Salmon Provencal

Salmon Provencal

Ingredients:
4 6-ounce, skinned salmon fillets
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon fennel seed
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon minced orange zest
2 tablespoons olive oilor clarified butter

Directions:

1. Season fillets on both sides with salt and pepper. Grind fennel seed coarsely in a coffee or spice grinder, and mix it with the rosemary and orange zest. Press this mixture onto the top of each fillet.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
3. Preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat for 3 or 4 minutes. Add the oil or butter called for in the recipe and, when it shimmers, place the fillets, coated side down, in the pan. Cook about 1 minute, or until the spice mixture forms a nicely browned crust.
4. Turn the fillets and cook about a minute more, then transfer to the oven. Cook about 4 minutes for rare salmon, 5 to 6 minutes for medium rare and 8 minutes for well done.