Bourbon-Brown Sugar Salmon with Onion Sauce Recipe

Cereal nuggets create a crunchy topping for meaty salmon. Serve with roasted potatoes and asparagus.

Ingredients

  • 1 (2 1/4-pound) salmon fillet
  • 1 cup thinly sliced onion
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup bourbon
  • 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 6 tarragon sprigs
  • 4 thyme sprigs
  • 1/3 cup nutlike cereal nuggets (such as Grape-Nuts)
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans
  • Cooking spray
  • 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons water

Directions

Place salmon in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Combine onion and the next 8 ingredients (onion through thyme); pour over salmon. Cover and marinate in refrigerator 2 hours, turning occasionally. Preheat oven to 350º.

Place cereal and pecans in a baking pan. Bake at 350º for 7 minutes or until toasted. Place mixture in a food processor; pulse 4 times or until finely chopped.

Remove salmon from marinade; reserve marinade. Arrange the salmon diagonally on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with 3/4 teaspoon salt. Combine 2 tablespoons of sugar, honey, and 1 1/2 teaspoons water, stirring with a whisk. Spread honey mixture over salmon; sprinkle with cereal mixture, gently pressing into salmon. Bake at 350º for 20 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.

While salmon bakes, place reserved marinade in a small saucepan. Discard tarragon and thyme. Bring marinade to a boil over medium-high heat; cook until reduced to 3/4 cup (about 10 minutes). Serve sauce with salmon.