An important note about salmon. The advice being given now about making any raw fish dish is that you should freeze it first to kill any parasites. I've been lucky to have some top chefs visit us and their advice is the same, even with the best quality salmon, you need to freeze and then defrost. I know that this is lightly cured but it’s far better to be safe.If you are planning on making this for guests, ALLOW 36 HOURS FOR FREEZING, DEFROSTING AND CURING YOUR SALMON.
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Ingredients
300gsalmon filletskin removed and pin boned
1/2tbspmaldon sea salt
1/2tbspcaster sugar
1lemon
2tspdillroughly chopped
1tspfennel seeds lightly crushed
freshly ground black pepper
Dressing
2tbspbanana shallotvery finely diced
1tbspsour cream
1/2tspdijon mustard
1tsplemon juice
pinch cayenne pepper
Garnishes
1/4cucumber
1tspmaldon sea salt
2tsprapeseed oil
1tspwhite balsamic vinegar
pinch of white pepper
60ghorseradish cream
30gcreme fraiche
pinch of salt
pinch caster sugar
1tsplemon juice
To serve
Micro herbs, dill fronds or cress
4tsp lumpfish caviar
Instructions
Curing
Zest the lemon and save the fruit to use later as a garnish.
In a bowl mix together the salt, sugar, lemon zest and dill crushed fennel seeds and pepper. Have a piece of tin foil ready in a dish large enough in which to sit the salmon, rub the mixture into both sides of the salmon, lie on the foil, loosely wrap to make a parcel and chill in the fridge for 12 hours
Remove the salmon from the fridge and rinse under cold water then pat dry with a paper towel. You can keep the salmon in the fridge until you are ready to use it (no more than 72 hours)
Dressing
Juice half the lemon and set aside. Save the rest for the garnish. Dice the salmon into 1cm cubes and put in a bowl
Mix all the ingredients together then add this to the diced salmon and give it all good stir making sure it is all coated. Keep in the fridge for up to 6 hours until you are ready to serve.
Garnishes
LEMON - Using the reserved half of the lemon, with a sharp knife remove the skin and pith keeping the lemon half in one piece. Next, very carefully so you don’t cut yourself, cut out each segment from so you end up with little slivers without the pith. Halve these segments and reserve for garnish.
CUCUMBER – peel the cucumber and cut into 1cm dice using only the flesh and not the seeds. Line a plate or tray with baking parchment, spread the cucumber cubes and sprinkle with sea salt and put in the freezer for an hour or so.. Once frozen, put in a bag and either store in the freezer or use immediately.Allow the cucumber to defrost. Whisk the rapeseed oil, white balsamic and white pepper to make a dressing. Add the defrosted cucumber, cover and keep in the fridge until you are ready to use.
HORSERADISH CREAM – Mix the horseradish cream, créme fraiche, couple of pinches of salt and a pinch of caster sugar and lemon juice.
To serve
Put a chefs ring in the centre of a plate. Divide the salmon into 4 and press it down in the ring with the back of a spoon. Remove the rings then arrange the cucumber, lemon segments and a few dots of horseradish cream, a teaspoon of caviar on each and finish with the herbs.