Smoked Trout Dip/Sandwich Filling

I served this is a wrap with some lettuce, it would be lovely with some cooked beetroot too.

Smoked Trout Dip/Sandwich Filling (from Hairy Dieter's Good to Eat by Hairy Bikers)
(Serves 2)

150g smoked trout fillet
2 tbsp low fat creme fraiche
1 tsp horseradish sauce
1/4 cucumber, chopped
squeeze lemon juice
salt and pepper

Break the trout into small pieces, removing any bones and put them into a bowl. Add the cucumber, dill, creme fraiche and horseradish and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper and squeeze of lemon juice.

Miso and Soy Salmon with Sticky Rice and Crispy Kale

This is a very tasty dinner dish. I loved the crunch of the kale with the soft rice and salmon.

Miso and Soy Salmon with Sticky Rice and Crispy Kale
(from The Guardian)
(Serves 4)

4 salmon fillets
400g sushi rice
2 tbsp rice vinegar
salt
1 tbsp sugar
200g kale
1 tbsp oil

For the marinade
4 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sugar
1 tbsp sesame oil
½ tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp sesame seeds
2 tbsp red miso
1 tsp chilli flakes

 Heat the oven to 200C.

In a shallow bowl, whisk together all the marinade ingredients until well combined, then lay in the fish fillets, turn to coat all over, and refrigerate for at least 30 mins.

Put the rice into a pan with 600ml water and the rice vinegar, season with sea salt and a pinch of sugar, cover and bring to a boil. Immediately turn down the heat to its lowest setting and leave the rice to steam for 15 mins. Turn off the heat, and keep somewhere warm, still covered.

While the rice is cooking, remove the kale stems and finely shred the leaves. Spread the kale out on one or two baking sheets and spray with cooking spray to coat. Sprinkle on the sugar and a pinch of salt, and bake for seven to eight mins, until dark green and crisp, stirring halfway through, so they cook evenly. Watch the kale like a hawk towards the end, so it doesn’t catch and burn.

Put the salmon on an oven tray and roast for 12-15 mins, basting with more marinade halfway through.

Divide the rice between four bowls, then top each serving with a fillet of salmon, any leftover marinade juices from the tray and the kale. Serve with soy sauce, more vinegar and some chilli oil.

Salmon Bulgar Risotto

This really does have a risotto like texture despite not being made anything like a risotto. It was also very tasty and felt like the flavours of summer in the middle of January!

Salmon Bulgar Risotto (from Beauty Bites)
(Serves 4)

4 tomatoes, chopped
4 salmon fillets, chopped
200g bulgar wheat
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tbsp oil
1 pepper, chopped
handful coriander, chopped
handful dill, chopped
handful green olives, chopped
1 tbsp capers

Bring a pan of water to the boil and cook the bulgar according to packet instructions. Drain.

Add the tomatoes to frying pan and heat over a medium-high heat for a few mins, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes start to fall apart and start looking like a sauce. Then add the bulgar and chopped salmon and mix together. If you need to, add some water.

After 3-4 mins cooking, stir in the garlic and oil. Cover and stir from time to time for another 3-4 mins. Turn off the heat and add the pepper, coriander, dill, olives and capers, cover and let sit for a few more mins on the warm stove. Serve.

Salmon and Prawn Fish Pie

There is a lot of veg packed into this fish pie, it is a really yummy dish. 

Salmon and Prawn Fish Pie
(Serves 4)

olive oil
1 rasher bacon, sliced
1 large carrot
1 bunch spring onions
½ bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 tbsp plain flour
600ml semi-skimmed milk
2 tsp mustard
400g frozen chopped spinach
4 x 120g salmon fillets
200g raw peeled prawns
400g frozen peas
125g feta cheese
600g sweet potatoes
600g cauliflower

Preheat the oven to 180C.

Put the bacon into a large roasting tray with 1 tsp of oil, then put on a medium heat. Wash and trim the carrot and spring onions, chop into 1cm dice, and once the bacon is lightly golden, stir them into the tray.

Finely slice and stir in the parsley stalks. Cook for 10 mins to soften, stirring regularly, then stir in the flour. Gradually pour in the milk, bring up to a good simmer, then stir in the mustard and frozen spinach. Simmer for 5 to 10 mins, or until the spinach has thawed.

Chop the salmon into bite-sized chunks, halve the prawns, finely chop the parsley leaves and stir it all through the sauce with the frozen peas, then crumble the feta over the top and turn off the heat.

Meanwhile, wash the sweet potatoes and cauliflower (leaving the skins on for extra nutritional benefit) and chop into 3cm chunks. Cook in a large pan of boiling salted water for 15 mins, or until cooked through, then drain and mash well, taste, and season. Gently spoon the mash over the fish pie filling, spreading it out with a fork. Bake for 40 mins, or until golden and crisp on top, and bubbling at the edges.

Tuna Burger

This is a yummy tuna burger. Add as much or as little chilli as you like depending on your tolerance. Lovely Asian flavours.

Tuna Burger
(Serves 2)

150g tuna steak
1 egg
15g fresh breadcrumbs
1/2 tsp grated lime zest
1 cm ginger, grated
2 tbsp chopped coriander
1/4 red chilli, chopped
2 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
squeeze lime juice
2 wholemeal buns

Put the tuna in a food processor and whizz until quite finely chopped but not pureed.

Mix the salmon with the egg, lime zest, ginger, coriander and chilli. Shape into 2 large flat burgers.

Heat a frying pan over a medium heat and add a little oil. Add the burgers and cook for 4-5 mins per side.

While the burgers are cooking, mix together the mayonnaise, chilli sauce and lemon juice.

Lightly toast the bun and spread the sweet chilli mayo on both halves. Top with the tuna burger nd some lettuce and serve.

Smoked Mackerel and Beetroot Frittata

This was a delicious fritttata, it's along time since I've made one, but this was definitely a success. Yummy!

Smoked Mackerel and Beetroot Frittata (from The Times)
(Serves 1)

1 cooked beetroot, diced
1 smoked mackerel fillet, flaked
oil
3 eggs
1 tsp sage

Preheat the grill to high. Heat the oil in a small frying pan, add the beetroot and smoked mackerel and cook for 2-3 mins.

Whisk the eggs in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Pour them into the pan, making sure all the ingredients are well spread out and are covered by the eggs. Sprinkle over the sage and cook over a medium heat for about 4 mins, until the underside is cooked.

Transfer the pan to the grill and cook for 4 mins, until the eggs have set. Serve.

Steamed Salmon and Lemongrass Pilaff

This was really delicious. Perfectly cooked. I added the veggies in at the same time as the salmon. Yum!

Steamed Salmon and Lemongrass Pilaff (from The Times)
(Serves 4)

1 stalk lemongrass, white part only, sliced
40g fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
2 garlic cloves
2 tbsp oil
salt
300g long-grain rice
750ml chicken stock
4 200g skinless salmon fillets, cut into 3cm pieces
handful coriander leaves
handful thai basil leaves
2 spring onions, thinly sliced
1 red chilli, thinly sliced
soy sauce, to serve

Place the lemongrass, ginger and garlic in a small food processor and process until the mixture is finely chopped.

Heat the oil in a large heavy-based saucepan over a medium heat. Add the lemongrass mixture and salt and cook, stirring, for 4 mins.

Add the rice and stir to combine. Add the stock and bring to the boil. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 12 mins.

Place the salmon on top of the rice mixture, cover and remove the pan from the heat. Allow to stand for 6 mins. Top the pilaf with coriander and basil leaves, spring onions, chilli and soy sauce to serve.

Smoked Salmon and Spelt Kedgeree

This is absolutely delicious. I had it for lunch, so I left the spelt to cool before topping with the salmon and egg. It's a great big hit of vitamin D too.

Smoked Salmon and Spelt Kedgeree
(Serves 2)

1 leek, sliced
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp curry powder
100g pearled spelt
500ml chicken or veg stock
2 eggs
100g green beans, chopped
juice 1/2 lemon
handful chopped dill
100g smoked salmon

Heat the oil in a saucepan and add the leek, cook for 10 mins, stirring occasionally. Add the curry powder and cook for 1 min. Add the spelt and stock and simmer, stirring occasionally for 15-20 mins, until the liquid has been absorbed.

Meanwhile, put the eggs in a saucepan full of water bring to the boil and boil for 9 mins, adding the green beans for the last 2 mins of cooking time.

Peel and quarter the eggs. Season the spelt and stir in the juice 1/2 lemon, the beans and the dill. Top with the smoked salmon and eggs. Serve.

Indian Salmon and Veg Flatbread Pizza

I made this lovely pizza one day for lunch during half term. It's a very quick way to get a pizza and tasty to boot.

Indian Salmon and Veg Flatbread Pizza
(Serves 1)

1 salmon fillet
1 tsp curry powder
1/2 red pepper, cut into chunks
1/2 courgette, cut into chunks
1 flatbread or tortilla
1 tbsp tomato paste
coriander leves
1 tbsp natural yoghurt

Preheat the oven to 200C.

Put the salmon on a baking sheet and sprinkle the curry powder over the top. Bake in the oven for 12-15 mins until cooked. Flake.

Put a little oil in a frying pan and fry the courgette and pepper until starting to soften.

Spread the tomato paste over the flatbread and top with the salmon, courgette and peppers. Put into the oven for 5 mins to crisp up. Remove from the oven and top with the yoghurt and coriander. Serve.

Broccoli and Smoked Mackerel Gratin

This was a delicious bake, use homemade or store bought bechamel sauce.

Broccoli and Smoked Mackerel Gratin (from The Guardian)
(Serves 4)

200g broccoli
375g smoked mackerel
2 large tomatoes, quartered
500ml bechamel sauce
4 handfuls fresh breadcrumbs
4 tbsp grated parmesan

Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Add the broccoli and leave to cook for 3-4 mins until bright and still a little crisp. Drain and cool under cold running water, then set aside. Set the oven at 180C.

Remove the skin from the smoked mackerel and break the flesh into large pieces, removing any bones as you go. Put the smoked mackerel, drained broccoli and tomatoes into a shallow ovenproof dish or baking tin.

Pour over the béchamel sauce, scatter with the breadcrumbs and Parmesan. Bake in the oven for 45 mins or so, until crisp and bubbling.

Smoked Mackerel, Beetroot, Potato and Horseradish Bake

This was a very easy bake to make full of smoked fish and beetroot.

Smoked Mackerel, Beetroot, Potato and Horseradish Bake (from M&S)
(Serves 4)

500g Jersey Royal potatoes
100g cooked beetroot in natural juices
175g smoked mackerel
bunch dill
250ml double cream
150ml milk
1 tbsp horseradish sauce

Heat the oven to 190°C. Cook the potatoes in boiling salted water for 15 mins, until just tender. Drain well.

Arrange the potatoes in a baking dish with the beetroot. Remove any skin and bones from the mackerel and break the flesh into chunky flakes. Add to the potatoes and beetroot and scatter over half the dill.

Mix together the cream, milk and horseradish and season. Pour over the potato mixture and bake for 25 mins, until bubbling.

Serve, scattered with the remaining dill.

Salmon and Bulgar Pilaf Salad

I served this as a salad but I think the original recipe was meant to be eaten hot. Delicious!

Salmon and Bulgar Pilaf Salad (from BBC Food)
(Serves 4)

4 salmon fillets, boned and skinned
1 tbsp smoked paprika
250g bulgur wheat
85g frozen peas
200g runner beans, chopped
2 tbsp chopped chives
2 tbsp chopped parsley
salt and pepper
juice 1/2 lemon

Preheat the oven to 180C.

Sprinkle the smoked paprika over the salmon and cook in the oven for 12-15 mins, or until the salmon is cooked through.

Meanwhile, cook the bulgar wheat according to packet instructions. Add the beans for the last 5 mins of cooking time and the peas for the last 3 mins.

Flake the salmon and mix it into the bulgur wheat with the peas and beans. Add in the chives and parsley and squeeze over the lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Creamy Smoky Fish and Spinach Gratin

This was absolutely delicious, one of the best recipes from my cuttings box. It was also very easy to mix and used up the mashed potato I had languishing in the freezer. 

Creamy Smoky Fish and Spinach Gratin (from The Times)

(Serves 4)

1 tsp oil, plus extra to oil the dish
1 small onion, diced
sprig of thyme
salt and pepper
half glass of wine
200g spinach or chard leaves, roughly chopped
500g cooked potatoes, mashed, or in crumbled pieces (if roasted or boiled)
150ml cream or crème fraîche
few gratings of nutmeg
200-300g smoked fish, such as mackerel, kippers, haddock or pollock, broken into large flakes

For the topping
40g breadcrumbs
40g cheddar, parmesan or emmental, grated

Preheat the oven to 200C. Lightly oil an ovenproof dish, about 28cm in diameter.

Heat the oil in a medium-large saucepan over a medium-low heat. Add the onion and thyme, and a pinch of salt and sauté gently, until the onion is softened, for about 15 mins.

Pour in the wine and bring to a simmer. Add the spinach or chard leaves, put the lid on and cook for 1-2 mins, until just wilted.

Remove from the heat and add the potatoes and cream or crème fraîche. Stir to combine and season with nutmeg, salt and pepper.

Gently fold through the fish. Tip the fish mixture into the oven dish. Toss together the breadcrumbs and cheese and sprinkle over the top. Bake for 25 mins until golden and bubbling.

Leave to cool for a few mins before serving with a green salad.

Tapenade Salmon with Runner Beans and Preserved Lemons

This was absolutely delicious, really flavourful. I used tomatoes from my garden and runner beans from my Mum's garden, lovely and fresh tasting.

Tapenade Salmon with Runner Beans and Preserved Lemons
(from Waitrose Weekend 14 August 2014)
(Serves 4)

450g runner beans, cut into thin ribbons
2 preserved lemons, chopped
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
200g cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tbsp olive oil
4 salmon fillets
2 tsp tapenade

Preheat the oven to 200C.

Toss the runner beans with the preserved lemons, onion and tomatoes. Arrange over the base of a small roasting tin. Season and drizzle with oil.

Make several slashes in the skin of the salmon and spread with the tapenade push it into the slits. Place skin side up on the beans.

Cook in the oven for 20-25 mins until the fish is cooked through. Serve with potatoes.

Cajun Salmon Alfredo Pasta

I made this shortly before I went on holiday to Spain and I loved it. I am getting much better at making a white sauce and this feels quite decadent!

Cajun Salmon Alfredo Pasta (from The Weary Chef)
(Serves 4)

250g dried pasta
4 salmon fillets
Cajun seasoning
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp flour
1/4 tsp garlic powder
pinch cayenne pepper
salt and pepper
500ml milk
30g Parmesan cheese
1 spring onion, sliced

Preheat the oven to 200C.

Sprinkle the cajun seasoning over the salmon fillets and bake in the oven for 15 mins.

Meanwhile, bring a pan of water to the boil, add the pasta and cook according to packet instructions.

While the pasta and fish cook, melt the butter in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the flour, and whisk until a smooth paste is formed. Add the milk gradually, whisking in between additions.

Add the garlic powder, cayenne, salt and pepper, and stir. Continue cooking and stirring until the sauce thickens. Add the cheese to the sauce and reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir until the cheese is melted.

When the fish is cooked, flake into about 2 in pieces. Add the fish, pasta and spring onion to the sauce, and stir very gently to combine. Serve.

Freekeh Salad with Salmon

I've been struck down with gastritis, which is making eating rather unpleasant, so these are meals from a long time ago that I never got around to posting.

This was a yummy salad I took to work one day.

200g freekeh
½ large onion
1 head garlic, halved crosswise
2 sprigs thyme
1 sprig rosemary
1 bay leaf
salt
4 skin-on salmon fillets
1 tbsp oil
6 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
juice 1 lemon
60g plain Greek yogurt
4 small cucumbers, cut into rounds
bunch fresh dill, chopped
bunch fresh mint, chopped
bunch fresh parsley, chopped

Put the onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf in a piece of cheesecloth; tie closed with kitchen twine. Drop the sachet into a large pan of boiling water, add the freekeh, and cook according to packet instructions.

Season the flesh side of salmon with salt. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat and cook the salmon, starting skin side down, until golden brown, about 4 mins per side for medium-rare. Transfer salmon to a platter and leave to rest for 15 mins.


Whisk together the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, and yogurt in a large bowl. Add the cooled freekeh, season with salt, and toss to coat. Mix in the cucumbers, dill, mint, and parsley. Divide among 4 plates. Flake salmon into bite-size pieces and arrange over the top.


Stuffed Swordfish

This was seriously one of the most flavourful dishes I have made in a while. It was a little bit of a faff to make but it just was so so good. I served it with crushed potatoes and salad.

Stuffed Swordfish (from Cooking Channel)
(Serves 1)

1 clove garlic, chopped
1/4 tsp chilli flakes
2-3 cubes butter
60g wild mushrooms (shiitake, oyster), finely chopped
30g raw prawns, chopped
90ml white wine
1 tsp chopped spring onions
30g crabmeat
30g toasted breadcrumbs
salt and pepper
1 200g piece swordfish
40g plain flour
3 tbsp butter
60ml fish stock
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp chopped fresh parsley

Preheat the oven to 180C.

Heat the butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat, add the garlic (minus a pinch) and red pepper flakes and sauté for 5 mins. Then add the mushrooms and prawns and continue sautéing until the prawns turns pink.

Add half the wine and simmer for a couple of mins before adding the spring onions. Add the crabmeat and the breadcrumbs, to tighten up the stuffing, and season with salt and pepper. Leave the mixture to cool for about 5 mins before stuffing the swordfish portions.

Sprinkle the swordfish steak with salt and pepper and lightly dust with the flour. Then, once the stuffing is cool, cut a slit in the side of the fish and make a pouch with your fingers. Fill the pouch with the stuffing.

Heat the remaining butter in a frying pan and saute the swordfish a over medium-high heat. Cook for 3 mins until lightly browned, then turn it over and put the frying pan in the oven for about 8 mins to finish cooking.

Once the fish is done, take the pan out of the oven, add the pinch of minced garlic to the pan and lightly brown over medium-high heat. Then deglaze the pan with the remaining wine. Add the fish stock and lemon juice to the pan and a knob of butter, stir until melted. Season the sauce with a little salt and add the parsley.

Take the swordfish out of the pan and place on a serving dish. Pour over the sauce and serve.

Tuna Kebabs

For the Friday of the last Bank Holiday I had a home made takeaway of kebabs and rice. I went for Tuna with an Asian feel and peppers and cherry tomatoes but you could pretty much use any veg that's good on a kebab. I served it over egg fried rice with salad.

Tuna Kebabs (from Better Recipes)
(Serves 4)

4 tuna steaks, cut into chunks
2 onions, quartered
2 peppers, cut into large chunks
8 cherry tomatoes

For the marinade
1/2 bunch coriander, chopped
30ml toasted sesame oil
juice 1 limes
1 cloves garlic, chopped finely
1 piece ginger, grated
1 tbsp soy sauce

Mix together marinade ingredients.

Thread the tuna and vegetables onto skewers. If using bamboo skewers, soak in water for 5 minutes before so they do not burn. Pour half the marinade over the skewers and refrigerate for half an hour.

Preheat the grill and grill kebabs for 5-7 mins per side. Serve.

Salmon with Lentil and Couscous Salad

I had a great deal on fish from The Saucy Fish Company last week and one of the things I bought was roasted lemon and herb salmon. I used one of the fillets to make this delicious salad to take for lunch on Monday. Simple to make and lovely and flavourful.

Salmon with Lentil and Couscous Salad
(Serves 1)

30g puy lentils
30g giant couscous
1 heaped tsp pesto
handful cherry tomatoes, halved
1 spring onion, sliced
salad leaves
1 salmon fillet, cooked

Bring a pan of water to the boil and cook the lentils according to packet instructions, add the couscous the right amount of time before the end of the lentil cooking time (check the packet). Drain and run under the cold tap, drain again well. Stir through the pesto.

Put the salad leaves in the bottom of a dish and top with the lentil mixture. Top with the cherry tomatoes and spring onion and then the salmon. Serve.

Fish Pie Pancake Bake

I love anything with pancakes. I especially love putting them in a bake. This fish pie bake is perfect. I used a fish pie mix I found reduced at the supermarket, which had salmon, cod and smoked haddock in it and I added peas and leeks but you could add pretty much any veg you like.

I have definitely mastered white sauce! Now I get a luscious thick sauce rather than a rather runny one. I am so happy, small things!

Fish Pie Pancake Bake (from Fuss Free Flavours)
(Serves 6)

500ml milk
600g mixture of fish
30g butter
1 heaped dsp plain flour
handful chopped vegetables
1 heaped dsp finely chopped gherkins or capers
6 large pancakes

Preheat the oven to 190C.

Put the fish and the milk in a microwave proof bowl and microwave on high for 5-10 mins until the fish is cooked. Drain reserving the milk and put the fish on a plate.

Melt the butter in a large saucepan, add the flour and cook for a min stirring all the time. Reduce the heat and add the milk a little at a time, stirring to get a smooth sauce. Carry on cooking, stirring from time to time until the sauce has thickened.

Using two forks separate the fish into flakes, discarding the skin and any bones. Add to the white sauce together with the vegetables and gherkins or capers. Season to taste.

Put a bit of the fix mixture in the middle of each pancake and roll up, then place in an ovenproof dish. Top with any remaining fish mixture and sprinkle with a little finely grated cheese. Put into the oven and bake for 20–25 mins until piping hot and starting to turn golden.