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delia smith salmon en croute recipe
Nancy Wilson

Delia Smith Salmon en Croute Recipe

Four individual salmon parcels with wilted greens and crème fraîche in thin homemade flaky pastry, baked at 220°C for 20 minutes. Based on the Delia Online Cookery School recipe.
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Resting and chilling 55 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Servings: 4 parcels
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: French
Calories: 530

Ingredients
  

For the quick flaky pastry
  • 110 g plain flour plus extra for dusting
  • 75 g cold butter grated
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 2 tbsp cold water plus a little more if needed
For the salmon and filling
  • 450 g skinless boneless salmon fillet, cut into 4 even pieces
  • 10 g butter
  • 140 g mixed watercress rocket and spinach, thick stalks removed
  • 1 rounded tbsp crème fraîche
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
To finish
  • 1 medium egg beaten
To serve
  • 1 batch foaming hollandaise
  • 1 rounded tbsp fresh dill chopped, stirred into the hollandaise

Equipment

  • Large frying pan
  • Sieve and bowl
  • Box grater
  • Rolling Pin
  • Pastry brush
  • Baking sheet lined with baking parchment
  • Kitchen paper and cling film
  • Probe thermometer (optional)

Method
 

  1. Make pastry. Mix the flour and salt. Grate in the cold butter and stir to coat. Add the water a spoonful at a time until the mix clumps. Press into a flat block, wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
  2. Cut salmon. Pat the salmon dry, cut it into 4 even pieces and remove any pin bones. Keep it in the fridge.
  3. Wilt greens. Melt the butter in a large frying pan on a high heat. Add the greens and stir for about 1 minute, until collapsed.
  4. Dry greens. Tip into a sieve and cool. Press with a wooden spoon, then with kitchen paper. Stir in the crème fraîche, lemon juice, nutmeg, salt and pepper.
  5. Roll pastry. Divide the pastry into 4. Roll one piece very thinly, to about 21 cm by 15 cm, on a lightly floured surface.
  6. Fill. Spread a quarter of the greens in the middle of the pastry. Put a piece of salmon on top and season lightly.
  7. Wrap parcels. Dampen the corners with cold water. Fold in the short ends, dampen the long edges, then fold them over to enclose the salmon. Turn seam side down onto a lined tray. Repeat with the rest.
  8. Chill. Chill the parcels for at least 20 minutes, covered with cling film if you are leaving them longer.
  9. Heat oven. Heat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan, gas mark 7) with a shelf near the top.
  10. Glaze. Slash the top of each parcel 3 times on the diagonal. Brush with beaten egg.
  11. Bake. Bake on the high shelf for 20 minutes, until crisp and golden. The middle of the salmon should reach at least 63°C.
  12. Rest and serve. Rest for about 5 minutes. Serve with foaming hollandaise and dill.

Notes

  • Fan oven: 200°C. Gas mark 7. Delia’s page links to its own fan oven guidance, so check it if you want her exact figure.
  • Pastry: roll to about 1.5 mm. For ready-made puff pastry, use about 320 g and roll to about 2.5 mm.
  • Tray and timing: one large baking sheet takes 4 parcels with about 3 cm between them. The bake stays at 20 minutes for evenly sized pieces.
  • The egg and the dill are not in the ingredient list on Delia’s page, but her method uses both. The hollandaise recipe is not included on this card.
  • Make ahead: shape the parcels, cover with cling film and chill for up to 24 hours (my advice). Glaze just before baking.
  • Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat at 180°C (160°C fan) until hot all the way through.