Feuilletés de Saumon aux Asperges

Puff Pastry Cases with Salmon and Asparagus and a Lemon Butter Sauce

Image of feuilletes



SERVES 6

This combination or pastry, vegetables and fish is a typically modern creation in which each element is prepared separately. The vegetables are an integral part of the dish, rather than simply a garnish, and the sauce is the essence of simplicity (butter is whisked into lemon juice, seasoned and served). In all, this is the sort of light French cooking that many young chefs prefer.

PUFF PASTRY
300 g (10 oz) flour
150-170 ml (5-6 fl oz) water
5 ml (1 tsp) salt
30 ml (2 tbsp) melted butter
200 g (7 oz) butter
1 egg, sightly beaten, for glazing

LEMON BUTTER SAUCE
200 g (7 oz) butter
45 ml (3 tbsp) lemon juice, strained
Salt
White pepper

750 g (1.5 lb) fresh spinach
30 g (1 oz) butter
Salt and freshly ground pepper
450 g (1 lb) green asparagus

750 g (1.5 lb) boneless salmon fillet

15 g (0.5 oz) butter
Small bunch chives, chopped

Butter, softened, for baking sheet

Prepare the puff pastry.

Preheat the oven to 230 C (450 F) mark 8. Lightly brush a baking sheet with the softened butter. Sprinkle with water; set aside.

Prepare the pastry cases (see technique photographs): dust a work surface with flour. Roll out the puff pastry about 3 mm (1/8 inch) thick and cut into 6 rectangles, 10 cm (4 inches) long x 6.5 cm (2.5 inches) wide. Or, use an oval cutter of approximately the same dimensions, if available. Transfer the shapes to the baking sheet with a palette knife. Brush the tops with egg glaze. Be careful not to let the egg drip over the edges of the pastry, or it will not rise evenly. Refrigerate for 10 minutes. When chilled, brush again with egg glaze and bake for about 25 minutes, until puffed and golden. Leave to cool.

While the pastry is baking, cut the salmon into escalopes: working from tail to head, run your fingers along the surface of the salmon fillets to detect any small bones; remove them. Holding the knife at a shallow angle to the fish, cut the salmon into 6 equal portions, or escalopes. Set the salmon aside.

Stem the spinach and rinse the leaves in several changes of water, then coarsely chop it. Melt 30 g (1 oz) of the butter in a saucepan over medium heat, add the spinach, and cook, stirring frequently, until the moisture has evaporated. Season to taste with salt and pepper; cover to keep warm.

Snap off and discard the tough ends of the asparagus. Starting 2.5 cm (1 inch) below the tip, peel each stalk with a vegetable peeler. Tie the asparagus into several even bundles with fine string. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil. Add the asparagus and cook over high heat for 10-12 minutes, until tender. Drain and cover to keep warm.

Prepare the lemon butter sauce: cut the butter into small pieces. Bring the lemon juice to the boil in a small saucepan and reduce by half. Whisk in the butter little by little, until the sauce is creamy. Season to taste with salt and white pepper; keep warm off the heat in a saucepan of hot water.

Cook the salmon: season both sides of each escalope with salt and pepper. Heat 15 g (0.5 oz) of butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the salmon and sauté for 2-3 minutes on each side, until lightly cooked. To serve, cut each pastry rectangle in half horizontally. Place the bases on 6 serving plates. Make a bed of spinach on each pastry base and top with a piece of salmon. Arrange the asparagus spears on the plates. Pour the hot lemon butter over the salmon and asparagus. Sprinkle with chives. Top with the remaining puff pastry halves, tipped slightly backwards to resemble the half-open lid of a box. Serve immediately.







copyright (c) 1991 Le Cordon Blue