Houston’s chain of restaurants has been my favorite eatery, their limited yet exceptional menu gives them their reputation. Houston’s Grilled Salmon is my go-to dish to order. I enjoy the appetizer so much that I order doubles and eat them as an entree. The House Smoked Salmon gets its flavor from the strong Tarragon Aioli and Melba bread. So, with the pandemic and everything, why not make the Houston’s Grilled Salmon recipe at home?
Let’s get cooking
Houston’s House Salmon Appetizer Recipe
Ingredients
For the Salmon
- 1 salmon fillet, skinned
- 1 tsp olive oil
- Himalayan salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
For the Tarragon Aioli
- 6 tbsp light mayonnaise
- 2 cloves garlic, sliced
- 1 tsp anchovy paste
- 2 tbsp Tarragon, freshly chopped
- 2 tbsp dried parsley
- 2 tbsp dried chives
- 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
For Melba Toast
- Any leftover bread slices of choice
Instructions
For the Salmon
- Place the salmon fillet on a cutting board and pat it dry with a paper towel
- Slice the fillet into broad strips
- Sprinkle salt and black pepper over the salmon
- Heat your grill to 350 degrees F
- Wrap the salmon in heat-proof tin foil and place it into the grill grate
- Close the lid and let the salmon smoke for 20 minutes
- After 20 minutes check on the salmon, it should appear opaque and flake with a fork
- Once the salmon is cooked remove it from the oven and set it aside
For the Tarragon Aioli
- In a mortar, crush the garlic and salt together with a pestle
- Add tarragon into the mortar and continue to crush the ingredients together
- Pour the mixture into a bowl and mix in the mayonnaise till a smooth consistency is reached
- Add the rest of the ingredients and blend well
- Refrigerate the Aioli till serving
For the Melba Toast
- Cut off the crumbs from the slices
- Cut the slices into quarters diagonally, you should have 8 pieces per slices
- Toast the bread in a toaster oven till golden brown
- You can flavor the toasted Melba with grated cheese and salt
Assembling
- Plate the salmon with tarragon Aioli and Melba toast
- Enjoy the salmon over toast and a dash of Aioli
Tips for this recipe
- You can bake your salmon instead of smoking it as well
- The Tarragon Aioli can be substituted with savory cream dip
- The Melba toast tastes better with 2-day old stale bread
- If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, you can blend all the aioli ingredients in a blender
Ta-Da, you have yourself a tasty Houston’s Grilled Salmon recipe! The smoked salmon adds the base flavor while the tarragon Aioli brings the intensity to the palate. All these flavors are washed down and neutralized by the melba toast.
Tips for Better-tasting Houston’s Grilled Salmon
There’s no doubt about this recipe being succulent and flavorful. Every component complements the other. The dish can be improved with minor tips to help you in preparing other meals as well:
- Always buy fresh, whether it’s protein or produce. The fresher the ingredients, the more vibrant the flavor
- Buy spices and herbs from local spice shops rather than buying mass-produced jars. Spices and herbs bought from farmers markets always taste more authentic
- The Aioli is a sauce that is created in a mortar pestle, for ease of cooking we recommend using a blender. But we also love to stay true to the authenticity of the recipe, thus we highly recommend investing in a mortar and pestle
More recipes
A nice grilled salmon makes a great appetizer, make it a hearty meal with these recipes:
- Follow the healthy starter with Asian Salmon Burgers
- Salmon with Asian Walnut Slaw is a wonderful entree after the grilled salmon
- For more protein and zesty flavor make the Chicken with Citrus Beets
- Enjoy Tilapia with spinach or with Quinoa, both make fitting mains
- Conclude your meal with a glass of Almond Baileys
- Enjoy your starter with crispy Almond Horn Cookies
For a tasty salmon recipe to snack on, try the Baked Salmon Sushi Roll Recipe. Healthy and simple wraps make for great starters and snacks. Don’t bore yourself with a bland salad, try Apple-Bees Shrimp Salad, it’s packed with flavor. The Barbuto Kale Salad and Black Bean Quinoa Salad are delicious salad recipes as well.
I am a yogi with a smoldering passion for nutrition and healthy living. I have been a Nutrition and Lifestyle Coach for over 11 years and now I want to help you. My mission is to inspire as many people as I can to expand their awareness and broaden their horizons by giving a voice to the choices that create abundant, radiant health. Here I share deliciously simple plant-based recipes, nutrition resources, detox tips, and a glimpse into my whole lifestyle.
Houstons smoked salmon is cooked at 400 degrees in a box smoker for 50 minutes. I’ve seen it and done it. Try it at home in your own smoker.