Apricot Bourbon Glazed Salmon

I always love when I make a recipe and my husband raves about it.  Makes me feel good.  Especially since so many of our meals are just routine and I do what I can to get dinner served quickly before I need to get out the door to ball practice or a game.

Tonight I scored a winner.

Apricot Bourbon Glazed Salmon

8 4-oz salmon fillets

1/2 cup real butter (1 stick)

1/2 cup dried apricots (soaked in warm water for about 30 minutes), drained & diced

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup bourbon

2 heaping teaspoons dijon mustard (I prefer the grainy kinds)

Melt  2 Tbsp of butter in a large cast iron skillet.  Add salmon fillets (I could only cook 4 at a time).  Cook on one side until you see the color start to change 1/2 way up the meat, then flip and cook for a few more  minutes on the other side.  Remove salmon to a plate.  Cook the remainder of the fillets if you need to, adding more butter as needed. 

In the same skillet, melt 4 tbsp butter then add apricots. Saute until the apricots start to get a bit translucent and soft.  Add the brown sugar and cook for about 2 minutes over medium heat.  Add the dijon mustard and bourbon. Cook until just starting to thicken.  Add back the salmon fillets, flipping them over in the sauce until completely coated.  Cook for another 3-5 minutes to glaze the fillets.

I served this with a wild rice and salad.

*NOTE:  I am going to do some more experimenting with this recipe.  Hubby would like to try it made with chicken or pork so he could make it at the station for cheaper.  I am also going to try this with some canned apricots, apricot jam/preserves, and/or frozen (or fresh, depending on the season) apricots.  

Enjoy and let me know what you think.