Spinach Kedgeree With Spiced Salmon Recipes

ASIAN-SPICED SALMON KEDGEREE (NIGELLA LAWSON)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F Pour the water into a roasting pan, add the lime leaves and then the salmon. Cover the pan with foil, put in the oven and cook for about 15 minutes, by which time the salmon should be tender. Remove the pan from the oven and drain the liquid off into a pitcher. Keep the fish warm simply by replacing the foil on the pan.
• Melt the butter in a wide, heavy saucepan that has a tight-fitting lid, and add the oil to stop the butter burning. Soften the onion in the pan and add the spices, then keep cooking till the onion is slightly translucent and suffused with soft perfume of the spices. Add the rice and stir with a wooden spoon so that it's all well coated. There's not enough onion to give a heavy coating: just make sure the rice is fragrantly slicked.
• Pour in the reserved liquid from the pitcher, about 2 1/4 cups, and stir before covering with the lid and cooking gently for 15 minutes.
• At the end of the cooking time, when the rice is tender and has lost all chalkiness, turn off the heat, remove the lid, cover the pan with a dish towel and then replace the lid. This will help absorb any extra moisture from the rice. It is also the best way to let the rice stand without getting sticky or cold.
• Just before you want to eat, drain off any extra liquid that's collected in the dish with the salmon, then flake the fish with a fork. Add to it the rice, egg, cilantro, lime juice and a drop or 2 of fish sauce. Stir gently to mix (use a couple of wooden paddles or spatulas) and taste to see if you want any more lime juice or fish sauce. Sprinkle over the zest from the 2 juiced halves of the lime and serve. You can garnish with lime segments and a small handful of freshly chopped cilantro.

WILD-SALMON KEDGEREE

Steps:

• Prepare an ice-water bath. Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer; add eggs and cook 8 minutes. Transfer to ice bath; let stand until cool enough to handle. Peel and halve.
• Heat oil in a large straight-sided skillet over medium. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring, until tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add rice, curry powder, and 3/4 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Stir in 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover; cook 15 minutes.
• Season fish with salt and pepper; nestle into rice mixture. Cover and cook until fish is just cooked through, 9 to 12 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley. Break fish into large pieces and fluff rice with a fork. Top with egg halves; season with salt and pepper. Squeeze lemon wedges over top and sprinkle with paprika; serve.

ASIAN-SPICED KEDGEREE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• This is because the easiest way to poach salmon for this dish is to do it in the oven. So: pour the water into a roasting pan, add the lime leaves and then the salmon. Cover the pan with foil, put in the oven and cook for about 15 minutes, by which time the salmon should be tender. Remove the pan from the oven and drain the liquid off into a pitcher. Keep the fish warm simply by replacing the foil on the pan.
• Melt the butter in a wide, heavy saucepan that has a tight-fitting lid, and add the oil to stop the butter burning. Soften the onion in the pan and add the spices, then keep cooking till the onion is slightly translucent and suffused with soft perfume of the spices. Add the rice and stir with a wooden spoon so that it's all well coated. There's not enough onion to give a heavy coating: just make sure the rice is fragrantly slicked.
• Pour in the reserved liquid from the pitcher, about 2 1/4 cups, and stir before covering with the lid and cooking gently for 15 minutes. If your stove is vociferous you may need a flame tamer.
• At the end of the cooking time, when the rice is tender and has lost all chalkiness, turn off the heat, remove the lid, cover the pan with a dish towel and then replace the lid. This will help absorb any extra moisture form the rice. It is also the best way to let the rice stand without getting sticky or cold, which is useful when you've got a few friends and a few dishes to keep your eye on.
• Just before you want to eat, drain off any extra liquid that's collected in the dish with the salmon, then flake the fish with a fork. Add to it the rice, egg, cilantro, lime juice and a drop or 2 of fish sauce. Stir gently to mix - I use a couple of wooden paddles or spatulas - and taste to see if you want any more lime juice or fish sauce. Sprinkle over the zest from the 2 juiced halves of the lime and serve. I love it served just as it is in the roasting dish, but if you want to, and I often do (consistency is a requirement of a recipe but not of a cook), decant into large plate before you add the lime zest, then surround with lime segments and add the zest and a small handful of freshly chopped cilantro.
• This is one of those rare dishes that manages to be comforting and light at the same time. And - should you have leftovers, which I wouldn't count on - it's heavenly eaten, as all leftovers demand to be, standing up, straight from the fridge.