Savory Salmon Puff Food

SALMON PUFFS

Steps:

• Heat oil in deep fryer or in deep heavy saucepan until hot but not smoking.
• In a bowl, separate salmon with a fork.
• Add flour, egg, parsley, salt,lemon juice, and black pepper.
• Mix thoroughly.
• Add baking powder to 1/4 c. milk and with a fork beat until foamy
• Pour this mixture into salmon and mix until well blended.
• Using 2 teaspoons, scoop up mixture with one spoon and with the other spoon, slide mixture into the hot oil.
• The puffs will cook quickly and are done as soon as they are brown.
• Remove puffs from oil with a slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain.
• Serve immediately with tartar sauce or cocktail sauce.

SMOKED SALMON AND HERB PUFF PASTRY TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F with a rack in the center. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Lightly flour a work surface and gently unfold the puff pastry dough. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a 10-by-12-inch rectangle. Score a 1-inch border along all four sides with a sharp knife then prick the area inside the border all over with a fork. This allows steam to release and a rim to rise around the tart.
• Transfer the puff pastry to the prepared baking sheet and bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until golden brown and puffy, about 18 minutes total. Remove the pastry from the baking sheet and allow it to cool on a cutting board or wire rack for 10 minutes. (see Cook's Note)
• While the pastry is baking, whip the cream cheese, yogurt, lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Fold in the capers, lemon zest, 2 tablespoons chopped dill and 2 tablespoons chopped chives and set aside.
• Just before serving, evenly spread the cream cheese filling over the baked pastry with an offset spatula, leaving the 1-inch border exposed. Arrange the smoked salmon and cucumber on top and sprinkle the tart with the dill fronds, remaining 1 tablespoon chives and some black pepper.

SAVORY SALMON PUFF

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine the softened cream cheese and mayo.
• Add in salmon, lemon juice (if using) bell pepper, olives, celery, green onion and dill; mix well to combine.
• Season with seasoning salt and pepper.
• Cover and chill overnight.
• Set oven to 400 degree.
• Place one thawed pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface; roll out to a 12x10-inch rectangle.
• Transfer to a lightly greased baking sheet.
• Brush the edges of the sheet with egg.
• Spread the salmon mixture over the pastry up to 1-inch from edges.
• Roll the second sheet out to the same size as the first sheet.
• Place over the filling, matching the edges and crimp to seal.
• Score the top of pastry diagonally in both directions at 1-inch intervals.
• Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until deep golden brown.
• Cut into slices with a serrated knife and serve warm.

SALMON WELLINGTON

Steps:

• Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Leave the salmon in the refrigerator.
• Melt the butter in a small bowl or saucepan. Stir in the Dijon, lemon zest, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large, nonstick skillet. Add the spinach in large handfuls, cooking until it wilts, about 1 minute. Stir in the garlic, thyme, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Stir in the Parmesan. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• In a small bowl, lightly beat the egg yolk with 1 teaspoon water to act as an egg wash. Set aside.
• Place the puff pastry on a lightly floured work surface and roll it into a 12x14-inch rectangle. With a sharp knife, cut the puff pastry in half crosswise so you are left with two rectangles that are 12 x 7 inches each.
• Remove the salmon fillets from the refrigerator and place on a plate. Brush the tops of the fillets liberally with the butter mixture, then place each fillet, butter-side down, in the center of a piece of puff pastry. Spoon half of the cooled vegetables over the top.
• Fold one side of the puff pastry over the top of the fillet like a flap, so that it partially covers it, then brush the top of the flap with egg wash. Fold the next side, adhering it to the first if the flaps are large enough to touch (the egg wash should act as a "glue"), then brush its top with egg wash. Repeat until all 4 sides are folded over. It should be as if you are wrapping up the salmon like a delicious present. Don't stress over the order of the flaps. As long as it's well sealed and covers the salmon, you're golden. Carefully flip the salmon over and transfer it to the prepared baking sheet, with the folded side underneath. Repeat with the second fillet.
• Brush the tops of the puff pastry with egg wash, then with a sharp knife, score shallow, diagonal lines in each direction in a crosshatch pattern.
• Bake the salmon for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the pastry turns golden brown. Let cool a few minutes on the baking sheet. Serve hot.

PUFF PASTRY-WRAPPED SALMON

Steps:

• For the salmon: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
• Heat the oil in a heavy saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and cook until translucent and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook until the liquid evaporates, about 3 minutes. Add the spinach and wilt for 4 minutes. Season the mixture with salt and pepper. Let cool.
• Dust a flat working surface with flour. Using a rolling pin, roll out the sheets of puff pastry into 1/4-inch thickness (each 12 by 12 inches). Put the pastry sheets side-by-side so they overlap slightly, by about 1/2 inch. Brush the overlapping strip with the beaten egg, stick both sheets together at the strip and seal with a fork. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
• Spoon the cooled mushroom-spinach mixture over one side of the puff pastry rectangle. To make an even rectangle out of the salmon fillet, you can cut the top portion off of the belly and add it to the tail part. Place the fillet over the mushroom-spinach mixture. Season the salmon heavily with salt and pepper. Fold the other side of the rectangle over the filling and seal by brushing the edge with egg wash and crimping as you would a pie crust (you can use a fork; I crimped like a pie crust with my fingers). Fold the remaining 2 open edges of pastry under the salmon fillet. Brush everything with the egg wash.
• Bake until the puff pastry is crisp and golden in color, 25 minutes. Let stand for about 8 minutes before slicing.
• For the dill sauce: Put the clam juice in a heavy saucepot and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and reduce to 1/2 cup. Add the Mexican crema and heavy cream and reduce to 1 cup. Add the flour and whisk while boiling until thickened. Add the dill and season with salt and pepper.
• Slice the salmon into 1 1/4 to 1 1/2-inch slices. Serve immediately with the dill sauce.

PUFF PASTRY SALMON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Season salmon fillet with salt, garlic powder and onion powder. Divide 1/2 the spinach between 2 sheets of puff pastry and mound in the center. Place salmon on top of spinach. Spread pesto over salmon and top with remaining spinach. Moisten edges of puff pastry with water (or can use an egg wash), fold to center and seal the seams.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden.

SALMON PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Combine smoked salmon, feta cheese, black pepper and garlic.
• Roll out puff pastry on lightly floured surface to form a 12x12 inch sheet. Cut sheet into 16 3x3-inch squares. Place a spoonful of salmon filling in the center of each square. Pull together corners of each square to form 16 small packets. Brush packets with egg whites and place on prepared baking sheets. (The puffs can be frozen at this point. See Editor's Note.)
• Bake in preheated oven until pastry is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Serve warm.

SALMON CREAM CHEESE PUFFS

Steps:

• Thaw puff pastry sheet. Cut into 6 squares.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Mix salmon, cream cheese, sour cream, parsley, green onions, seasoning, hot sauce and salt & pepper.
• Scoop about 1/4 to 1/2 cup salmon mixture onto each puff pastry square.
• Bring corners of puff pastry together and pinch closed.
• Combine egg & water for an egg wash and brush on top of puff pastry.
• Cook in 425 oven for 20 minutes.

COULIBIAC (SALMON AND RICE IN PUFF PASTRY)

Steps:

• Cook rice until tender. Set aside.
• Melt butter in skillet over medium-low heat.
• Add leek; sauté until beginning to soften, about 4 minutes.
• Add mushrooms. Cover skillet; cook until mushrooms release their juices, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
• Uncover skillet. Increase heat to medium-high; sauté until liquid evaporates, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer to bowl. Add rice. Season with salt and pepper. Cool completely.
• Butter large baking sheet.
• Cut one pastry sheet into 4 equal squares. Divide rice mixture among centers of squares.
• Set salmon atop rice. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Bring pastry corners up around salmon (pastry will not enclose salmon completely.)
• Cut remaining pastry into 4 equal squares. Lay 1 square atop each salmon fillet, tucking corners under bottom pastry to enclose salmon completely.
• Pinch edges together to seal, brushing with egg mixture.
• Arrange salmon packages, seam side down, on prepared baking sheet. Cover and chill 30 minutes. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Keep chilled.).
• Preheat oven to 400°F Brush top of pastry with egg mixture.
• Bake until golden about 30 minutes.

SALMON IN PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place the salmon in large baking pan, pour the white wine over the salmon, cover and bake for 1 hour.
• Warm the oil in a small non-stick pan and, when it is hot, sauté the onion and garlic over a medium-high heat, stirring, until it has begun to soften. Set aside until needed.
• Remove the salmon from the pan and allow it to cool.
• Break the salmon into small pieces and combine it with the sour cream, onion, garlic and dill, and mix until all the ingredients are well-combined.
• Lay one sheet of puff pastry on a greased baking sheet, and spread the salmon mixture over the pastry leaving a 1/2 inch border along all sides.
• Top with the remaining puff pastry sheet, and crimp and seal the edges.
• Brush the top of the pie with egg wash (1 egg white mixed with 1 teaspoon water) and bake it for approximately 1 hour or until the top has begun to lightly brown.
• Notes: Because salmon obviously vary in size, use your culinary judgement when adding the sour cream. Add a little at a time. You don't want the filling to be too liquidy but you do want it moist. If you have extra puff pastry, you can make decorative shapes on the top of the pie.

SALMON PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Mash bones and flake ham with juices.
• Add remaining ingredients combining well.
• Pack lightly into 6 well buttered custard cups or small casseroles.
• Place custard cups in a pan of hot water.
• Bake for 30 minutes.
• Serve with your favourite tomato sauce.