Seasonal salmon recipes
Feeding a family is tricky enough, but cooking for one can prove even more problematic. Phil Vickery is in the kitchen to make some seasonal salmon recipes that are perfect for solo or group dinners.
He'll be making easy salmon fish cakes, salmon courgette pea rice and grilled marinated salmon.
Easy salmon fishcakes
Makes: 4 single servingsPreparation time: 15 minutesCooking time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
2 onions, peeled and finely chopped4 tbsp olive oil2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped600g potatoes, peeled and chopped300g roughly half cooked salmon loosely flaked, bigger the bettersaltfreshly milled black pepper6 tbsp flour2 medium eggs, beaten100g dried breadcrumbs
Method
Cook the potatoes in a pan of simmering water for about 15 minutes
Drain well, return to the pan and drive off any moisture, and then mash, keep warm
Meanwhile, heat the oil and soften the onions and garlic, for 10 minutes
Add the two together and season well with salt and pepper
Add the flaked salmon and gently combine, you don’t want a mush
Add a little olive oil to soften the mixture, and a few breadcrumbs if the mix is too soft
Divide the mixture into 8 equal pieces, or you could make more, of smaller fish cakes if you prefer
Flour each cake well, then brush each cake with a little beaten egg and sprinkle over a few breadcrumbs
Repeat the process on the other side, then chill well
Heat 2cm of vegetable oil in a 28cm non stick frying pan and cook the fish cakes for about 4-5 minutes on each side, until golden
Serve with cooked, buttered spinach
Salmon courgette pea rice
Makes: 2-4 single servingsPreparation time:- 10 minutesCooking time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
4 tbsp any oil2 small onions, finely chopped1 tsp turmeric2 tsp cumin seeds225g rice, Basmati is probably has the best flavour, but long grain will be fine1 x 10g veggie stock cube568mls (1 pint) water, boiling1 small courgette, cut into ½cm cubes½ can chickpeas or butterbeans. optional150g frozen peas350-400g salmon fillet, cut into 2cm pieces4tbsp chopped fresh basilSalt and freshly ground black pepper
Preheat the oven to 200 Gas 6
Heat the oil in a medium sized saucepan
Add the onion, turmeric and cumin seeds, cook for 3-4 minutes to soften
Add the rice, stock cube, water, courgettes, chickpeas and frozen peas
Season well with salt and pepper, and then bring to the boil, stirring
Cover the pan with a tight fitting lid and cook for roughly 15 minutes in the oven, or until the rice is cooked and the water absorbed
You will be amazed at how little heat is required, if you have a tight fitting lid
Once cooked, remove the lid and stir in the salmon and basil
Re cover and leave for 10 minutes out of the oven, covered with a tea towel
Fluff up with a spoon or fork, the fish will be perfectly cooked
Easy grilled marinated sweet salmon
Makes: 4 single portionsPreparation time: 30 minutesCooking time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
4 x 175g fillets of salmon200mls mirin (sweet fermented Japanese rice liquer)150mls soy sauce1 tbsp brown miso paste1 tbsp toasted sesame oil2 tbsp castor sugar2 tbsp sherry vinegar
Method
Place the mirin, soy, miso paste, sesame oil, sugar and vinegar together into a saucepan, mix well, and then bring to the boil
Turn down the heat and simmer the sauce until you have about 150mls
Remove from the heat and cool
Once cooled, pour half over the salmon and leave to marinate, best overnight in the fridge. But at a pinch 1 hour.
To cook the salmon, pre heat the grill to its hottest setting
Lift out the salmon, leaving a little sauce on the fish, then place onto a grilling tray or dish
Cook for 6-8 minutes, depending on the temperature of the grill, or until the salmon is JUST cooked, best left undercooked
Meanwhile boil the rest of the marinade that is left, and serve with the salmon as a dipping sauce
Serve the salmon with cooked fresh fettucine mixed with a little oil, butter and chopped fresh mint