Bourbon Glazed Sous Vide Salmon with Blue Grits Recipe (2024)

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Written by Cole Wagoner

This is a guest recipe by Cole Wagoner, a Portland transplant to Alabama heavily inspired by gourmet Southern Food. You can find him at @colewagoner on both Instagram and Twitter or read his bio below for more info. Now here's Cole!

This particular dish is sort of a mashup of my past and my present. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, salmon is plentiful and a large staple of your diet. Living in the South now, and having access to world class grits, it was inevitable that eventually they met. Shrimp and grits is one of my all-time favorite meals, so salmon wasn't that far off my radar when it came time to decide how to proceed with this dish.

Bourbon Glazed Sous Vide Salmon with Blue Grits Recipe (1)

Sean Brock is a huge influence, and introduced me (by way of many avenues) to Anson Mills grains. They focus on preserving ancient grains, and reintroducing them to crops across the South. I recently picked up a bag of coarse ground blue grits (as well as cornmeal, polenta, and their famed Carolina Gold rice) and wanted to combine the flavors from home with the flavors of my new home. Paired with the fall flavors of sage and sweet potato, it was a perfect marriage for an amazing brunch.

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Modernist Tools, Ingredients, and Techniques Used

If you would like more information about the modernist techniques, ingredients, and equipment used in the Bourbon Glazed Sous Vide Salmon with Blue Grits recipe you can check out the following.

  • Sous Vide Quick Start Course
  • Exploring Sous Vide Course
  • Sous Vide Equipment
  • Beginners Guide to Sous Vide
  • Anson Mills Grains

Bourbon Glazed Salmon with Blue Grits

  • Published: December 2, 2016
  • By Cole Wagoner
  • Prep Time: 15 Minutes
  • Total Time: 2 Hours plus Overnight Soaking for Grits
  • Cooks: 120°F (48.9°C) for 30 minutes
  • Serves: 1 serving

Ingredients for Bourbon Glazed Salmon with Blue Grits

Editor's Note: This recipe makes a serving for one, be sure to scale it up if you are cooking for more than yourself!

Bourbon Glazed Sous Vide Salmon with Blue Grits Recipe (3)

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Cooking Instructions for Bourbon Glazed Salmon with Blue Grits

For the Blue Grits

At least 24 hours before serving

These grits will need soaked overnight prior to continuing with the rest of the recipe. Simply cover grits with 1.5 cups of water and leave at room temperature. The next morning they will be cooked directly in the soaking water.

At least 1 hour before serving

Prior to cooking, remove any husks/shells that have floated to the top of the soaking water. Bring the grits and the soaking water to a simmer and stir constantly for 6-8 minutes until slightly thickened. Cover and simmer as low as possible. Every 10 minutes, add hot water as necessary to keep grits from getting too tight.

When grits are soft, roughly 50-60 minutes, whisk in a knob of butter and season with salt and pepper.

For the Sous Vide Salmon

At least 1.5 hours before serving

Prior to cooking salmon sous vide, liberally apply kosher salt and put it in the fridge for up to an hour.

Preheat a water bath to 120°F (48.9°C).

Rinse the salmon off and apply the bourbon glaze then place in a sous vide bag and seal. Cook for 30 minutes.

There is no sear or finishing necessary. The salmon will be cooked through, but incredibly tender.

For the Bourbon Glaze

At least 45 minutes before serving

Combine bourbon and brown sugar and cook over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Whisk in butter until emulsified and cook over low heat until slightly reduced.

For the Sweet Potato Relish

At least 20 minutes before serving

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Heat a pan over medium heat.

Add diced shallot and tomato to the pan and cook until both have softened. While the shallot and tomato are cooking, put diced sweet potato into the pot of boiling of water and cook until just soft, 2-3 minutes. Drain the sweet potatos and add to the shallot and tomato mixture. Add the cumin, smoked paprika, and onion powder. Deglaze with a splash of red wine vinegar and saute until all the liquid is gone and the mixture is fragrant.

For the Crispy Sage

At least 10 minutes before serving

Heat canola oil in a pan over medium-high heat.

Add the whole sage leaves to the canola oil and flash fry until just crispy.

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All tags for this article:Sous Vide, Sous Vide Salmon

This article is written by Cole Wagoner, a guest poster to the site. Here's some more information about him.

More About Cole Wagoner

Bourbon Glazed Sous Vide Salmon with Blue Grits Recipe (5)

Originally from Portland, OR and now residing in Muscle Shoals, AL, I have a passion for sharing good food with people. Weekends are spent experimenting in the kitchen, and sharing and conversing on both Twitter and Instagram @colewagoner. Sous Vide is the first love in my arsenal, and a lot of my recipes and inspirations revolve around how to best incorporate my Anova. I also use an electric pressure cooker, and a bevy of other fun kitchen tools! Sometimes a Dutch Oven and a nice braise is exactly what I’m looking for, I try to not be dependent on any one device, but have become known for being a lover of all things Sous Vide.

Bourbon Glazed Sous Vide Salmon with Blue Grits Recipe (6)

My inspiration often comes from gourmet Southern food. Inspired heavily by Sean Brock (Husk, McCradys), I aim to elevate what is available and local, sourcing a large amount of my proteins, produce, and grains from farms in the South. I could geek out for hours talking about ancient grains, and the people who preserved them literally centuries ago, and the people who do the same today.

Being originally from the Pacific Northwest, it’s allowed me to live in two of the countries most important culinary regions, and often those get intertwined into some dishes. It allows me to pull from ideas and flavors that may not necessarily get used often, and I enjoy this “discovery” process. I’m going to share a few of my favorite recipes. Most of my recipes will be for one serving, but can easily be scaled.

Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links on this site might be affiliate links that if used to purchased products I might receive money. I like money but I will not endorse something I don't believe in. Please feel free to directly go to any products I link to and bypass the referral link if you feel uncomfortable with me receiving funds.

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Bourbon Glazed Sous Vide Salmon with Blue Grits Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long will it take to sous vide salmon? ›

I find that fish can turn watery and mushy if left in the water bath for too long at low temperatures, and dry and chalky when left too long at above 125°F (52°C) or so. For thinner fillets, half an hour to 45 minutes is plenty; for extra-thick fillets, 45 minutes to an hour is all you need.

How do you sear salmon after sous vide? ›

Gently pat the salmon dry with paper towels and dust liberally on all sides with the Lake Effect seasoning. Add a few tablespoons of olive oil to the pan. Immediately add the salmon skin side down for 30-45 seconds or so to sear and crisp the skin. Gently turn to the flesh side to crisp up 15-30 seconds or so.

Can you cook frozen salmon sous vide? ›

Because another advantage of cooking sous vide is that you can cook foods while they're still fully frozen. You freeze and cook the salmon in the same freezer bag. I love it.

How long does it take to sous vide fish? ›

Fish
Preferred DonenessTemperatureMax Time
Mi-cuit (tender but translucent)110°F / 43°C30m
Tender and flaky124°F / 51°C1h
Traditional well-done132°F / 55°C1h 30m

At what temperature do you sous vide salmon? ›

Sous Vide Salmon Recipe

Serves: 2 Active Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 45 minutes Temp: 125°F (52°C) for medium-rare, or 135°F (57°C) for medium.

What is the best temperature to sous vide fish? ›

A word from the wise: the experts at Cuisine Solutions recommend never setting a temperature below 130℉ (54℃) for food safety reasons. For well-done fish, cook at 143℉; for medium, set your circulator between 140℉ and 142℉; and for rare fish set the temperature between 135℉ and 139℉.

Do I need to sear immediately after sous vide? ›

Searing usually improves the appearance of sous vide food, creating a greater contrast between the edges and center of precision cooked foodstuffs. Along similar lines, searing after sous vide generates a difference in the texture and flavor of the inside versus outside, which is MUCH more tantalizing to the tastebuds.

What is the white stuff in sous vide salmon? ›

Albumin is a liquid protein that solidifies when the fish is cooked, seeping out as the muscle fibers contract under heat, becoming thick and a bright white. Think of your salmon as a wet towel being rung out. The wringing is the heat and the water being pushed out is that white stuff you're seeing.

Is it better to sear before or after sous vide? ›

When to Sear After Sous Vide. If you want good flavor and crust on your food, you will always want to sear it when it is done cooking. Even if you do a pre-sear, the crust itself will go away and can only be established by searing it after the sous vide process is over.

Is it better to cook salmon from frozen or thawed? ›

Surprise--you don't need to thaw those frozen salmon fillets from the supermarket before cooking them. That's right: Simply add the fish to a preheated skillet and cook away, then make a simple sweet and savory sauce from garlic, honey, soy sauce and rice wine vinegar for drizzling.

Can you broil salmon after sous vide? ›

Sous vide – cook the salmon at 120℉ for 30 minutes (increase cooking time to 45-60 minutes if using thicker filets). Broil – broil the salmon filets for 2 minutes in the oven on high to crisp the skin and add a little texture to the outer layer of fish (while keeping the interior tender and moist). Serve and enjoy!

Can you sous vide salmon too long? ›

While many will tell you that it's impossible to overcook with sous vide (and this isn't far from the truth), do bear in mind though that if you leave the food in the water bath for an extended period of time it won't 'overcook', but it could start to take on a mushy texture, so don't forget about it!

Can I use Ziploc bags for sous vide? ›

Ziploc brand bags, specifically those labeled as "Freezer Bags," are widely recognized as safe for sous-vide cooking. These bags are made from polyethylene with a low melting point, ensuring they can withstand the temperatures typically used in sous-vide without melting or leaching chemicals into the food.

What does sous vide mean in English? ›

At its most fundamental level, sous vide cooking is the process of sealing food in an airtight container—usually a vacuum sealed bag—and then cooking that food in temperature-controlled water. In French, the term translates to "under vacuum," which makes sense.

How long to cook salmon at 140? ›

Then bake at 450°F until the internal temperature of the salmon reaches 140°F* (or I like to cook mine until it reaches 135°F*), about 4-6 minutes per half inch of thickness. You can also test for doneness by inserting a fork or knife in the salmon and twisting it a bit; the fish should be opaque and flake easily.

Is 1 hour sous vide enough? ›

That really depends on how thick the steak is. A 1/2 inch steak for example only needs 30 minutes to an hour tops to cook it sous vide, while a 2 inch steak would take 2 1/2 hours to 3 hours.

What is the minimum time for sous vide? ›

Strip and Ribeye Steak
Preferred DonenessTemperatureTime
Very rare to rare120°F / 49°C to 128°F / 53°C1h to 2h 30m
Medium-rare129°F / 54°C to 134°F / 57°C1h to 4h
Medium135°F / 57°C to 144°F / 62°C1h to 4h
Medium-well145°F / 63°C to 155°F / 68°C1h to 3h 30m
1 more row

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