Scandinavian Salmon Pie Food

SCANDI SALMON PIE

Steps:

• Put the salmon in a bowl. Roughly crush the peppercorns and fennel using a pestle and mortar, then add to the salmon with the sugar, salt and half the dill. Mix well and leave to stand while you cook the wheat berries.
• Cook the wheatberries in 4 times their volume of water for 25 mins, or following pack instructions. Drain well and leave to cool. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Mix the onion with the lemon juice and set aside. Put the spinach in a colander. Pour over boiling water from the kettle to wilt the leaves, then drain well, squeeze out any excess water and pat dry. Tip the spinach, onion, lemon juice and sundried tomatoes onto the wheatberries and mix.
• Mix the crème fraîche, mustard, remaining dill and some seasoning in a small bowl. Fold through the wheatberry mixture.
• Unwrap a sheet of puff pastry and line a 20 x 30cm rectangular flan tin. (If you are using a straight-sided tin, line the base with a strip of baking parchment.) Spoon in half the wheatberry mixture and cover with the salmon. Spread the remaining mixture evenly over the top. Brush the edges of the pastry with egg, then lay the second sheet of pastry on top. Press the pastry edges together to seal, then trim the excess.
• Brush the top of the pastry liberally with egg, and bake for 40-45 mins until the pastry is crisp and rich golden. Leave to cool and take to the picnic in the tin covered in foil or cling film, then cut into thick slices to serve.

SCANDINAVIAN-STYLE RARE-COOKED SALMON WITH FAVA BEANS AND PEAS

Steps:

• Butter 4 individual, shallow, flame-proof casseroles and set aside. Trim and discard the thin belly section from the salmon fillets and season the fillets on both sides with salt and pepper. Place the salmon in the center of the casseroles and surround the fillets, in this order, with the peas, fava beans, snow peas, bacon, scallions and lettuce. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper. Lay the butter slices over the vegetables. (Recipe may be made ahead to this point several hours ahead; cover and chill.)
• Pour the fish fumet into the dishes and place each dish on top of a stove burner turned to high heat. Bring the fumet to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-high and cook for 5 minutes, until a metal skewer inserted into the center of the salmon for 5 seconds feels barely warm when touched to your lip; the salmon will be rare.
• Sprinkle the chopped mint over the vegetables and lay the mint sprigs on the salmon. Put the casseroles on serving plates and serve immediately.
• Remove the gills and eyes from the fish, or have your fish store do it. Cut the heads and bones across into 4-inch pieces. Put them in a shallow pan and cover with cold water: Let stand for 1 hour, changing the water twice. Drain.
• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, fennel, leek, peppercorns, salt, parsley and bay leaf. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook until the vegetables are softened but not browned, about 4 minutes. Add the fish bones and cook, stirring from time to time, until the bones and any flesh around the bones turn from translucent to white, about 12 minutes. Add the wine and water and bring to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes, skimming off the foam as it rises to the top. Remove from the heat and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Strain the fumet through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing firmly on the solids to extract as much of the flavorful liquid as possible. If you have more than 3 cups of fumet, place the liquid in a clean saucepan and boil until reduced to 3 cups. Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

MUSTARD-GRILLED SCANDINAVIAN SALMON

Steps:

• Brush a small baking-sheet with oil and lay the salmon on it. Mix the honey, mustard and dill together and spoon on top. Roast in an oven preheated to 400°F for 12 minutes.
• Eat with new potatoes and finely sliced cucumber in olive oil and lemon juice.

SALMON PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Season the salmon with salt and white pepper. In a saute pan, add the court bouillon and bring to a simmer. Add the salmon and poach for 6 to 8 minutes. Allow the salmon to cool in the water until tepid. Remove the salmon from the pan and discard the liquid. Flake the salmon into a mixing bowl.
• In another saute pan, heat the oil. When the oil is hot, add the onions. Season the onions with salt and white pepper. Saute for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the garlic and dill. Add the sauteed mixture to the salmon. Mix thoroughly. Add the potatoes, egg, and cream. Mix well. Season the mixture with salt and pepper.
• Cut the pie dough into 2 halves. Lightly dust the surface with flour. Roll out each half of dough to 12-inches in diameter and about 1/8-inch thick. Fold 1 circle of dough into fourths. Carefully lift the dough and place in a 10-inch deep-dish pie pan. Unfold the pie dough and spoon the salmon mixture into the pie shell. Place the second round of dough over the salmon mixture. Using a sharp knife, cut away the excess dough. Using your fingers, crimp the edges of the pie firmly to seal the dough completely. Bake the pie for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.
• Combine the flour and salt in a bowl. Add the lard and work it in with your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, working it in with your hands. Add only as much as you need to make a smooth ball of dough. Wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using.

SCANDINAVIAN SALMON CHEDDAR PIE

Steps:

• Beat eggs in large bowl; add milk, butter, 2 tablespoons of the parsley, onion, 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and mustard; mix well.
• Fold in cheese and salmon; pour into cooled pie shell.
• Bake at 425 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes or until just set and crust is golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
• Combine sour cream, cucumber, remaining 1 tablespoon parsley, dill, remaining 1 teaspoon lemon juice and pepper; mix well. Dollop each serving with sour cream mixture.

SCANDI-STYLE SALMON WITH PICKLE POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Put the salmon skin-side down in a small baking dish. Mix the salt, lemon zest, sugar and 2 tbsp of the dill and pat all over the salmon flesh. Leave for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile cook the potatoes in boiling salted water until tender then drain. Leave to cool to room temperature then mix with the rest of the ingredients and another tbsp chopped dill and season.
• Heat the oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Rinse the salmon and pat dry. Put on a small roasting tray and bake for 10-15 minutes until just cooked.
• Serve the salmon with the potato salad and a little extra dill if you like.

SCANDINAVIAN SALMON PIE

Steps:

• 1. Oven at 425. Beat eggs; add milk, butter, onion, parsley, lemon juice, Worcestershire, and mustard. Mix well.
• 2. Fold in cheese and salmon. Pour into cooled pie shell and bake for 20-25 minutes or until set and crust is golden.
• 3. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
• 4. Combine sauce ingredients; mix well. Serve this on side for each guest to use as desired.

LEMON PIE WITH SALTINE CRUST

Steps:

• Crush the crackers finely, but not to dust. You can use a food processor or your hands. Add the sugar, then knead in the butter until the crumbs hold together like dough. Press into an 8 inch pie pan. Chill for 15 minutes, then bake for 18 minutes or until the crust colors a little. While the crust is cooling (it doesn't need to be cold), beat the egg yolks into the milk, then beat in the citrus juice. It is important to completely combine these ingredients. Pour into the shell and bake for 16 minutes until the filling has set. The pie needs to be completely cold to be sliced. Serve with fresh whipped cream and a sprinkling of sea salt.