Poached Salmon Swimming On Fennel With Saffron And Clams Recipes

SALMON WITH FENNEL

Steps:

• Have the fishmonger cut the head and tail off the salmon and butterfly it, removing all the bones. You should have about 7 pounds of salmon.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Saute the onions and fennel in the olive oil for 10 minutes on medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Add the thyme leaves, fennel fronds, orange zest, orange juice, salt, and pepper and saute for 5 more minutes, until the onions and fennel are tender. Taste for salt and pepper.
• Lay the salmon, skin side down, on a cutting board and sprinkle both sides generously with salt and pepper. Spread the fennel filling over half of the salmon. Pull the other half up and over the filling, enclosing it. Tie the salmon every 2 inches with kitchen string to secure the stuffing.
• Place a sheet pan lined with parchment paper in the oven for 5 minutes to heat it. Carefully transfer the salmon to the hot sheet pan and bake it for exactly 30 minutes (10 minutes for each 1-inch of thickness). Do not overbake!
• Allow to cool slightly, then remove the strings. To serve, cut into thick slices with a very sharp knife. This salmon is delicious hot or at room temperature.
• Note: If you're making this in advance, be sure to cool the filling before stuffing the salmon. Refrigerate until ready to roast.

WHOLE POACHED SALMON IN ASPIC WITH CITRUS AND WILD FENNEL

Steps:

• Make court-bouillon by combining 5 quarts water, 2 1/2 cups wine, bay leaves, celery, onions, carrots, parsley, peppercorns, salt, and lemons in a large fish poacher with rack in, at least 24 inches long and 4 1/2 inches deep. Cover; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer; cook 30 minutes. Turn off heat, and let cool for 15 minutes.
• Cut a length of cheesecloth into three 34-by-18-inch pieces, and overlap them to create a 30-by-34-inch-wide piece of cheesecloth. Rinse salmon with cool running water; pat dry. Wrap salmon in cheesecloth, tying the ends closed with kitchen twine, and tying loosely once around the middle. Using ends as handles, place salmon into poacher, and add enough water to just cover salmon.
• Cover; bring to bare simmer over medium heat. Poach salmon 30 minutes. Lift rack enough so fish is slightly raised out of water; poke an instant-read thermometer into back of widest part of fish. Salmon is done when internal temperature reads 135 degrees, which may take up to 1 hour. Turn off heat; let stand in poacher 15 minutes. Lift rack with salmon out of water and onto large platter. Do not unwrap salmon or remove from rack; let cool to room temperature, about 1 hour.
• To make aspic glaze, strain 10 cups court-bouillon through fine sieve lined with cheesecloth into large stockpot. Add egg whites and remaining cup wine. Whisk over medium heat until mixture begins to simmer, about 10 minutes. Stop whisking, and let simmer 15 minutes more, or until broth is clear and all the foam has risen to surface. Remove foam with slotted spoon, and strain broth through very fine sieve lined with double thickness of cheesecloth, which has been soaked in ice water and wrung of excess.
• Transfer broth to large saucepan. Bring to boil, reduce to simmer, and cook until reduced to 4 1/2 cups. Meanwhile, sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup cold water in small bowl; let stand 10 minutes. Warm gelatin over gently simmering double boiler; stir until dissolved. Stir into broth; transfer to large bowl. (The less gelatin used, the better.)
• When salmon has cooled, gently turn bottom side up. Unwrap; do not remove cheesecloth. With dull side of paring knife, scrape off skin, and remove brown fatty bits underneath. Using cheesecloth to cradle salmon, turn the presentation side up; repeat skinning process. Remove and dispose of cheesecloth. Transfer salmon, still on rack, to refrigerator. When chilled, thicken aspic glaze by stirring over ice bath. Aspic should just be thick enough to coat; if it thickens too much, stir it over a double boiler until viscous again.
• Arrange salmon (still on rack) on metal rack over baking sheet. Ladle 1 1/2 cups aspic over salmon to coat. Chill salmon 20 minutes; repeat glazing process. While salmon chills again, put thin layer of aspic in bottom of serving platter. Carefully transfer salmon from poaching rack to the platter. Decorate salmon with your choice of garnishes, temporarily securing citrus slices with toothpicks. Over each garnish ladle a little aspic; chill once more. Remove toothpicks before presenting.

POACHED OYSTERS IN FENNEL-SAFFRON SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add fennel and sauté until golden, about 10 minutes. Add 1 cup water; cover and cook until fennel is very tender, about 20 minutes. Puree fennel mixture in processor. Set aside.
• Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and saffron; sauté 1 minute. Add clam juice, cream, and Pernod and bring to simmer. Add fennel puree and bring to simmer. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Refrigerate uncovered until cold. Cover and keep refrigerated. Simmer before continuing.) Add oysters with their liquor to cream mixture and stir to heat through. Ladle soup into bowls.

POACHED SALMON SWIMMING ON FENNEL WITH SAFFRON AND CLAMS

Steps:

• Saute Fennel and Garlic in olive oil for 8-10 minutes till tender and lightly golden.
• Add saffron and toss to release the beautiful yellow color and aroma.
• Add clam juice, wine, and clam juice for can clam sauce bring to simmer.
• Place fillet on top of fennel mixture and spoon some of the mixture on top and cover pan.
• Simmer low heat a barely simmer for 10 minutes. Less time if very thin fillets.
• Add white clam sauce heat 2 minutes.
• Adjust seasoning.
• Garnish with the fronds of the fennel and serve over mashed potatoes, rice or pasta with lots of crisp bread to soak up the juice.

FENNEL POACHED SALMON WITH RED CURRANT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a fish poacher place salmon and add water just to cover. Remove salmon to a plate. To poacher add onion, carrot, celery, fennel, lemon juice, white wine, peppercorns, salt and bring mixture to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Season salmon on both sides with salt and pepper, and add it back to poaching liquid and simmer for approximately 15 minutes or until salmon is cooked through. Remove salmon, cool for a few minutes and carefully remove skin. Chill covered in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours before serving with sauce. Sauce: In a small saucepan over medium high heat add vinegar and reduce by half. Add preserves and horseradish and heat thoroughly. Stir in lemon zest and remove from heat. Serve warm with fish.

POACHED SALMON, LEEK, AND FENNEL SOUP

Steps:

• Slice leeks crosswise into 1/4-inch coins. Place in bowl of cold water; move leeks with fingers so sand falls to bottom. Lift leeks from water with fingers or slotted spoon, and drain; set aside.
• Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add leeks, carrots, fennel, and celery. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add parsley, thyme, stock, salt, pepper, and 5 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Cook 30 minutes. Turn off heat; add salmon and spinach. Poach until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Garnish with fennel fronds; serve.

COLD POACHED SALMON WITH FENNEL RELISH

Steps:

• Bring first 4 ingredients to simmer in heavy wide saucepan over low heat for 15 minutes. Strain. Return liquid to same pan and bring to boil. Turn off heat. Add salmon and cook 5 minutes per side. Using slotted spatula, transfer salmon to baking sheet. Cover and refrigerate. (Can be made 1 day ahead.)
• Combine remaining ingredients in small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate.
• Place salmon on plates. Spoon relish over salmon and serve.