Whole Salmon Slashed And Stuffed With Basil Butter Food

WHOLE SALMON ON THE GRILL WITH FENNEL, LEMON, AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Fire up the grill, with the coals lined up under the fish for direct grilling.
• Sprinkle sea salt generously in the cavity of the fish and over the skin, then stuff it with the onions, lemons, fronds, and herb sprigs. Tie butcher string around the fish in three or four places to hold the stuffing in. In between the string, make deep incisions with your knife through the thickest part of the fish on both sides, all the way down to the spine. (The fish will cook more quickly, and the smoke flavor will get inside the fish better.) Brush both the fish and the grill lightly with oil, dust the salmon skin on both sides lightly with flour, and place the salmon on the grill.
• Grill over medium-hot direct heat, with the cover on and the vents open. When the skin is browned on 1 side, use 2 large metal spatulas to loosen the salmon from the grate and carefully turn over. Continue cooking until just cooked through and an instant read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the fish registers 135 degrees F to 140 degrees F, about 35 to 40 minutes total cooking time. Remove the fish from the grill and place it on a large platter. Allow the fish to cool for 5 minutes, then remove the butcher string and serve.

BAKED WHOLE SALMON

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the first eight ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes., Remove head and tail from salmon if desired. Place a double thickness of heavy-duty foil on a baking sheet (longer than the length of the fish). Grease foil. Place salmon on foil; sprinkle the cavity with salt. Pour herb sauce over fish. Fold foil over fish and seal tightly. , Bake at 375° for 60-75 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork., Place salmon on a serving platter and keep warm. Strain cooking juices, reserving 1/3 cup. In a large saucepan, saute green onions in butter until tender. Stir in flour until blended. Gradually stir in the water, wine and reserved cooking juices. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened., Reduce heat. Stir a small amount of hot liquid into egg yolks; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Add the cream, salt and pepper. Cook and stir until mixture reaches 160°. Serve with the salmon.

BAKED HERB STUFFED SALMON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C/gas 6).
• Cut 5 lengths of string and lay them out on the work surface next to each another, leaving gaps in between. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the work surface, and drizzle with olive oil. Lay 1 salmon fillet, skin side down, on top. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the salmon, then, using a fine grater, grate the zest of 1 lemon over the top. On top of that lay the marjoram, dill, and basil, broken up, and the olives.
• Season the flesh side of the other salmon fillet with salt and pepper, and grate over the second lemon. Place 1 fillet on top of the other, thin end to thick, then tie them together and trim the string. Put the fish parcel on an oiled baking tray, and scatter over any remaining bits of herb. Thinly slice the 2 lemons and place on top of and round the salmon. Drizzle with olive oil, then roughly chop the parsley and sprinkle over the top.
• Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes.