From the Washington Post. Author loves the coconut rice and uses it in other recipes, so I've also copied it into a separate recipe. Only problem is it uses Basmati rice which around here is hard to find and costs three times as much as regular rice.
Ingredients
For the Rice and Salmon
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion (about 4 ounces), finely diced
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1 1/2 cups white basmati rice, rinsed until the water runs clear
1 (14-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
4 (3- to 4-ounce) skin-on salmon fillets
For the Cilantro Sauce
Scant 1/2 cup water
1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper, plus more as needed for serving
1 large bunch fresh cilantro, leaves and tender stems, coarsely chopped
4 lime wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
1. Make the rice: In a large, lidded skillet or pan, heat the oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it softens and just starts to brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the rice and stir to coat it in the oil. Add the coconut milk, then half-fill the empty can with water and add it to the pan. Add the salt and sugar, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low so the mixture is at a simmer and cover the skillet.
2. Cook for 5 minutes, then uncover the pan. Carefully place the salmon fillets on top of the rice, re-cover the pot and cook until the rice is just tender, the salmon cooked, and the liquid has been absorbed, about 5 minutes more. (If the rice is not tender, but the salmon is cooked, remove the fish, re-cover the pot and continue cooking for a few minutes more.)
3. Make the sauce: While the rice and salmon are cooking, in a small pan over high heat, combine the water, sugar, salt and crushed red pepper and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and simmer the sauce until slightly reduced and syrupy, about 5 minutes, then remove from the heat.
4. Place the cilantro in a food processor and pulse to chop. Gradually pour in the syrup and pulse the cilantro until very finely chopped, and the sauce is combined. Taste and adjust the seasonings; the sauce should be slightly sweet, with a hint of heat. Add more crushed red pepper, sugar or salt, as needed.
5. To serve, transfer the salmon off the rice to a plate. Gently stir the rice and divide the rice across 4 plates. Top with a salmon fillet and drizzle the sauce over. Sprinkle with additional crushed red pepper flakes, if desired, and serve with a wedge of lime, if using.
Alternative for the salmon: If you prefer a pan-seared salmon fillet, cook it separately from the rice. Season the fish with salt and pepper. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until a drop of water sizzles when it hits the surface. Add the fillets, skin side up, and cook until just lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn the fillets over and reduce the heat to medium. Cook until the salmon looks almost cooked through, 2 to 4 minutes; you can check using the tip of a sharp knife. You should see a slightly darker center. The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the fillet.
With either fish preparation, if you prefer to serve the salmon without the skin, it is easier to remove it after cooking the fish.