Salmon Wellington with dill sauce

 

Ingredients

• 1 

  side of salmon, about 900g, skinned

• A little olive oil

• 60 g 

  unsalted butter, softened

• Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

• Generous handful of basil leaves

• Small handful of dill leaves

• Sea salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

• 1 tbsp. 

  wholegrain mustard

• 500 g 

  shortcrust pastry

• Plain flour, to dust

• 1 

  egg yolk, beaten

• Dijon Dill Whipped Cream

  • 1 cup whipping or heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon dill, chopped 
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

• 
  

Directions

• 1. Step 1Check the salmon for pin bones, removing any that you find with tweezers, then cut in half. Line a baking tray with a lightly oiled piece of foil.
  2. Step 2Mix the softened butter with the lemon zest, basil, dill and some salt and pepper in a bowl, to make the filling.
  3. Step 3Pat the salmon fillets dry with kitchen paper, then season lightly with salt and pepper. Spread the herb butter over one fillet, on the boned side, and the mustard evenly on the other fillet. Sandwich the two salmon fillets together, in opposite directions so both ends are of an even thickness.
  4. Step 4Roll out the pastry thinly on a lightly floured surface to a rectangle, the thickness of a £1 coin and large enough to enclose the salmon. Put the salmon parcel in the centre of the pastry and brush the surrounding pastry with egg. Bring up the edges, trimming off any excess, and tuck them in before folding the rest of the pastry over to form a neat parcel. Carefully turn the whole thing over so that the seam is underneath and place on the prepared baking tray.
  5. Step 5Brush the pastry with beaten egg. Lightly score a herringbone or cross-hatch pattern using the back of a knife. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover loosely and chill for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas mark 6.
  6. Step 6Bake the salmon for 20-25 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown and crisp. To test if ready, insert a skewer into the middle. It should feel warm for medium cooked salmon. A piping hot skewer indicates that the fish is well done.
  7. Step 7Rest the salmon for 5 minutes, then cut into portions using a serrated knife. Serve with hollandaise sauce, new potatoes and broccoli or minted peas.

Recipe from Ramsay’s Best Menus by Gordon Ramsey (Salmon En Croute) 

While the salmon is baking, prepare the cream sauce. In a very cold (preferably metal) bowl, whisk the cream until peaks begin to form. Add in the mustard, dill, and salt and continue to whisk until stiff peaks form. Refrigerate until ready to use and serve alongside the salmon.