Thai Three-Flavored Salmon

I love going out for Thai food, but that gets a little pricey. My favorite dish at the local place is Three-Flavored Salmon. My version doesn't taste exactly like it, but I'm getting closer! Also, if you haven't noticed, salmon fillets are reeeally expensive, so I've found a decent poor-man's alternative at my local Costco—salmon burgers. They're a surprisingly delicious way to stretch your dollar.


Ingredients

6 – 4oz. salmon fillets, or 6 salmon burgers
5 medium garlic cloves, roughly chopped
3 long red chilies, seeded and roughly chopped
1 large shallot, roughly chopped
½ bunch of cilantro stems (the leaves don't hold up too well in the cooking process)
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons Thai fish sauce
2 tablespoons tamarind puree
Cucumber slices, tomato slices, and cilantro leaves, for garnish

Cook the salmon. If using salmon burgers, cook according to package directions. An extra delicious way of cooking is to coat the salmon with flour and pan fry for crispy crust.

In a small food processor, blend garlic, chilies, shallot, and cilantro stems together into a rough paste.

Heat 1 tablespoon of canola or grapeseed oil in a pan and stir fry chili paste over medium for 2-3 minutes. Add brown sugar, fish sauce, and tamarind. Cook 2-3 minutes, or until the tamarind has dissolved. Add ½ cup of water to the pan to thin out the sauce to your desired consistency. Pour the warm sauce over the salmon.

Serve salmon with white Thai jasmine rice, cucumber, tomato, and cilantro. You could even serve with some florets of steamed broccoli—very delicious.