Why This Recipe Works

To get to a broiled salmon recipe with flavorful flesh and a golden, caramelized crust, we broiled the fish until it was almost cooked through and then applied a thin coating of citrus-cilantro paste with a topping of fresh bread crumbs and crushed potato chips. We finished our broiled salmon recipe right under the broiler to make the topping crisp.

Before You Begin

Heavy-duty foil measuring 18 inches wide is essential for creating a sling that aids in transferring the cooked fillet to a cutting board. Use a large baking sheet so that the salmon will lie flat. If you can’t get the fish to lie flat, even when positioning it diagonally on the baking sheet, trim the tail end. If you prefer to cook a smaller 2-pound fillet, ask to have it cut from the thick center of the fillet, not the thin tail end, and begin checking doneness a minute earlier.

Instructions

Adjust one oven rack to uppermost position (about 3 inches from heat source) and second rack to upper-middle position; heat oven to 400 degrees.

In workbowl of food processor fitted with steel blade, process ginger, garlic, shallots, jalapeño chiles, lime zest, lime juice, honey, and cilantro leaves until smooth, scraping down bowl as necessary, about 30 seconds; set aside.

Pulse bread in workbowl of food processor fitted with steel blade until processed into fairly even 1/4-inch pieces about the size of Grape-Nuts cereal (you should have about 1 cup), about ten 1-second pulses. Spread crumbs evenly on rimmed baking sheet; toast on lower rack, shaking pan once or twice, until golden brown and crisp, 4 to 5 minutes. Toss together bread crumbs and crushed potato chips in small bowl; set aside.

Increase oven setting to broil. Cut piece of heavy-duty foil 6 inches longer than fillet. Fold foil lengthwise in thirds and place lengthwise on rimmed baking sheet; position salmon lengthwise on foil, allowing excess foil to overhang baking sheet. Rub fillet evenly with oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil salmon on upper rack until surface is spotty brown and outer 1/2-inch of thick end is opaque when gently flaked with paring knife, 9 to 11 minutes. Remove fish from oven, spread evenly with spicy citrus-cilantro paste, and press bread crumb mixture onto fish. Return to lower rack and continue broiling until crust is deep golden brown, about 1 minute longer.

Following illustrations below, transfer salmon and foil sling to cutting board, remove sling, and serve salmon from board.