Rachael's Daytime Talk Show
Salmon en Croute -- 09/29/11

Salmon en Croute

Ingredients

  • 3 cups chicken stock
  • 1 cup wild rice
  • 1 tablespoon EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus a drizzle
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 3/4 cup white mushrooms, very thinly sliced
  • 1 small, thin leek, thinly sliced, washed and dried
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped thyme
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 small handful of dill, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup white vermouth or dry white wine
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1 sheet puff pastry, such as DuFour brand, defrosted
  • 4 6-ounce skinless salmon filets
  • 1 egg, beaten with splash of water

Yields: 4

Preparation

Bring chicken stock to a boil, stir in rice and reduce heat to simmer. Cover and cook 40-45 minutes until wild rice blooms and is tender. Drain and cool on a baking sheet then transfer to a mixing bowl.

Step

In a skillet, heat EVOO over medium-high heat, a turn of the pan. Melt in butter then add mushrooms and sauté to soften, 5-6 minutes. Add leeks, thyme and dill, and season with salt and pepper. Cook 3-4 minutes more, deglaze with vermouth or wine. Add lemon juice and transfer to the mixing bowl with rice. Stir to combine.

Preheat oven to 425°F. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Gently roll out the puff pastry sheet with a sprinkle of flour. Cut 4 rectangles about 6x8 inches.

Step

Heat a drizzle of EVOO in large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Season the salmon filets with salt and pepper, and add to the hot pan. Brown the fish 2 minutes on the first side and 1 minute on the flip side. Remove from heat.

Step

Pile some rice and mushroom topping onto each pastry rectangle in small even mounds leaving an edge all around for wrapping. Place a piece of salmon on top. Wrap and seal the bundles of salmon and set them on the baking sheet. Brush with egg wash.

Bake 15 minutes or until deeply golden. Serve with Beurre Blanc, optional, and asparagus or haricots verts alongside.