Poached Salmon with Basil Butter and Succotash

Delicate salmon fillets poached in wine and fish stock, served over a summer succotash of fresh corn and mixed shell beans, finished with a luxurious basil-infused butter sauce. A perfect blend of seafood and seasonal vegetables.

4 servings

40 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•1 teaspoon Kosher salt
•1 cup mixed shell beans
•3 tablespoons unsalted butter
•1 small onion
•1 cup fresh corn kernels
•1 cup Chicken Stock
•1 teaspoon Black pepper
•1 large shallot
•24 ounces wild salmon fillets
•½ cup Fish Stock
•½ cup dry white wine
•1 teaspoon lemon juice
•⅓ cup heavy cream
•½ cup cold unsalted butter
•3 tablespoons fresh basil

Cooking Instructions

1.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and fill a large bowl halfway with ice water. Add the beans to the boiling water and blanch for 2 to 3 minutes, then drain, transfer to the ice water to stop the cooking and set the color, drain again, and set aside.
5 min
2.
Heat a wide, deep, heavy-bottomed sauté pan over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the softened butter and, when it has melted but not browned, add the onion. Cook until soft and translucent but not browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the corn and blanched beans and stir to heat through. Pour in the stock and raise the heat to high. Continue to cook until the liquid has almost completely reduced but enough remains to lightly coat the vegetables, about 5 minutes total. Be careful not to overcook the sauce, as the vegetables may discolor. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside, covered, to keep warm.
15 min
3.
Rub the remaining 1 tablespoon softened butter over the bottom of a deep, heavy-bottomed 10-or 12-inch sauté pan. Sprinkle the shallot over the bottom of the pan and set the salmon fillets on top without crowding them. Gently pour the stock and wine over and around the fish to come about two-thirds up their sides. Cover the pain tightly with a lid or aluminum foil, set over medium-high heat, and bring the liquid to a rolling boil, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and cook the fish for another minute. Remove the cover and use a fish spatula or regular spatula to carefully remove the fillets from the sauté pan and transfer them to a large plate or platter. (They will be slightly undercooked, but will continue to cook via carryover heat.) Cover loosely with foil. (If you used foil to cover the pan, you can use that to tent the fish.)
8 min
4.
Drain and discard all abut 1/3 cup of the poaching liquid from the pan. Add the lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Place over high heat, bring to a boil, and cook until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Stir in the cream, bring back to a boil, and continue to boil for 1 minute. Reduce the heat to medium and whisk in the cold butter, a few pieces at a time, incorporating each addition entirely before adding more. Season to taste with salt and pepper and keep warm. Stir in the basil just before serving.
7 min
5.
To serve, drain the succotash in a strainer and divide it evenly among 4 dinner plates. Place the salmon on top and generously spoon over the sauce. Serve immediately.
5 min

Ingredients

•1 teaspoon Kosher salt

•1 cup mixed shell beans

•3 tablespoons unsalted butter

•1 small onion

•1 cup fresh corn kernels

•1 cup Chicken Stock

•1 teaspoon Black pepper

•1 large shallot

•24 ounces wild salmon fillets

•½ cup Fish Stock

•½ cup dry white wine

•1 teaspoon lemon juice

•⅓ cup heavy cream

•½ cup cold unsalted butter

•3 tablespoons fresh basil

Cooking Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and fill a large bowl halfway with ice water. Add the beans to the boiling water and blanch for 2 to 3 minutes, then drain, transfer to the ice water to stop the cooking and set the color, drain again, and set aside.

5 min

Heat a wide, deep, heavy-bottomed sauté pan over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the softened butter and, when it has melted but not browned, add the onion. Cook until soft and translucent but not browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the corn and blanched beans and stir to heat through. Pour in the stock and raise the heat to high. Continue to cook until the liquid has almost completely reduced but enough remains to lightly coat the vegetables, about 5 minutes total. Be careful not to overcook the sauce, as the vegetables may discolor. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside, covered, to keep warm.

15 min

Rub the remaining 1 tablespoon softened butter over the bottom of a deep, heavy-bottomed 10-or 12-inch sauté pan. Sprinkle the shallot over the bottom of the pan and set the salmon fillets on top without crowding them. Gently pour the stock and wine over and around the fish to come about two-thirds up their sides. Cover the pain tightly with a lid or aluminum foil, set over medium-high heat, and bring the liquid to a rolling boil, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and cook the fish for another minute. Remove the cover and use a fish spatula or regular spatula to carefully remove the fillets from the sauté pan and transfer them to a large plate or platter. (They will be slightly undercooked, but will continue to cook via carryover heat.) Cover loosely with foil. (If you used foil to cover the pan, you can use that to tent the fish.)

8 min

Drain and discard all abut 1/3 cup of the poaching liquid from the pan. Add the lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Place over high heat, bring to a boil, and cook until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Stir in the cream, bring back to a boil, and continue to boil for 1 minute. Reduce the heat to medium and whisk in the cold butter, a few pieces at a time, incorporating each addition entirely before adding more. Season to taste with salt and pepper and keep warm. Stir in the basil just before serving.

7 min

To serve, drain the succotash in a strainer and divide it evenly among 4 dinner plates. Place the salmon on top and generously spoon over the sauce. Serve immediately.

5 min