Salmon en Croute

Salmon en Croute

• 3 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup wild rice
• 1 tablespoon EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus a drizzle
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3/4 cup white mushrooms, very thinly sliced
• 1 small, thin leek, thinly sliced, washed and dried
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped thyme
• Salt and pepper
• 1 small handful of dill, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup white vermouth or dry white wine
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 sheet puff pastry, such as DuFour brand, defrosted
• 4 6-ounce skinless salmon filets
• 1 egg, beaten with splash of water
Yields: 4
Preparation
Bring chicken stock to a boil, stir in rice and reduce heat to simmer. Cover and cook 40-45 minutes until wild rice blooms and is tender. Drain and cool on a baking sheet then transfer to a mixing bowl.

In a skillet, heat EVOO over medium-high heat, a turn of the pan. Melt in butter then add mushrooms and sauté to soften, 5-6 minutes. Add leeks, thyme and dill, and season with salt and pepper. Cook 3-4 minutes more, deglaze with vermouth or wine. Add lemon juice and transfer to the mixing bowl with rice. Stir to combine.
Preheat oven to 425°F. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Gently roll out the puff pastry sheet with a sprinkle of flour. Cut 4 rectangles about 6x8 inches.

Heat a drizzle of EVOO in large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Season the salmon filets with salt and pepper, and add to the hot pan. Brown the fish 2 minutes on the first side and 1 minute on the flip side. Remove from heat.

Pile some rice and mushroom topping onto each pastry rectangle in small even mounds leaving an edge all around for wrapping. Place a piece of salmon on top. Wrap and seal the bundles of salmon and set them on the baking sheet. Brush with egg wash.
Bake 15 minutes or until deeply golden. Serve with Beurre Blanc, optional, and asparagus or haricots verts alongside.
Beurre Blanc Sauce
Ingredients
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup dry vermouth
• 1 small shallot, minced
• Salt and finely ground black or white pepper
• 2 sticks cold butter, cut into tablespoon-sized pieces
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped dill
Yields: 4-6
Preparation
Bring vinegar and vermouth to a low simmer. Add shallots and season with salt and pepper. Simmer to cook shallots and reduce by half, 2-3 minutes.
Remove pan from heat and whisk in 4 tablespoons of butter until fully incorporated. Return pan to low heat and whisk in remainder of butter, 1 piece at a time. Once sauce is complete, add lemon juice and dill. Serve hot.
To reheat, add splash of water and whisk over low heat.