Hot Smoked Salmon With Peas And A Poached Egg Food

BLANCHED ASPARAGUS - POACHED EGG - FRESH SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• Half-fill a medium-large saucepan with water, season generously with salt and bring to the boil. Instead of putting a lid on, put a large bowl on top but don't let it touch the water. Put the butter, a pinch of salt and pepper and the juice of 1 lemon into the bowl.
• This is going to sound cheffy, but it's simple, so bear with me ... Tear off 8 sheets of good- quality cling film, each roughly 40cm square. Get yourself 4 teacups or small bowls and rub the rims with olive oil. Place a double layer of cling film on top of each one and carefully push it in so that it snugly lines the cups. Use your finger to lightly oil the inside - this will help your egg come out easily at the end. Put a tiny pinch of salt, pepper and chilli flakes into each cup then pick the celery and tarragon leaves and divide them between the cups too - try to help these flavours to spread up the sides, if you can.
• Carefully crack the egg into the cling film, then gently push the yolk down so the egg white surrounds it (without it breaking). Bring the cling film up into a bundle, then tie it in a knot and try to squeeze the knot down so it creates a perfect pouch and seals it (imagine a goldfish in a fairground plastic bag).
• Once the water is boiling, remove the bowl (the butter should be melted now) and place your eggs in the water along with the asparagus. It takes between 5 and 6 minutes at a gentle simmer for a large egg. Place the bowl or a lid back on top and after 3 or 4 minutes remove the asparagus to the bowl of lemony butter and quickly toss.
• Meanwhile, arrange 2 pieces of smoked salmon on each plate. Pull out one of your eggs after 5 minutes and have a little feel (it should have a similar texture to fresh mozzarella). If it still seems undercooked, pop it back in for another minute or so.
• Neatly divide the asparagus between your plates. Cut off the cling film knots with a pair of scissors, peel away the rest, then carefully lift the eggs with a tablespoon and serve them right on top of your asparagus. If you've done a good job, not only will you have perfect poached eggs, but the herbs and seasonings will have cooked into the egg and become one, like a stained glass window, which is really cute. Poke a knife into the egg to let the yolk run, and serve with wedges of lemon on the side.

HOT-SMOKED SALMON & EGG SALAD

Steps:

• First, hard-boil the eggs. Put them into boiling water and simmer for 7 mins, if you like a slightly runny yolk, or 8 mins for a set yolk. Allow to cool, then peel and quarter.
• Divide the greens equally between plates with the tomatoes, cucumber, avocado and spring onions. Place an egg on top of each salad and flake over some of the hot-smoked salmon.
• For the vinaigrette, whisk the ingredients together, adding some freshly ground black pepper, then mix in 1 tbsp water and spoon a little over each dish. Serve with warm soda bread or wholegrain rolls for a delicious lunch or supper.

SMOKED SALMON SANDWICH WITH POACHED EGG

Steps:

• Fill a large saucepan with water, 1 1/2 inches below the rim. Put the pan on the stove over high heat until it reaches about 190 degrees F (88 degrees C) or until you start to see bubbles at the bottom of the pan. Pour white vinegar and salt into the water and stir to distribute. Reduce heat to medium-low.
• Crack egg into a custard cup. Carefully place the custard cup into the water and slowly tilt until egg is fully submerged, being careful egg does not fall into the water. Set a timer for 6 minutes and keep an eye on the egg as it cooks.
• Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Pour balsamic vinegar onto a flat plate and lay 1 piece of bread in the vinegar until coated. Repeat to coat the remaining piece. Place both pieces, vinegar-side down, in the hot skillet and cook until slightly charred, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Remove 1 piece bread to a plate, vinegar-side up. Top with garlic powder, pepper, and salmon. Carefully remove poached egg with a slotted spoon and place on top of smoked salmon. Top with remaining piece of bread, vinegar-side down.

HOT SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• The night before serving, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons salt, the peppercorns, and lemon zest in a small bowl. Place the salmon fillets skin-side down on a large flat ceramic or glass dish. Spread the mixture evenly on top of the salmon. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• At least 1 1/2 hours before you plan to cook the salmon, soak the wood chips in water.
• Thirty minutes before you¿re ready to cook, heat the charcoal. Place a double layer of coals on one side of the grill, light them, and allow them to burn until the coals are gray on the outside. (I use a charcoal chimney to light the coals.) Sprinkle half the soaked wood chips on the hot coals (you will see lots of smoke). On the other side of the grill, place the foil pan and pour in 1 cup water. Place the cooking grate over the coals and the pan.
• Scrape most of the sugar mixture off the salmon and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt. Place the salmon skin-side down on the side of the grill directly over the foil pan. Put the lid on the grill, making sure the top and bottom vents are open. Smoke the salmon for 10 minutes. Add the remaining wood chips directly on the coals and cook for 5 to 10 more minutes, depending on the thickness of the salmon, until it's firm to the touch and barely cooked. Don't overcook the salmon or it will be dry!
• Transfer the salmon to a clean platter and immediately cover tightly with aluminum foil. Allow to rest for 10 minutes. Remove and discard the skin, if desired, and serve hot, at room temperature, or cold with the Fresh Dill Sauce.
• Place the mayonnaise, sour cream, yogurt, cream cheese, scallions, dill, parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Puree for a few seconds, until well mixed. Add the cucumber and puree for another few seconds, until combined. Pour into a container and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to develop.

SMOKED SALMON CODDLED EGGS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Brush the insides of six or eight ramekins (depending on how many you're serving) or one 25 x 30cm ceramic pie dish with the melted butter. Crack one egg into each ramekin (or all into the dish), being careful not to break the yolks. Drizzle over the cream. Season. Scatter over the capers, salmon and cheese. To serve six, use the minimum stated amounts.
• If using ramekins, put on a baking tray. Bake for 10 mins (or 12 mins if using a large dish) until the eggs are just cooked but the yolks runny. Meanwhile, toast or grill the sourdough and cut into soldiers. Remove the eggs from the oven and serve with the soldiers for dipping.

SMOKED SALMON & PEA FRITTATA

Steps:

• Thickly slice the potatoes and cook in a pan of boiling salted water until just tender, about 10 minutes. Drain well and leave to cool slightly.
• Cut the salmon into wide strips. Crack the eggs into a bowl, beat with a fork until lightly foamy, then stir in the smoked salmon, dill, peas and plenty of salt and pepper. Finally, stir in the potatoes.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan, carefully pour in the egg mixture and cook over a fairly low heat for 10-15 minutes, until the egg is starting to set just under the surface.
• Put a plate that is slightly larger than the top of the pan on top and invert the frittata onto it. Slide it back into the pan and cook for a further 5 minutes to brown the underside. Slide on to a plate and leave to cool for 5 minutes before cutting into wedges. A tomato and chive salad tastes very fresh with this.

PASTA WITH SALMON & PEAS

Steps:

• Bring a pan of water to the boil and cook the fusilli according to the pack instructions.
• Meanwhile, heat a knob of butter in a saucepan, then add the shallot and cook for 5 mins or until softened.
• Add the peas, salmon, crème fraîche and 50ml water. Crumble in the stock cube.
• Cook for 3-4 mins until cooked through, stir in the chives and some black pepper. Then stir through to coat the pasta. Serve in bowls.

SMOKED SALMON WITH POACHED EGGS AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Whisk the dressing ingredients together.
• Assemble this recipe on individual dinner plates. Put a piece of toast on each plate. Arrange the salmon and asparagus on each piece of toast. Top with the egg. Drizzle the dressing over the egg and asparagus. Garnish with dill.