Crackling Salmon With Truffles Food

SALMON BAKED IN PUFF PASTRY WITH TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cut puff pastry into 2 equal size pieces slightly larger than your salmon. Place 1 piece of pastry on oiled or parchment paper lined cookie sheet and set side of salmon on top. Sprinkle with parsley. Lay sliced black truffles over salmon like scales trying to cover entire fish. Sprinkle the chopped hard boiled eggs over truffles and season with salt and pepper.
• Place other piece of pastry on top and seal edges and crimp with your fingers. Brush with egg wash and bake until pastry is golden brown, about 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes and then slice into 6 equal size pieces, garnish platter/plate with watercress and serve.

"CRACKLING" SALMON WITH TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Reserve 8 of the best-looking truffle slices.
• Butterfly each salmon piece horizontally with a sharp knife. Arrange 1 layer of truffle slices on bottom halves and replace tops to cover truffles. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper.
• Spread a kitchen towel on a work surface and fill a large bowl with warm water. Soak 1 rice-paper round (make sure there are no holes) in warm water until pliable, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, then transfer to towel. Arrange 1 chive and 1 reserved truffle slice in center of round and top with 1 salmon piece, rounded side down. Fold rice paper over short sides of salmon, then over long sides to enclose salmon, trimming excess with scissors if necessary. (Truffle slice and chive will show through.) Transfer, seam sides down, to a tray and keep covered with plastic wrap. Wrap and cover remaining salmon in same manner.
• Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté 4 salmon packages, seam sides up, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Turn salmon over and reduce heat to moderate. Cook until sides of salmon are firm to the touch, 4 to 6 minutes more, then transfer with a spatula to plates. Cook remaining salmon in same manner.
• Lightly brush with some truffle oil.

THE ULTIMATE MAKEOVER: SALMON EN CROûTE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Tip in the shallots and fry for 2-3 mins to soften, then add the mushrooms and garlic, and stir-fry over a high heat for another 3-4 mins, or until the mushrooms and shallots are golden and any liquid from the mushrooms has evaporated. Pour in the lemon juice - after a few seconds, that should have evaporated too. Remove from the heat, then stir in the watercress so it wilts in the warmth from the pan (see step 1). Stir in the dill and chives, and season with a little salt and pepper. Leave to cool.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. When the mushroom mix is cool, stir in the crème fraîche. Lay one of the filo sheets on the worktop with the short end facing you. Brush all over with a little of the remaining oil. Layer up 4 more of the filo sheets in the same way, brushing each with a little of the oil.
• Lay one of the salmon fillets, skin-side up, across the width of the filo, positioning it about one-third of the way up. Season it with pepper. Spoon and spread the cooled mushroom mix over the top of the fillet (see step 2). Lay the other salmon fillet on top, skin-side down. Season again. Fold the short end of pastry nearest to you over the salmon, then bring the other end over to completely enclose the salmon (see step 3), lifting it so the join can tuck under it. Fold both pastry ends over as neatly as you can.
• Brush the outside with a bit more of the remaining oil. Scrunch up the last sheet of filo, pressing it lightly on top in big folds (see step 4), then carefully brush with the last of the oil. Can be prepared 3-4 hrs ahead up to this point and chilled. Transfer the salmon parcel to the baking sheet. Bake for 25 mins until the pastry is crisp and golden. Check while it cooks and if the top starts to brown too quickly, lay a sheet of foil very loosely over it. Remove from the oven and let the salmon sit for 2-3 mins before slicing.

SMOKED SALMON RICOTTA TRUFFLES

Steps:

• stir together the mascarpone, ricotta, capers, salmon and 1/4 cup each of the parmesan and dill.
• refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• using two spoons, form the mixture into 1 inch balls and roll half in the remaining parmesan and the other half in the remaining dill.
• chill until firm, approximately 10-15 minutes.
• serve.
• prep time includes all the chilling time.