Hot Smoked Salmon With Salted Yogurt And Fennel Food

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.

HOT-SMOKED SALMON WITH SALTED YOGURT AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Mix yogurt and 1 Tbsp. lemon juice in a small bowl; season with salt.
• Mix mustard, capers, and 2 Tbsp. oil in another small bowl. Set dressing aside.
• Cut fennel stems away from bulb, then cut fronds away from stems; you'll use each part, but they're prepped separately. Thinly slice stems crosswise and place in a medium bowl. Coarsely tear fennel fronds until you have about 1 cup and add to bowl. Remove tough outer layers from fennel bulb; discard. Slice bulb in half, then thinly slice crosswise; add to bowl. Add 1 Tbsp. oil and remaining 1 Tbsp. lemon juice, season with salt, and toss to coat.
• Divide seasoned yogurt among plates and use a spoon to spread it out. Using your hands, break salmon into big flakes and arrange over yogurt. Spoon mustard dressing over salmon and scatter fennel salad on top. Drizzle with more oil and season with lots of pepper.

HOT SMOKED SALMON WITH FENNEL SALAD & LEMON MAYO

Steps:

• Mix together the lemon juice, mayonnaise, a little of the dill and some seasoning, then spoon into a ramekin. In a large bowl, mix together the remaining dill, fennel and cucumber, season, then drizzle over the vinegar and oil.
• Put the watercress on 2 plates and top with the fennel salad. Flake the salmon on the side and serve with the lemon mayo.

HERB SMOKED PACIFIC SALMON WITH SHAVED FENNEL AND DILL SALAD

Steps:

• This is a simple dish to prepare but timing is crucial. The cure can be made in quantity and stored refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. It is imperative that the salmon not stay in the cure for longer than 30 minutes before grilling or the surface will become dry and tough. It can cure for as short a time as 15 minutes. In volume situations, the salmon can be undercooked slightly and flashed in a hot oven to just heat through just before serving. The fennel needs to be shaved paper thin and ideally done just before serving. Do not store shaved fennel in ice water unless absolutely necessary - - it loses its fresh, aromatic flavor. Once shaved it can be held covered and refrigerated for up to 3 hours without browning.
• Garnish: Daikon or Sunflower sprouts, rinsed fresh salmon roe and basil oil
• In a saucepan over high heat, combine the salt, sugar, coriander and fennel seeds, peppercorns and bay leaves. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the dill and let cool completely. Place the salmon fillets in a baking dish large enough to hold them in a single layer. Pour on the cooled wine mixture and let the salmon "cure" for 30 minutes only, turning once. Meanwhile prepare a charcoal fire along with some soaked hardwood chips or shavings. Lightly oil the grill.
• Remove the salmon from the "cure" and drain off any excess liquid. It is fine if spices or dill adhere to the salmon.
• Lightly brush the salmon with some olive oil. Place hardwood chips on coals, cover and smoke/cook the salmon over medium coals for 5 to 6 minutes or until just done. Be careful not to overcook the salmon or it will become dry and lose its wonderful texture. It should still be translucent in the center. To serve: Toss the fennel and the cucumber together and dress to taste with Walnut-Dill Vinaigrette. Arrange attractively on top of the endive leaves on chilled plates. Place salmon on top and garnish with the sprouts, salmon roe and drizzles of the basil oil around the plate. Salmon can be served warm or at room temperature.

FENNEL-SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• Place wood chips in a bowl; cover with several inches of cold water and let soak for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat an outdoor charcoal grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate. Sprinkle wood chips over coals and close grill lid, leaving top vents open. When smoke rises from the vents, shut them, open the grill, and place fennel slices directly on the grates to create a bed.
• Generously season salmon fillets with salt and black pepper. Place salmon on top of fennel slices. Close the grill lid, leaving the vents shut. Cook until salmon is tender and starting to flake, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from grill and let rest for 5 minutes. Scrape fennel from the grill and place atop salmon while it rests or discard it (see Editor's Note).
• Combine tomatoes, olive oil, lemon juice, fennel fronds, sugar, salt, and black pepper in a bowl. Spoon tomato mixture over salmon and serve.