Salmon En Croute

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1:10

Serves 6

Medium

This salmon showstopper is full of flavour with a succulent salmon, cream cheese and spinach filling, all wrapped in a crisp, puff pastry parcel.

Pairs perfectly with all the usual Christmas trimmings, and is a great dish for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Boxing Day festivities. A great alternative to turkey. Make this dish simple by using pre-made puff pastry, although you can always make your own if you wish.

Content image
Ingredients image

What you'll need...

  • 2 x 500g salmon fillets, skinless and boneless
  • 500g spinach
  • 20g butter, cubed
  • 180g full fat cream cheese
  • Pinch of nutmeg
  • ½ lemon, juiced (zest, optional)
  • Flour, for dusting
  • 500g puff pastry, pre-made
  • 1 egg yolk, beaten
  • 50g blanched almonds, chopped

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 200C / 180C / gas 6. 

  2. Add the spinach, nutmeg, butter, salt and pepper in a large frying pan. Cover with a lid and cook over a low-medium heat until it wilts. Stir occasionally to avoid burning. Once fully wilted, drain off the liquid through a sieve and allow to cool. Place the spinach between kitchen paper to squeeze out any excess liquid.  

  3. Roughly chop the spinach and place in a bowl with the cream cheese and lemon juice. Add seasoning to taste, mix to combine and set to the side. 

  4. If adding almonds, heat a frying pan over a medium heat and lightly toast for 3-5 minutes or until golden. Stir frequently to avoid burning. Roughly chop. 

  5. Lightly dust a work surface with flour and roll the pastry out. Make sure it’s large enough to fit the salmon with extra space for crimping the edges together and shrinkage while cooking. Make sure you have two pieces of pastry, with the top piece being slightly larger than the bottom. 

  1. Place the smaller piece of pastry on a non-stick baking sheet (line with baking parchment if you wish) and put one half of the salmon on top. Cover with a layer of the spinach and cream cheese mix and then the chopped almonds. Add the second piece of salmon on top. 

  2. Brush the edges of the bottom pastry around the salmon with some of the egg yolk mix. Lay the second piece of pastry on top, pressing around the edges to seal. Neaten the edges by cutting off the very edges of the pastry, then crimp with a fork. Brush with the remaining beaten egg mix. 

  3. Decorate the en croute with any remaining pastry. Add stars, Christmas trees - anything you wish. Brush the decorations with beaten egg. Cool in the fridge for 20 minutes before baking. 

  4. Bake the salmon en croute for 30 – 35 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to crisp for 5 minutes before serving.

Shop the tools you will need

Secondary image for Acacia Rolling Pin Main image for Acacia Rolling Pin

£14

Secondary image for Non-Stick Granite Baking Tray Main image for Non-Stick Granite Baking Tray

£14

Secondary image for Silicone Pastry Brush Main image for Silicone Pastry Brush

£5

Secondary image for Stainless Steel Baking Tray Set Main image for Stainless Steel Baking Tray Set

£69

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