Salmon Chilled Asparagus Cream And Warm Olive Relish Recipes

LEMONY SALMON AND CREAMY ASPARAGUS PASTA

Steps:

• Cut off the tender asparagus tips at an angle, about a third of the asparagus stems. Boil the tips in 2 cups (500ml) water for 3 minutes, remove with a slotted spoon then blanch in cold water to keep the bright green colour, and reserve in a microwaveable bowl.
• Cut the remaining asparagus stems into rough 2cm pieces and boil, covered, in the same water with vegetable stock powder and white pepper, for about 8 minutes.
• Blend the stems and cooking water, pulsing until fairly smooth but with small chunks of asparagus remaining.
• In the meantime, in a small saucepan over low heat, make a classic roux: melt 2 tablespoons of butter and then stir in 2 tablespoons of flour with a wooden spoon continuously until the mixture combines completely. Let the roux brown very slightly for a couple of minutes.
• Start adding the milk very slowly, stirring all the time, until all the milk is absorbed by the thirsty roux, and then slowly add the asparagus puree, stirring constantly until you have a thick green asparagus sauce.
• Salt to taste, remembering that in a delicate sauce less salt is better, and you've probably used salted butter.
• Add most of the herbs, reserving some for garnish, then add the cream. Stir very well and turn off the heat.
• While you're doing that, oil the salmon fillets on both sides with about a tablespoon of olive oil and briefly sear over medium-high heat in a large non-stick saucepan. Watch as the white colour moves up the side of the salmon, and when about one-third of the way up turn the salmon. When the other side has seared, while the salmon is still pink in the middle, remove from the pan.
• Turn down the heat in the salmon pan, add the rest of the olive oil and soften onions for 2 minutes or so, add mushrooms for a further 3 minutes, and add garlic for a further 5 minutes. Stir often.
• Now's a good time to start cooking the pasta, according to instructions on the packet.
• Pour the asparagus herbed cream sauce into the onion and mushroom saucepan and mix well. Squeeze in the juice of half the lemon, taking care not to add the pips. Stir in half the parmesan cheese.
• Separate the salmon into flakes using a blunt knife. A butter knife is good; salmon flakes beautifully. Add salmon to the warm sauce and stir for 5 minutes or so over low heat. The sauce will finish cooking the medium-rare salmon without toughening it, while it absorbs the yummy creamy asparagus flavours in this honeymoon phase.
• Use the other half of the lemon to slice as garnish for your plates.
• Heat the asparagus tips in the microwave briefly.
• Drain the pasta and divide between the plates. Top with the creamy garlic lemon asparagus salmon sauce, then the asparagus tips and the remaining fresh herbs. Sprinkle with remaining parmesan.

MUSTARD-AND-HERB-CRUSTED SALMON WITH WARM ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Bring 8 cups of salted water to a boil in a covered large saute pan. Fill a large bowl with ice water and set a mesh strainer on top of the ice.
• Pulse the panko, parsley, the leaves from 1 sprig fresh tarragon and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a mini food processor until the herbs are coarsely chopped. Drizzle in 1 tablespoon of the oil and pulse until the mixture is combined. Transfer to a plate.
• Combine the brown sugar, mustard, 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice and remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a small bowl. Brush the tops and sides of the salmon generously with the mustard mixture and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Press a salmon fillet, top-side down, into the panko mixture. Place, panko-side up, on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining fillets and bake until the panko is toasted and the salmon is just cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the asparagus and peas in the saute pan of boiling water and cook until almost crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to the prepared ice bath with a slotted spoon and let cool, about 1 minute.
• Meanwhile, heat a second large saute pan over medium-high heat and add the butter, swirling, until melted. Drain the cooled vegetables and add to the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the radishes, the remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 2 tablespoons tarragon. Toss to combine, taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve the salmon with the asparagus salad and a lemon wedge.

PAN-SEARED SALMON WITH NO-FAIL HOLLANDAISE AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and heat for a couple minutes.
• Salt the boiling water, add the asparagus and cook for 2 minutes. Drain and reserve on a paper towel-lined plate.
• Add the salmon skin-side up to the pan and cook for 4 minutes. Flip and cook skin-side down until the skin is crisped and salmon is cooked just past medium-rare, about 6 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the hollandaise sauce: Bring a couple inches of water to a simmer in a small saucepan. Whisk together the egg yolks, mustard, cayenne, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon each of the herbs in a medium metal bowl. Set the bowl over the simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water) and whisk until the hollandaise has thickened, about 2 minutes. You can move the saucepan on and off the heat to regulate the temperature, so the eggs don't cook too quickly.
• When the mixture is hot and thickened, gradually add the butter in several batches and whisk after each addition until fully incorporated, about 3 minutes. Add sea salt and white pepper to taste.
• Place the salmon fillets and asparagus on individual serving plates and spoon the hollandaise over the top. Garnish with the remaining minced herbs and serve.

ASPARAGUS AND SALMON WITH DILL CREAM

Steps:

• Boil, steam or microwave asparagus until just tender. Drain, rinse under cold water until cold, then pat dry with absorbent kitchen paper.
• Wrap one piece of smoked salmon around each spear; place on a serving platter.
• To make the dill salad cream, combine all the ingredients in a small bowl; stir until smooth.
• Drizzle some of the cream over the spears, garnish with dill sprigs and serve the remaining cream seperately.

LEMON-TARRAGON SALMON OVER ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut out four 12-by-17-inch pieces of parchment; fold each in half crosswise to form a crease, then open.
• Divide asparagus and radishes evenly among 4 parchment pieces, arranging mixture on 1 side of each crease. Lay 1 salmon fillet on top of each pile. Season each with 1/8 teaspoon salt and some pepper.
• Toss together onion, zest and juice, tarragon, 2 teaspoons oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; divide among salmon, spooning over tops. Fold parchment over ingredients; make overlapping pleats to seal.
• Bake on 2 baking sheets (2 packets per sheet) for 11 to 12 minutes for medium-rare or 13 minutes for medium. Unwrap; drizzle fillets with remaining 2 teaspoons oil.

CRISPY SALMON, ASPARAGUS AND CHERRY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a deep saute pan. Add the salmon fillets, skin-side down, and the asparagus. Fry gently over a low-medium heat until the salmon is crispy and the asparagus is slightly charred.
• Turn the fish over, add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, then add the cherry tomatoes and a little splash of water and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until the tomatoes have started to break down. Add plenty of seasoning and a squeeze of lemon juice. Scatter over the basil leaves and serve.