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Salmon Steaks with Avocado and Crème Fraîche Sauce
Serves 6
Ingredients
For The Salmon:
6 fresh salmon steaks (6 oz/175 g each)
6 small sprigs of fresh tarragon or parsley
6 small bay leaves
1 small lemon, thinly sliced
6 dessertspoons white wine
salt and freshly milled black pepper
For The Sauce:
1 good-sized avocado
7 fl oz (200 ml) crème fraîche
1 small clove garlic, peeled
1 teaspoon sherry vinegar
salt and freshly milled black pepper
To Garnish:
1 bunch of watercress or another pretty mixed salad leaves or Middle Eastern Tabbouleh Salad (For the recipe look under Dinner Recipes).
Method
Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 4, 350°F (190°C).
First of all, take a large sheet of foil (24 x 36 inches/60 x 90 cm) and lay it in a shallow baking tin. Wipe the pieces of salmon with kitchen paper and place each one on the foil. Now put a small sprig of tarragon and parsley on top of each one, along with a bay leaf and a slice of lemon (these ingredients are there simply to perfume the salmon very subtly without altering its flavour). Now season with salt and pepper and finally, spoon a dessertspoon of wine over each salmon steak before wrapping the whole lot loosely in the foil. Make a pleat in the top to seal it. Place the foil parcel on a highish shelf in the oven for exactly 20 minutes. Then remove the tin from the oven and let the salmon cool inside the foil without opening it.
Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. Halve the avocado, remove the stone, then divide into quarters and peel off the skin, using a sharp knife if necessary. Place the flesh in a liquidizer or food processor then, using a teaspoon, scrape the avocado skin to remove the last greenest part and add that to the rest. Now pop in the garlic clove, then measure in the sherry vinegar, add salt and pepper and blend until smooth. Next, remove the purée to a mixing bowl and simply fold in the crème fraîche till it's thoroughly blended. Taste to check the seasoning - it might need a drop more vinegar. Cover the bowl with clingfilm and keep in the fridge until you're ready to serve. This should be made only a few hours in advance to keep the luscious green colour at its best.
When you're ready to serve the salmon, undo the foil and, using a sharp knife, ease off the strip of skin around the edge of each steak and discard it. Remove the herbs and lemon, then transfer the fish to a serving dish and decorate with small bunches of watercress or other leaves placed in the hollow centre. Hand round the sauce separately.
