SALMON EN CROUTE
SALMON EN CROUTE
SALMON EN CROUTE

Ingredients
  • 550g/1lb 3½oz puff pastry
  • at room temperature
  • flour
  • for dusting
  • 55g/2oz unsalted butter
  • 3 large shallots
  • 450g/1lb chestnut mushrooms
  • sliced
  • 675g/1lb 8oz salmon fillet
  • skinned and sliced into 4cm/1½in slices
  • 1 lemon
  • juice only
  • 1 large bunch fresh dill
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 170g/6oz basmati and wild rice packet mix
  • cooked according to packet instructions
  • rinsed and cooled
  • splash white wine
  • 1 large free-range egg
  • beaten
  • pinch of salt
  • 200ml/7fl oz double cream
  • ½ lemon
  • juice only
  • freshly ground black pepper
Directions
  • Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
  • Prepare the base of the pie. Cut off one-third of the pastry. Wrap the larger piece in cling film and place in the fridge (this will be used to make the top of the pie later). On a clean
  • floured surface
  • roll out the smaller piece of pastry into a rectangle about 20cm x 28cm/8in x 11in. Carefully trim the edges to form a neat rectangle. Reserve the trimmings and place in layers that can be rolled out to make the decoration later.
  • Using a rolling pin to lift it
  • place the pastry rectangle onto a non-stick baking tray and prick all over with a fork. This will stop it from rising too much in the oven. Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes until cooked and golden. Set aside to cool.
  • For the filling
  • heat half of the butter in a frying pan until foaming. Finely chop the shallots and fry until soft and golden-brown. Add the sliced mushrooms to the shallots and fry until just cooked. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.
  • Place the salmon fillets into a bowl. Squeeze over the lemon juice. Tear the dill into pieces and scatter over the salmon. Drizzle over the olive oil
  • then season with freshly ground black pepper and gently combine. Don't prepare the filling more than an hour in advance
  • or the lemon will be begin to 'cook' the salmon.
  • In a bowl
  • combine the cooled shallot and mushroom mixture with the cooled rice. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Spoon the mixture over the cooked pastry base and
  • using the back of a spoon
  • press the mixture out toward the edges.
  • Place the salmon slices and dill on top of the rice (discard the juices from the bowl). Splash over some white wine and dot over the remaining butter.
  • On a clean
  • floured surface
  • roll out the remaining pastry until it's slightly larger than the base. It should be large enough to cover the mixture and the cooked pastry with a little room to spare. Using a rolling pin
  • gently lift and place the pastry over the salmon and trim off the corners of the raw pastry. Reserve for later.
  • Using a palette knife gently tuck the raw pastry underneath the base (a bit like making a bed).
  • Make an egg wash by beating together the egg and salt in a bowl. Using a pastry brush
  • brush the whole pie with the beaten egg. Use the reserved pastry trimmings to make leaf shapes and decorate the pie with the leaves. Brush over these with beaten egg.
  • Bake the pie for about 30-35 minutes
  • or until golden-brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
  • Meanwhile
  • make the soured cream. Place the cream into a bowl. Pour over the lemon juice and stir thoroughly as the cream thickens. Season with freshly ground black pepper.
  • Serve slices of the salmon en croûte with the soured cream on the side.