Salmon (food)

Salmon sashimi

Salmon is a popular food. Classified as an oily fish,^[1] salmon is considered to be healthy due to the fish's high protein, high omega-3 fatty acids, and high vitamin D^[2] content. Salmon is also a source of cholesterol, with a range of 23–214 mg/100 g depending on the species.^[3] According to reports in the journal Science, however, farmed salmon may contain high levels of dioxins. PCB levels may be up to eight times higher in farmed salmon than in wild salmon,^[4] but still far below levels considered dangerous.^[5][6] Nonetheless, according to a 2006 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the benefits of eating even farmed salmon far outweigh any risks imposed by contaminants.^[7]

Colour

Still Life with Salmon, 1866-1869, by Édouard Manet, shows a white-fleshed salmon

Salmon flesh is generally orange to red, although there are some examples of white-fleshed wild salmon. The natural colour of salmon results from carotenoid pigments, largely astaxanthin but also canthaxanthin, in the flesh.^[8] Wild salmon get these carotenoids from eating krill and other tiny shellfish. Because consumers have shown a reluctance to purchase white-fleshed salmon, astaxanthin (E161j), and very minutely canthaxanthin (E161g), are added as artificial colorants to the feed of farmed salmon, because prepared diets do not naturally contain these pigments.

In most cases, the astaxanthin is made chemically; alternatively it is extracted from shrimp flour. Another possibility is the use of dried red yeast, which provides the same pigment. However, synthetic mixtures are the least expensive option. Astaxanthin is a potent antioxidant that stimulates the development of healthy fish nervous systems and enhances the fish's fertility and growth rate. Research has revealed canthaxanthin may have negative effects on the human eye, accumulating in the retina at high levels of consumption.^[8]

Today, the concentration of carotenoids (mainly canthaxanthin and astaxanthin) exceeds 8 mg/kg of flesh, and all fish producers try to reach a level that represents a value of 16 on the "Roche Color Card", a colour card used to show how pink the fish will appear at specific doses. This scale is specific for measuring the pink colour due to astaxanthin and is not for the orange hue obtained with canthaxanthin. The development of processing and storage operations, which can be detrimental on canthaxanthin flesh concentration, has led to an increased quantity of pigments added to the diet to compensate for the degrading effects of the processing. In wild fish, carotenoid levels of up to 25 mg are present, but levels of canthaxanthin are, in contrast, minor.^[8]

Products

Salmon steak (left) and fillets (right)
in a market

A simple rule of thumb is that the vast majority of Atlantic salmon available on the world market are farmed (almost 99%^[9]), whereas the majority of Pacific salmon are wild caught (greater than 80%).

Canned salmon in the U.S. is usually wild Pacific catch, though some farmed salmon is available in canned form. Smoked salmon is another popular preparation method, and can either be hot or cold smoked. Lox can refer either to cold smoked salmon or to salmon cured in a brine solution (also called gravlax). Traditional canned salmon includes some skin (which is harmless) and bone (which adds calcium). Skinless and boneless canned salmon is also available.

Raw salmon flesh may contain Anisakis nematodes, marine parasites that cause Anisakiasis. Before the availability of refrigeration, Japanese did not consume raw salmon. Salmon and salmon roe have only recently come into use in making sashimi (raw fish) and sushi^{[citation needed]}.

Ordinary types of cooked salmon contain 500–1500 mg DHA and 300–1000 mg EPA per 100 grams^[10]

Salmon dishes

Name	Image	Origin	Description
Gravlax		Nordic	Raw salmon cured in salt, sugar, and dill. Usually served as an appetizer, sliced thinly and accompanied by hovmästarsås (also known as gravlaxsås), a dill and mustard sauce, either on bread of some kind, or with boiled potatoes.
Lohikeitto		Nordic	A creamy salmon soup consisting of salmon fillets, boiled potatoes and leeks,[11][12] served hot with some dill.
Lomi salmon		Polynesian	A side dish consisting of fresh tomato and salmon salad. It was introduced to Hawaiians by early western sailors.[13] It is typically prepared by mixing raw salted, diced salmon with tomatoes, sweet gentle Maui onions (or sometimes green onion), and occasionally flakes of hot red chili pepper, or crushed ice. It is always served cold. Other variations include salmon, diced tomato, diced cucumber, and chopped sweet onion.
Lox			A fillet that has been cured. In its most popular form, it is thinly sliced—less than 5 millimetres (0.20 in) in thickness—and, typically (in North America), served on a bagel, often with cream cheese, onion, tomato, cucumber and capers. Lox in small pieces is also often added and cooked into scrambled eggs, sometimes with chopped onion.
Poacher's Relish			A tangy relish made with smoked salmon and lemon zest. Like Gentleman's Relish, it is usually eaten with toast, crackers or blinis.
Rui-be		Japan	Salmon that is frozen outdoors, sliced like sashimi, and served with soy sauce and water peppers.[14]
Salmon burger			A type of fishcake made mostly from salmon in the style of a hamburger. It is challenging to make and cook as the salmon requires a binder to make it stick together and is easy to overcook which makes it too dry.[15] Salmon burgers are especially common in Alaska where they are routinely offered as an alternative to beef hamburgers.[16]
Salmon tartare			Appetizer prepared with fresh raw salmon and seasonings, commonly spread on a cracker or artisan style bread
Smoked salmon			A preparation of salmon, typically a fillet that has been cured and then hot or cold smoked. Due to its moderately high price, smoked salmon is considered a delicacy. Although the term lox is sometimes applied to smoked salmon, they are different products.[17][18]
Sashimi		Japan	Sliced raw salmon served with garnishes. Usually eaten by dipping in soy sauce and wasabi.

See also

• Salmon cannery

Notes

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Salmon dishes.

Wikibooks Cookbook has a recipe/module on Salmon (food)

• Plea for the Wanderer, an NFB documentary on West Coast salmon
• [http://openlibrary.org/books/OL23605407M/Canned_salmon_recipes_by_Alaska_packers_association_... Canned Salmon Recipes by Alaska Packers' Association], 1900 e-book with color illustrations, available from Internet Archive
• Epicurean.com Salmon Recipes Collected recipes using Salmon at epicurean.com
• Salmon-omics: Effect of Pacific Decadal Oscillation on Alaskan Chinook Harvests and Market Price Kevin Ho, Columbia University, 2005.

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