Salmon quenelles

Many people think that cooking quenelles is really difficult and that they are only “restaurant” food.  This is absolutely wrong.  They are easy to make and absolutely delicious.

Traditionally, in France, they would be made of pike but in this version, they are made of salmon which some people think is even better.

They can be served with all sorts of sauces, but saffron sauce is as good as any.

Serve as a starter or a light supper.

Preparation Time: 5 Mins

Cooking Time: 4 Mins

Total Time: 40 Mins

Ingredients

For 6 servings…

450 gms           Salmon  - filleted     

170 ml             Cream  - double       

2                    Egg whites

                     Pepper  - freshly ground, white 

                     Salt          

1 pinch            Nutmeg     

To serve

                     Saffron sauce          

To garnish

                     Parsley  - sprigs or chopped     

Method

Chop the fish into chunks and place them in the bowl of a food processor and blend for about 20 seconds.  Add the cream, egg whites and season and amalgamate for another 40 seconds until the mixture is completely smooth.  Chill in a fridge for at least half an hour.

To cook the quenelles…

Heat a large shallow pan of water to just below simmering.  Prepare, nearby, a bowl of chilled water containing ice cubes and have available two dessertspoons.  Use the spoons to make oval shapes of the mixture and then slide each one gently into the simmering water.  Dip the spoons into the chilled water before making each new quenelle.  Repeat the process until the pan is filled.  After a minute or two, the quenelles will flip themselves over.  Cook them on this side for a further two minutes.

Remove the quenelles from the water with a slotted spoon, drain, pat them dry with kitchen paper if necessary and keep warm on a shallow ovenproof dish.

Continue until all the mixture is finished, and then gently pour over the hot sauce.  Garnish the quenelles with parsley.

Wine recommendations

An aromatic white wine.

Conventional

     Mâcon

Interesting

     Entre-deux-Mers

     Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur lie

     Savennières

     Vouvray sec