Smoked Salmon With Beetroot Vodka Creme Fraiche Recipes

SMOKED SALMON WITH BEETROOT & VODKA CRèME FRAîCHE

Steps:

• Beat the crème fraîche with the vodka and a little seasoning until it holds its shape, then stir in the horseradish. Chill in the fridge.
• Lay the slices of salmon over plates, then top with the beetroot and a spoonful of the crème fraîche. Top with the salmon caviar, if using, then scatter with the dill. Grind over some black pepper and serve.

SMOKED TROUT, VODKA CREME FRAICHE AND CRISPY POTATOES

Steps:

• Cook the potatoes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the potatoes in a roasting pan and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and stir to evenly coat the potatoes. Roast for 30 to 35 minutes, until the potatoes are soft. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly. While the potatoes are still warm, gently press down on each one with the back of a pan or the side of a knife so it flattens to about 3/4 inch but stays intact (it's okay if the edges crack a bit, as they will get extra crisp when fried). Heat about 4 inches of canola oil in a heavy pot over medium heat. Once the oil reaches 350 degrees F, fry the crushed potatoes, in batches, for 5 to 6 minutes, until they become golden and crunchy. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.
• Make the vodka creme fraiche: Combine the creme fraiche and vodka in a mixing bowl and whisk vigorously to whip and combine. Season lightly with salt. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Prepare the toppings: Carefully flake the trout fillets into small bite-size pieces. Fry the shallots: Separate the shallot slices into rings. Lightly dredge the rings in the flour. In a saute pan, heat 1/2 inch of olive oil to 350 degrees F. Fry the shallots for 2 to 3 minutes, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and immediately season with kosher salt. To assemble, place a small dollop of vodka creme fraiche on each piece of potato and top it with a piece of trout. Garnish with the radish sprouts, chives and fried shallots. Season with fleur de sel and drizzle with a little extra-virgin olive oil.

GLAZED BEETS WITH CREME FRAICHE AND PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• For the beets, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Massage each beet with about a teaspoon of oil and season with salt and pepper. Individually wrap each beet in aluminum foil. Place the beets on a baking sheet and bake for about an hour, or until you can easily pierce them with a knife.
• When the beets have cooled enough to handle but are still warm, unwrap them and rub them with a dry kitchen towel or paper towels to remove their skin. Cut the beets into quarters and allow to cool completely.
• Fill a high-sided saute pan with 1/4 cup of water, the honey and butter and place over medium-high heat; stir gently. Once the mixture begins to thicken and form a glaze, turn off the heat, add the cooked beets and toss to coat them in the glaze. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• For the pistachios, toast them in a small saute pan over medium heat just until they're warm and you can smell their "pistachio-ness." Cool and chop or crush them slightly; they should remain chunky to give good crunch to the dish.
• For the creme fraiche, place it in a bowl and mix with the lemon zest and about half the chopped mint. Refrigerate until you're ready to assemble the dish.
• To serve, spoon the creme fraiche mixture over the bottom of a medium serving dish. Place the warm beets (reheat them if necessary) on top of the creme fraiche in a single layer. (Resist the urge to pile these beauties high; you'll want to be getting creme fraiche and beet in every bite.) If there's any glaze leftover in the pan, pour it over the beets. Sprinkle the pistachios over the beets. Tear the parsley leaves with your fingertips and let them fall naturally over the beets. Sprinkle on the rest of the mint, add a few grinds of fresh black pepper and you're good to go.

SMOKED SALMON WITH HORSERADISH CRèME FRAîCHE & BEETROOT

Steps:

• Fold the crème fraîche with the horseradish and vodka, if using, with a little seasoning. Chill.
• In a bowl, mix the vinegar, olive oil and honey. Toss half the dressing through the beetroot and chill until ready to serve.
• Before serving, divide the slices of salmon between 8 plates, then top with a spoonful of the crème fraîche and bring up the sides of the salmon to make a 'flower'. Arrange the salad and beetroot round the salmon, scatter with the dill. Grind over some black pepper, drizzle with the remaining dressing and serve with toast, if you like.

CLEMENTINE & VODKA-BAKED SALMON WITH BEETROOT CRèME FRAîCHE SAUCE

Steps:

• Put the clementine zest and juice, vodka and honey in a pan, season and bring to a simmer. Bubble for 10 mins until reduced by half. Add the clementine slices and simmer for a further 5 mins until the clementines are softened and a little sticky. Remove them from the liquid and transfer to a plate. Bubble the liquid until thickened to a glossy glaze.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a baking tray with foil or baking parchment and place the salmon in the middle - or on an angle to help it fit if you need to. Using a sharp knife, cut the salmon into 8 fillets, cutting through the flesh but not the skin, as this will hold the whole thing together. Cut the thinner end into slighter wider fillets, so everyone gets a similar portion. Brush the salmon with the glaze, making sure you get in between the gaps, and save a little for brushing on at the end. Lay the candied clementine on top, down the centre, and bake for 20 mins.
• While the salmon is cooking, make the beetroot crème fraîche by mixing all the ingredients together in a bowl with plenty of black pepper and a little salt - save a few chives to sprinkle on top. When the salmon is cooked, reheat the remaining glaze, adding a splash of water if it is too thick, and dab it over the top (wash the brush first as it will have come into contact with the raw salmon). Serve the salmon and sauce as part of a buffet, and let everyone dig in.

HOMEMADE CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the cream and buttermilk or lemon juice.
• Cover with a clean kitchen cloth in a warm, draft free place and let sit until thickened, but still pourable consistency, 12 to 16 hours.
• Stir and refrigerate until ready to use.
• (can be refrigerated up to 1 week.).

SMOKED SALMON WITH BEETROOT & VODKA CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• Beat the creme fraiche with the vodka and a little seasoning until it holds its shape, then stir in the horseradish. Chill in the fridge.
• Lay the slices of salmon over plates.
• Top with the beetroot and a spoonful of the creme fraiche.
• Scatter with the dill.
• Grind over some black pepper and serve.

LITTLE SMOKED SALMON CUCUMBER CUPS WITH PEPPERED CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• Cut the cucumber into 1 1/2 inch slices, and carefully hollow out the centre (with any seeds) with a pointed teaspoon, so you are left with a shallow hollow.
• Mix the lemon zest and black pepper with the crème fraiche and adjust seasoning to taste, adding the black pepper bit by bit to ensure a favourable taste! (We like ours quite peppery!) I have not suggested salt as the smoked salmon is salty, but do add salt to taste if you wish.
• Spoon a little seasoned crème fraiche into each cucumber cup, about 1 teaspoon per cup.
• Cut the smoked salmon into 6-inch long strips and about 1/2 inch wide, and curl them around to make a little circle, then place the circle of smoked salmon on top of the crème fraiche.
• Garnish with lemon slices if you wish, or with dill or parsley. Makes about 30 according to size of cucumber.
• You can prepare the cucumber cups and crème fraiche several hours beforehand- cover them and store them in the fridge; assemble them just before you are ready to serve them.