Recipe video above. Cooking salmon so the skin is evenly crispy from end to end is simple if you follow two key tips: Firstly, ensuring the skin is dry. Secondly, using enough oil to cover the base of the skillet so the skin fries properly and goes golden and crispy rather than just burning in patches. Easy!Pictured with a creamy Lemon & Herb Risotto (ultra easy hands-free baked method!).
Dry skin: Pat the skin of the salmon very well with a paper towel until dry. If time permits, place the salmon skin side up in the fridge for 1 hour (uncovered,) to dry it out even more.
Season: Drizzle flesh side with half the oil (just a tiny bit) and rub over skin. Sprinkle with half the salt and pepper. Turn fillet over and repeat. Do not do this step until just before cooking.
Heat oil: Put enough oil in a large non stick skillet so it fully covers the base. Heat on medium high until it shimmers (but not smoking).
Skin side down: Place salmon in the skillet skin side down, then immediately turn the head down to medium.
Press down: Using a spatula or something similar, press down on each salmon for 10 seconds so the skin is pushed flat against the skillet and "sets" its form. If you can do at least two at a time that is ideal.
Cook 7 minutes: Cook for 7 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked 3/4 of the way through (you will see the colour changing up the side of the salmon) and the skin is crispy.
90 sec on flesh side: Flip the salmon to skin side is up and cook for a further 90 seconds.
Final skin blast! (My secret tip)Flip the salmon again to skin side down, turn the heat up to medium high and cook the skin side again for 60 seconds, just to give it a final blast of heat to reinforce crispiness!
Serve skin side UP to protect the crispy skin. Fish skin will only stay crispy while it's hot, so serve immediately! Pictured in post with creamy Lemon & Herb Risotto which acts as a side dish and semi-sauce (super easy no-stir recipe!).
Notes
1. Salmon - in theory, you can do this for as many salmon as you want, it's just about how many you can handle in one batch. Also, don't crowd the skillet - the salmon will just steam instead of pan fry.Any size fillets are fine, a standard serving is typically around 150 - 180g / 5 - 6oz per person. Look for even-thickness fillets. If you can only find ones with a quite thin end, don't worry - that's the salmon belly and has enough fat that it will still stay juicy!Fish fillets should be de-boned and descaled. See in post for how to check and remove yourself if necessary. Fish mongers should sell fillets already descaled and pin-boned, that's partly why we pay a premium for fish fillets!2. Salt - cooking/kosher salt are slightly larger grains than table salt, intended for more easy handling for cooking purposes. So if you use table salt, you need to use less otherwise it will be too salty.3. Nutrition per serving, assuming 150g/5oz per fillet and that half the oil is consumed.