Spicy Smoked Salmon with Wasabi Dipping Sauce
Serves 12 as an appetizer, 6 to 8 as an entrée
By curing a side of salmon overnight in a marinade brimming with freshly ground spices and a touch of liquid smoke, then cooking the fish in a low oven, the pink flesh becomes meltingly tender and flavorful, with a taste similar to smoked salmon. Best of all, you don't even need a stovetop or outdoor smoker!
1 tablespoon Salmon Spice Mix (Recipe follows)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon mirin
1 tablespoon sake
1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
1 tablespoon canola oil or sesame oil
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 tablespoon liquid smoke
Pinch of salt
Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
1 side of salmon, filleted and boned, with skin (about 2 1/2 pounds)
Freshly ground white pepper
Wasabi Dipping Sauce (Recipe follows)
1. Place Salmon Spice Mix, soy sauce, mirin, sake, rice vinegar, canola oil, maple syrup, liquid smoke, salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes in a small nonreactive bowl with a lid and mix until well blended.
2. Place a piece of plastic wrap lengthwise on a baking sheet, allowing 8 inches of extra wrap at each end to cover the salmon. Place salmon on the plastic wrap, skin side down. Spoon half the marinade over salmon and rub into the flesh. Turn the salmon over and cover completely with plastic wrap. Place the salmon and leftover marinade in the  refrigerator overnight.
3. One hour before cooking, remove the salmon and the remaining marinade from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature. Ten minutes before cooking, preheat the oven to 275°. Place a rack large enough to hold the fish on a baking sheet and spray the rack with nonstick cooking spray.
6. When the oven is hot, place the salmon on the rack, skin side down. Pour half of the remaining marinade onto the salmon, patting in gently.
7. Place the baking sheet on the top rack of the oven and roast the salmon for 15 minutes. Remove salmon from the oven and cover with the remaining marinade. Return salmon to the oven for 30 to 45 minutes more, or until opaque throughout and golden brown in color.
8. To serve, remove the skin (if desired), and place the fish on a serving platter. Sprinkle lightly with pepper and pass the Wasabi Dipping Sauce at the table.
Salmon Spice Mix
1 whole star anise
1 tablespoon whole coriander seeds
4 whole allspice berries
1 (3-inch) stick cinnamon, broken into several pieces
1. Place all of the ingredients in a spice mill or small, clean electric coffee grinder and process until very finely ground. Pour the spices into a small nonreactive bowl or jar with a lid, cover and set aside.
Wasabi Dipping Sauce
1 tablespoon wasabi powder
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons honey mustard
1. Stir together all of the ingredients in a small nonreactive bowl. Allow to sit at room temperature at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to blend, or cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Makes about 1/4 cup

Recipe Courtesy Braiden Rex-Johnson as reprinted from the Pike Place Public Market Seafood Cookbook (Ten Speed Press, $14.95)