Description
Elegant French salmon en croute brings classic culinary sophistication to dinner tables with its buttery pastry and perfectly baked fish. Delicate layers of puff pastry embrace salmon, promising a delightful experience you’ll savor with each luxurious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 salmon fillets (500 grams / 17.6 ounces each)
- 500 grams (17.6 ounces) puff pastry
- 200 grams (7 ounces) cream cheese
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 50 grams (1.8 ounces) sea salt
- 25 grams (0.9 ounces) demerara sugar
- 2 tablespoons chopped dill
- 1 lemon (zest and juice)
Accompaniments and Pickle:
- 75 grams (2.6 ounces) watercress
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 cucumber (for pickle)
- 1 onion (for pickle)
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar (for pickle)
Instructions
- Dissolve salt and sugar mixture, gently coat salmon fillet to cure for 12-48 hours in refrigerator.
- Thoroughly rinse salmon under cold water, pat completely dry with paper towels, then refrigerate to firm up texture.
- Prepare cream cheese mixture by blending herbs, seasonings, and soft cheese until smooth and well-incorporated.
- Unfold puff pastry on clean surface, creating a flat base for salmon assembly.
- Carefully layer first salmon fillet onto pastry, spread cream cheese mixture evenly across surface.
- Position second salmon fillet on top of cream cheese layer, creating elegant stacked profile.
- Delicately fold pastry edges, sealing salmon completely and creating decorative crimped borders.
- Refrigerate assembled salmon en croute for 30 minutes to help pastry maintain structural integrity.
- Preheat oven to 220°C for initial high-temperature blast, then reduce to 180°C for even cooking.
- Brush pastry surface with egg wash for golden, glossy exterior.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until pastry turns rich golden brown and salmon reaches desired internal temperature.
- Allow dish to rest 10 minutes, enabling flavors to settle and making slicing easier.
- Slice into elegant portions and serve alongside tangy pickles or fresh herb garnish.
Notes
- Curing time matters. Shorter brining periods work for delicate salmon to prevent over-salting and maintain tender texture.
- Cream cheese filling allows easy customization. Incorporate fresh herbs like dill, chives, or tarragon for extra flavor complexity.
- Chilling pastry before and after assembly ensures crisp, flaky layers and prevents butter from melting during preparation.
- Consider alternative dietary needs. Use gluten-free puff pastry for celiac-friendly version or swap salmon with plant-based alternatives for vegetarian guests.
- Prep Time: 2 hrs
- Cook Time: Not specified (baking times not given)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 1420 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 11200 mg
- Fat: 90 g
- Saturated Fat: 35 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 50 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 95 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 70 g
- Cholesterol: 370 mg