If there’s one thing that everyone knows goes with Buffalo sauce, it’s salmon.
OK, wait, that’s not right. And yet, oh my goodness, the combination deserves to be in the same realm as chicken wings. That’s a daring statement, and even I won’t pretend that Buffalo chicken wings can be replaced.
But if you like spicy sauce and something different, this is the recipe for you.
If you are skeptical, I understand. I was once among you. My sweetie suggested it several years ago, and I said only I was willing to try it. Salmon was one of the few fish I enjoyed (at the time), and I love Buffalo sauce so much I made it into a deviled egg recipe.
When I took my first bite, though, I was sold. It’s been a staple ever since, and even something I’ve made to impress my foodie family.
Besides tasting great, it’s a simple recipe: few ingredients, hard to mess up, and frankly, the veggies I added could have been anything that you have on hand or suits your tastes. I chose green beans — to ring out the summer season — and a bell pepper that was a leftover garden item from a friend. I didn’t even add anything to them, just the oil the covered the pan.
I served it alongside a pre-made mix of rice and grains to make it a fuller meal, but again, the salmon is the real star so serve it with what seems to fit and whatever makes you happy.
Here’s what I did, following a long ago Gourmet recipe:
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets, preferably with skin on
- 5 T. unsalted butter
- ¼ c. hot sauce (I prefer Louisiana)
- ⅓ c. panko crumbs
- 1 T. vegetable oil, plus more for coating
- 1 bell pepper, optional for adding vegetables (or pick what you prefer)
- 12 to 16 oz. green beans, optional for adding vegetables (or pick what you prefer)
Directions
Heat oven to 425 degrees.
Lightly oil a large sheet pan (large if adding vegetables, smaller will work if not). Melt butter in a small bowl (I just nuke it but you can do it in a small saucepan), and add hot sauce. Set aside ¼ c. of the mixture. In a separate small bowl, mix the panko with the 1 T. oil.
Place the salmon skin side down on the sheet pan, and brush on the remaining sauce. Pat on the panko evenly across the salmon fillets.
Add vegetables, if using.
Bake for 16 to 20 minutes until the panko is golden and the fish is cooked through. Serve with the set aside 1/4 c. sauce on the side and a grain mixture, as desired, and enjoy!