Rachs Salmon En Croute Is Deceptively Easy Recipes

RACH'S SALMON EN CROUTE IS DECEPTIVELY EASY

Steps:

• Preheat oven 425˚F with rack at the center
• For fresh spinach, wash and stem the spinach, then bring a pot of water to a boil and place an ice water bath in large bowl on counter and a strainer in sink
• Salt the boiling water, cook spinach 1 to 2 minutes, then strain, add to ice bath to shock, drain and wring out excess liquid in clean towel, then chop
• For defrosted frozen spinach, wring out all excess liquid and finely chop, then loosen up with fingers
• Heat a skillet over medium heat with EVOO, 2 turns of the pan, add shallots and garlic, season with salt and white pepper
• Add wine, let it absorb
• Add spinach, nutmeg, lemon juice, crème fraiche or cream cheese, Parm and breadcrumbs, then remove from heat to cool
• For the salmon and pastry, combine butter, mustard, thyme, and dill
• Roll out puff pastry on a lightly floured surface just a bit to smooth seams, then cut each sheet in half across to form rectangles
• Place 2 rectangles each on a parchment-lined baking sheet sprinkled with a little flour
• Season the salmon with salt and pepper
• Place a piece of salmon on each piece of pastry and top with ¼ of the Dijon and herb mix, then turn over
• Top each bottom side of salmon with a layer of ¼ of the spinach and gently set in place with your hands
• Make an egg wash with 2 teaspoons water and a fork-beaten egg
• Brush egg wash onto the puff pastry, then fold in long sides to overlap in the middle, stretching the puff pastry gently if needed, to form a seam
• Press the ends to seal, then trim ends a bit and fold in to seal the packet, then turn and score the top in a crosshatch using a paring knife to vent and to add to the plate presentation
• Brush completed packets with egg wash and bake 20 to 25 minutes

SALMON EN CROUTE

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and 1 teaspoon garlic; cook and stir until mushrooms are soft, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper. Transfer onion and mushroom mixture to a small bowl.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the same skillet. Add remaining 1 teaspoon garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add spinach; cook and stir until wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper. Transfer to another bowl.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a glass baking dish with parchment paper.
• Dust work surface with flour. Lay 1 puff pastry sheet out on work surface. Spread onion and mushroom mixture evenly across pastry, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Center salmon on top. Sprinkle paprika over salmon and top with wilted spinach. Cover with second puff pastry sheet. Fold over and crimp edges to seal. Brush top with beaten egg. Transfer to baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until pastry is golden, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove and let stand for 5 minutes. Slice into 4 portions.
• Whisk mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and dill together in a small bowl. Spoon sauce onto 4 plates and place a piece of salmon on each.