Salmon en croute

Salmon en croute is one of my favourite dishes and is both comforting and easy. As a child I remember eating this after school for dinner and I always thought it was fantastic. This is one of my yiayia's favourite things to eat that she doesn't cook herself. When she is fasting, she often eats this if she is allowed only fish. 

Every Saturday there is a fresh fish market near my house and I make a point to make something with fish for dinner. It always looks amazing, all the different fish laid out on display. The smell of them frying the fish for you to enjoy immediately is captivating and I can never resist. Anyway, on Saturday I always make a point of  buying some nice fresh catch and cooking it for dinner. Salmon en croute can be made using puff pastry or crumbly pastry and both are equally delightful. This recipe uses puff pastry because it is light and easy. This dish is great served with broccoli and/or mash potato. 

Ingredients: 

4 salmon fillets without skin

About 8 sheets puff pastry

2 leeks sliced thinly

Half a piece of fresh fennel thinly sliced

1 onion finely sliced in half rings

50g butter

2 handfuls dill

1 egg whisked

Fry the onion in a pan with a little olive oil over a low heat, stirring so that they do not brown. After 5 minutes add the leek, fennel and butter and fry for about ten minutes over a low heat to simmer. Finally add the dill and stir through and season with salt and pepper. Turn off and set aside. 

Preheat the oven to 200°C.

Roll out the puff pastry and place the salmon fillets on top of one piece of puff pastry each. Now spoon a little of the leek mixture on top of each of the salmon fillets. 

Now carefully place another filo sheet on top and press or roll up the sides so that they are sealed. You may need a little more pastry depending on how big your salmon fillets are. Using a pastry brush, glaze the filo with the egg mixture. Top with salt and pepper and place the pastry parcels on a baking sheet. Pop them in the oven for about 25-30 minutes. Serve with some nice steamed broccoli and boiled or mashed potato.