Potted Smoked Fish Recipes

Steps:

• If using haddock or kippered herring, pour boiling water over the fish and let it stand for 10 minutes. Remove skin and bones. Salmon or trout need not be placed in boiling water, but should of course have skin and bones removed.
• Place the fish in the bowl of a blender with the six ounces of butter. Blend until smooth, adding the lemon juice and pepper to taste.
• Place the mixture into small pots, sealing the top with clarified butter (clarified butter is made by simmering unsalted butter and skimming off the milk solids). Cover with waxed paper or foil and store in the refrigerator. Serve with brown bread or thin pieces of toast.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan or flameproof casserole over a medium heat, then reduce the heat to low and cook the onion for 10-15 mins until soft. Stir in the garlic, paprika and chorizo, and sizzle for a few minutes more until fragrant and the chorizo has released its oil.
• Add the wine and saffron, turn up the heat to medium and bubble until most of the liquid has reduced, about 5 mins. Pour in the tomatoes and the juice from the can, crushing the tomatoes a little with the back of a spoon, then half-fill the can with water and pour this in, too. Add the bay leaves, some seasoning and the sugar, then partially cover with a lid and bring to a simmer. Cook for 10-15 mins until the tomatoes have broken down and the sauce has reduced a little.
• Tip in the chickpeas and return to a simmer, then gently place the fish fillets on top of the stew. Cover and cook for 3 mins until the fish is just opaque. Scatter the prawns around the fish fillets, then cover again and cook over a medium-low heat for another 5 mins, turning the prawns after 3 mins, until pink and cooked through. Scatter with the parsley, then serve in bowls with crusty bread for mopping up the stew.

Steps:

• Put the salmon fillets in one layer in a microwaveable dish and dot with 25g/1oz of the butter, salt and pepper. Cover with cling film, stabbed several times, then microwave on High for 5-6 minutes, until the salmon is just cooked. (Or put in a frying pan, cover with boiling water, season and poach for 5-6 minutes, and add the butter to the food processor.) Leave to cool.
• Flake the salmon into a food processor, adding the juices from the dish. Chop the smoked salmon roughly and add to the processor with the lemon juice, chilli or harissa paste, salt and pepper.
• Process until finely chopped, but with a bit of texture, then turn into a 1 litre serving dish. Melt the remaining butter in a small pan, remove from the heat and allow the sediment to settle. Carefully pour the butter over the salmon, leaving the sediment behind. Leave to cool, then chill until set, about 2 hours. (The salmon may be frozen for up to 1 month.)

Steps:

• In a food processor or blender, add smoked fish, cream cheese, lemon peel and juice; cover and blend until almost smooth.
• Transfer fish to a serving container; stir in parsley, dill, shallot, black pepper and salt; cover and chill mixture in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
• To serve, let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes; garnish with additional dill and serve with suggested accompaniants.

Steps:

• Remove flesh from fish, leaving skin in one piece, reserving skin. Discard bones. Coarsely chop flesh (you should have about 4 cups). Transfer to a medium bowl. Add celery, onion, and mayonnaise. Mix gently to combine.
• Line a large platter with lettuce. Open reserved skin and place on platter, scale-side down. Mound salad onto one half of skin, using the skin as a template. Fold the remaining half of skin over salad, and gently press to form salad into the shape of the fish. Using scissors, cut top half of skin off, and discard. Using the edge of a spatula, gently score the salad to resemble the bones of the fish.
• Arrange the smoked fish around the whitefish salad. Garnish with salmon roe, caperberries, olives, lemon slices, and herbs. Serve with bread and cream cheese, on the side.