A better beetroot marinated salmon - Nigel Slater's beetroot marinated salmon with orange and dill (updated)
Better than Jamie I hear you chorus, better than
Saint Jamie ... impossible!
I'm afraid 'tis true. Not only is it better, it's
easier too.
This has all of the visual impact of Jamie's but for
me it has a more refined taste.
It is particularly nice, just sliced thickly on a
piece of buttered granary bread but would also be delicious with some
horseradish sauce and a salad
So there you have it, when it comes to beetroot
marinated salmon its Nigel 1 Jamie 0
Heres the recipe
Ask your fishmonger to scale and bone the salmon,
but to leave the skin on. It is worth checking it over for any tiny bones when
you get it home.
Serves 8-10
ingredients
a side of salmon boned, about 800g
demerera sugar 100g
coarse sea salt 175g
black peppercorns 10g
vodka 4 tbsp
dill a large bunch, about 30g
lemons 2
finely grated orange zest 2 tbsp
raw beetroot 600g
Method
Check the salmon for any remaining
bones, keeping an eye open for the tiny, almost invisible pin bones. These
can be removed with tweezers. Lay the salmon skin-side down on a stainless
steel enamel tin or glass dish. If the fish is too long, cut it in half.
Put the demerara sugar and salt in a mixing bowl.
Roughly grind the peppercorns and add the sugar and the vodka. Roughly chop the
dill and its stems, and add to the marinade. Finely grate the lemon zest and
add to the sugar mixture with the grated orange zest. Peel and grate the
beetroots, then stir into the other ingredients.
Spread the mixture over the fish and rub in well
with your hands. Wrap a piece of clingfilm over the fish and place a heavy
weight on top. (A small chopping board with a few cans on top will work.)
Refrigerate for between 18 and 36 hours
Pour off and discard any liquid that has seeped from
the marinade. Remove the cling film and scrape away the marinade, rinse lightly
under cold water and pat dry.
Slice the fish thinly, as you would smoked
salmon,and serve on bread, or crispbread with some cremefraiche with
horseradish or indeed with a salad like the one below
celeriac,
mustard and soured cream salad
gherkins 4
capers 1 tsp
wholegrain mustard 2 tsp
zest of half a lemon
orange zest, finely grated 2 tsp
caster sugar a pinch
dill, finely chopped 2 tbsp
celeriac, coarsely shredded 400g
capers 1 tsp
wholegrain mustard 2 tsp
zest of half a lemon
orange zest, finely grated 2 tsp
caster sugar a pinch
dill, finely chopped 2 tbsp
celeriac, coarsely shredded 400g
If celeriac is a step too far, then try cucumber or
lightly steamed and cooled potatoes instead. The point is to keep the flavours
sharp and crisp to contrast with the sweet earthiness of the salmon. This
recipe will appeal to anyone who doesn't like their Christmas starters too
rich.
Serves
4-6
soured
cream 300ml
Spoon the soured cream into a bowl. Roughly dice the
gherkins and stir into the dressing with the capers, mustard and grated lemon
and orange zest. Stir in a little salt, the sugar and the finely chopped dill.
Peel the celeriac and slice the flesh thinly (about
the thickness of a pound coin will do). Cut these into small pieces. Toss the
celeriac with the dressing. (If you do this immediately after the root is
sliced then it won't discolour.) Leave for an hour or more for the flavours to
marry, stir and serve with the fish. This will keep for 24 hours.
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