Salmon and Green Beans in Red Pepper Sauce

By Yewande Komolafe

Updated September 25, 2025

Rachel Vanni for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne.
Ready In
45 min
Rating
5(599)
Comments
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Resist the notion that fish should be paired with vegetables that keep their crunch in the cooking process. Rather, make these green beans, which hold their shape while they gently and endearingly collapse, contributing a generous texture to a roasted red pepper sauce. Crisp-skinned salmon is the star protein here and simmers alongside the beans in the sauce, which is balanced, rich and tasty with anchovies and miso. A sauce this good works with any protein that benefits from a gentle simmer. 

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • 1 small red onion, peeled and chopped (about 1 cup)

  • 1 (16-ounce) jar roasted red bell peppers, drained and chopped (about 1 ½ cups)

  • 1 Scotch bonnet or habanero chile, seeds in or out

  • 4 garlic cloves, peeled

  • 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided

  • 4 salmon fillets (about 6 ounces each), skin on or off

  • Salt and black pepper

  • 8 ounces green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces (about 2 cups)

  • 6 to 8 oil-packed anchovies

  • 1 tablespoon white or red miso

  • ½ cup thinly sliced fresh scallions

  • Rice, for serving

  • 1 lemon, cut in wedges

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

36 grams carbs; 100 milligrams cholesterol; 679 calories; 19 grams monosaturated fat; 9 grams polyunsaturated fat; 8 grams saturated fat; 41 grams fat; 4 grams fiber; 951 milligrams sodium; 42 grams protein; 7 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Prepare the red pepper sauce: Using a food processor or blender, coarsely chop the onion, roasted red peppers, Scotch bonnet and garlic by pulsing them together.

  2. Step 2

    Heat a large (10-inch) cast iron or nonstick skillet over high and add 2 tablespoons oil.

  3. Step 3

    Place the salmon fillets in the hot oil, skin side down, season lightly with salt and pepper and cook without moving until the contact side is gently browned, about 5 minutes. Move the salmon to a plate, setting it skin side up, and set aside.

  4. Step 4

    Turn the heat down to medium-high, add 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet, the green beans, anchovies and miso. Cook, stirring frequently, mashing the anchovies with the spatula until miso is broken up and anchovies are dissolved. Add ½ cup water to the skillet and bring to a simmer. Cook until green beans are just wrinkly, 4 to 6 minutes.

  5. Step 5

    Reduce heat to medium, pour the red pepper sauce into the skillet. Stir in ½ cup water and the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Simmer the sauce, stirring frequently until slightly reduced and the liquid and oil collect toward the center of the skillet, 5 to 6 minutes. Taste for seasoning and adjust with additional salt and pepper if necessary.

  6. Step 6

    Using a wooden spoon, create divots in the sauce and green beans. Nestle the fillets in the divots, skin side up. Cook until the fish is fork-tender, the sauce reduced and the green beans are softened, 6 to 8 minutes.

  7. Step 7

    Garnish with scallions and serve fish, green beans and sauce immediately over rice, with lemon wedges for squeezing.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
599 user ratings
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Comments

Abby Cunniff

This is my favorite dish I have ever made from NYT Cooking, and I have been cooking from these recipes for more than six years. I absolutely love how elegant and flavorful this recipe is! Please add more Nigerian and West African recipes like this one!!!!!!!!!!

Nancy B

Is there a substitute I can use for the anchovies?

Steve

Made as written with skinless steelhead, a habanero, and fire roasted jarred red peppers. Used a 12" cast iron skillet. Nice flavors, and the fish held its own against the sauce. I'd make it again.

Lafayetteann

Make this! Wow, this is simple to make yet tastes complex. No more dry, boring salmon. This will be my go-to for using frozen Alaska salmon steaks from Costco. Served over brown rice, this is a healthy meal the whole family loves. I used anchovy paste and it worked a charm.

Matt O'Connor

I made this tonight for dinner - EXCELLENT. Probably one of the best salmon dishes I've made in recent memory. The red pepper sauce is fantastic. I was a little skeptical of breaking out the food processor but it is 150% worth it and I will be making this again next week!

SHC

Not sure how this managed to be both bland and terrible tasting at the same time. The commenter who called out not enough green beans was spot on, but overall this is just very oddly conceived receipe that sadly does not work.

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