Salmon en Croûte

    30m prep time
    70m total time
    Medium level
    14 ingredients

Take salmon en croûte to the next level. Succulent salmon, cream cheese and dill are encased in crisp puff pastry with a pickled cucumber side.

Method

Based on 6 servings, adjust as needed.

Step 1

Dry the salmon fillets with kitchen paper, then set aside. Put the watercress, cream cheese, dill, lemon zest and juice and a generous grinding of pepper into a bowl and mix well, then set aside.

Step 2

Line a baking tray with parchment. Roll out half of the pastry on a lightly floured surface so it’s 2.5cm larger in diameter than the salmon fillet, then drape it over the lined baking tray. Place one of the fillets on the pastry, skinned-side down, and spread with the cream cheese mix, then lay the second fillet on top, skinned-side up. Brush the edge of the pastry with a little of the beaten yolk. Roll out the rest of the pastry to fit, then drape it over the salmon and tuck it in at the sides. Trim the edges and crimp or press with a fork to seal. Brush with more beaten yolk, then put the en croûte in the fridge for 30 mins before using a spoon to create a scale-like effect along the top of the pastry. Chill for up to 24 hrs or for at least another 30 mins.

Step 3

Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Bake for 20 mins, then glaze with the remaining yolk. Lower the heat to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and bake for 20 mins more, then remove and leave to stand for 10 mins.

Step 4

To make the pickle, put the cucumber and onion in a bowl. Tip the vinegar, sugar and a pinch of salt into a pan and bring to the boil. Once the sugar has dissolved, pour over the veg, toss well and set aside. Can be made up to two days ahead and kept in the fridge. Slice the en croûte into six portions and serve with the pickled veg on the side.
  • Ingredients
  • Based on 6 servings
  • 80g Watercress, chopped 1 x Sainsbury's Spinach Watercress & Rocket 100g
  • pinch smoked Salt, (optional) 1 x Maldon Sea Salt Flakes 250g
  • 2 Eggs, yolks only, beaten 1 x Sainsbury's British Free Range Eggs Large x6
  • 1 Red Onion, finely sliced 1 x Sainsbury's Red Onions Loose
  • 1 tbsp Sugar 1 x Sainsbury's White Granulated Sugar 1kg
  • 1 Cucumber, peeled, halved, deseeded and sliced 1 x Sainsbury's Whole Cucumber
  • 200g Cream Cheese 1 x Philadelphia Original Soft Cream Cheese 280g
  • 100ml Cider Vinegar 1 x Sainsbury's Cider Vinegar 500ml
  • 500g block All Butter Puff Pastry 1 x Jus-Rol Puff Pastry Block 500g
  • 2 tbsp Fresh Dill, sprigs, chopped 1 x Sainsbury's Bunched Dill 20g
  • 1 Lemon, zested and juiced 1 x Sainsbury's Lemons
  • 2 tbsp Flour, for dusting 1 x Sainsbury's Plain Flour 500g
  • 25g Demerara Sugar 1 x Sainsbury's Fairtrade Demerara Cane Sugar 500g
  • 800g Skinless, Boneless Salmon 1 x Sainsbury's 650g–1.1kg ASC Scottish Salmon Side
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