealand King Salmon.
Regal’s Marlborough King Salmon are farm raised in New Zealand, are allowed to grow to maturity in clear spring waters, and then are transferred to the uncrowded and crystal clear Marlborough Sounds. Regal’s salmon is exceptional (and oh so tasty!).
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 Poach 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!
Poached Salmon with Blueberry Sauce
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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.
If this doesn’t say summer to me, I don’t know what does! Salmon plus delicious blueberries = yummy in my tummy 🙂
Thanks Dawn! Salmon + summer fruit are one of my favorite combinations!!
This poached salmon looks so fabulous! Your photos make me feel like I would know how it would taste. Mmmmm.
awww thanks Elaine!!
Honestly, I never would have thought to pair salmon and blueberries…but this looks amazing. Thanks for the idea!
This blueberry sauce sounds amazing! I haven’t had this combo. I definitely need to try this.
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!!
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!
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!!
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.
Yay! Enjoy!
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 🙂
Enjoy Donna!! That blueberry sauce is one of my favorites (I put it over pancakes too!)
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.
Thanks Peter! Let me know if you give it a try 🙂
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!!
Interesting, I would have never thought to make this combination, but I’d love to give it a try!
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!