Salmon Samphire Charred Cucumber Salad Food

SMOKED SALMON WITH CREAMY CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• Thinly slice the cucumber on a mandoline and place in a colander over a bowl. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and allow the cucumbers to sit for 5 minutes. Squeeze out the excess water and place the cucumbers in a clean medium bowl. Add the sour cream, dill and 1/4 teaspoon salt and stir with a rubber spatula to combine.
• Lay the smoked salmon on one half of a platter lightly, so there is movement to the plate, leaving open the other half of the platter. Pile the cucumber mixture on a quarter of the platter or spoon into a bowl that fits on the platter. Serve the toasted pumpernickel bread on the other quarter of the platter.

SALMON, SAMPHIRE & CHARRED CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Tip the seaweed flakes, chilli, sugar, lime zest and 1 tsp sea salt into a bowl and mix together. Lay the salmon flesh-side up on a tray lined with foil and scatter over the seaweed seasoning. Cover the tray with cling film and chill for 1 hr.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 6. Drizzle the salmon with a little olive oil and roast in the oven for 25-30 mins or until just cooked. Remove from the oven and leave to cool at room temperature.
• While the salmon is cooling, heat a heavy frying pan or griddle. Brush the cut side of the cucumber with a little oil, place cut-side down in the pan and sear for 2 mins or until charred. Don't worry if it blackens - the flavour will be great. When the cucumber is ready, remove from the heat and season with a little salt. Slice into chunky wedges and tip into a large salad bowl. Add the chilli, chopped ginger, samphire and sesame oil and toss everything together
• Flake the salmon into big bite-sized pieces and add to the salad bowl along with the leaves. Gently toss the salad, being careful not to break up the salmon too much, then tip out onto a large platter.

CRISPY-SKIN SALMON PROVENCAL WITH CHARRED RED CABBAGE SALAD

Steps:

• Brush 1 tablespoon Dijon all over the flesh side of each piece of salmon, then sprinkle each with salt, pepper and 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence.
• Heat a large nonstick pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Place the salmon in the pan skin-side down and let it sizzle until the skin is golden brown and crispy, 6 to 7 minutes. Gently flip with a fish spatula. Add 1 tablespoon butter to the pan and let the salmon cook until the flesh is golden brown and the internal temperature is 130 degrees F, 2 to 3 minutes more. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and the lemon juice, then remove from the heat. Serve the salmon on top of the Charred Cabbage Salad. Spoon the lemon pan sauce over the salmon and garnish with the crispy onions.
• Preheat the grill or a grill pan for cooking at high heat.
• Drizzle the cabbage and onion liberally with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the cabbage and onion until the cabbage is slightly wilted and super charred and the onion is soft and charred, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and set aside to cool until cool enough to handle. Remove the stems of the cabbage and roughly chop the cabbage; transfer to a medium bowl. Roughly chop the onion and add to the bowl along with the olives, red pepper, orange segments and juice, lemon juice, olive oil and salt and pepper. Toss to combine and adjust seasoning if necessary.

SALMON SALAD SANDWICHES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice, dill, salt and pepper until smooth. Add the salmon, carrot and celery and mix well. Place a lettuce leaf and about 1/2 cup salmon salad on each bun and top with tomato.

CRISPY SALMON WITH CUCUMBER SALAD AND SPICY MAYO

Steps:

• Whisk together the vinegar, lime juice, sesame oil and a large pinch of salt in a large bowl. Thinly slice the cucumbers lengthwise about 1/8-inch thick with a mandoline or vegetable peeler. Add the cucumbers to the bowl with the dressing; add the cilantro and peanuts and toss until evenly coated. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt, if needed. Stir together the mayonnaise and chile-garlic sauce in a small bowl until smooth. Set both aside for serving.
• Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Season the salmon fillets with a large pinch of salt. Place the arrowroot or cornstarch in a medium shallow bowl or baking dish and whisk in the cayenne and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Dredge the salmon fillets until each side is well coated.
• Once the oil is shimmering and hot, carefully add the salmon. Cook until well browned and just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
• Give the cucumber salad a toss, then transfer to a serving bowl. Place each salmon fillet on a plate, drizzle with the spicy mayo and serve with the cucumber salad.

GRILLED SALMON WITH SMASHED CUCUMBER-DATE SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare the salmon: Prepare a charcoal fire in an outdoor grill (alternatively, cook the salmon indoors on a grill pan); the coals should be medium-hot and the rack should be positioned about 6 inches from the fire. Place the salmon fillets on a cutting board, skin-side down. Cut down the center of each fillet lengthwise along the center seam. Cut through the flesh but not the skin. Draw the salmon flesh apart at the incision, flattening the fillets, leaving them skin-side down. Fold each fillet into a horseshoe shape, bending it back onto itself, so it resembles a boneless salmon steak. Brush each piece of fish lightly on both sides with extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper.
• Grill the salmon just until the flesh firms and grill marks appear, about 2 1/2 minutes on the first side and about 1 1/2 minutes on the second side. Rotate each fillet one quarter-turn (90 degrees) and grill just long enough to mark the fillets, completing a cross-hatch pattern, less than 1 minute. Turn the fillets over and repeat the grilling and rotating procedure until the other sides show the cross-hatch grill markings. Remove the fish from the grill and reserve. (The salmon can be grilled up to 1 hour in advance of the meal.)
• Prepare the salad: Roll the cucumber pieces up in a clean linen napkin or towel, and then smash them, pressing down hard with the heels of your hands while ensuring the towel doesn't unroll, to release the juices. Transfer the crushed cucumbers to a cutting board, and then coarsely chop. Combine the cucumbers, sliced fennel, dates, walnuts, chives and some of the fennel fronds in a salad bowl and mix gently.
• Finish cooking the salmon and dress the salad: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange the salmon fillets in a baking dish, brush each one lightly with extra-virgin olive oil and roast about 3 1/2 minutes for medium-rare.
• Meanwhile, dress the cucumber salad with the lemon juice and 4 tablespoons of fruity olive oil. Then season with sea salt and pepper. Toss the salad lightly, and then arrange equal portions on each of six plates. Top each portion of salad with a grilled salmon fillet. Drizzle a little fruity olive oil on top of each portion, garnish each plate with fennel fronds and serve.