Recipe: Salmon Rillettes /French appetizer or first course

SALMON RILLETTES
Serving Size : 8

1 Court Bouillon **

SALMON
3/4 lb Salmon, fillets or steaks, fresh, trimmed, skin on
1 tb Salt, sea
1/2 ts Peppercorns, whole
1 sm Chili, dried
1 c Butter, unsalted, softened
1 tb Armagnac (brandy or cognac)
3/4 lb Salmon, smoked, trimmed, and cut into shreds
4 oz Roe, salmon

TOAST STRIPS
Oil, olive
1 ea Bread, white, loaf, sliced 3/4-inch thick, crusts trimmed, each slice cut into 3 long strips

** See recipe for Court Bouillon.

Bring the Court Bouillon to a boil in a skillet. Add the salmon and lower the heat to simmer. Place a sheet of buttered parchment paper or aluminum foil, buttered side down, over the salmon. Poach until the fish is just opaque in the center, (about 8 minutes), or about 10 minutes per inch of thickness; DO NOT OVERCOOK. Remove from the heat and cool salmon completely in the broth.

To make up a seasoning mixture, use a small spice or coffee mill to grind the sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon peppercorns and chili.

Drain the poached salmon, remove its skin, and cut it into 1/2-inch pieces. Place the salmon pieces, butter, Armagnac and a pinch of the seasoning mixture into a processor and blend it all into a very smooth puree. Add the shredded smoked salmon to the processor and process with rapid on and off pulses just until the mixture is blended. There should be visible shreds of smoked salmon. Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl.

Gently fold salmon roe into the mixture until blended, taking care not to crush the eggs. Adjust the seasoning. Spoon mixture into a 4-cup souffle dish, straight-sided gratin dish, or casserole, lightly tapping mold on towel lined work surface to eliminate any air bubbles. Cover the dish with a plastic wrap and chill. (The Court Bouillon can be prepared 1 or 2 days ahead.)

Court-Bouillon (For Fish)/Easy
Source: The Mike Roy Cookbook/Mike Roy 1966

3 carrots, diced
3 onions, chopped
1/4 cup chopped parsley
Bouguet garni (thyme, bay leaf, celery leaves)
1 stalk chopped celery
2 teaspoons salt
2-1/2 quarts water
1 cup dry white wine

Place all ingredients in saucepan and simmer a half hour. Strain. Use for poaching fish or as a base for fish fumet.

For Toast Strips:

Preheat oven to 325 F. Rub a baking sheet with a thin film of olive oil. Arrange the bread strips on the baking sheet and bake them on the center rack of the oven, without turning, until lightly golden (15 to 20 minutes.)

Remove the rillettes from the refrigerator 20 minutes before serving. Dip the serving spoon in cold water and scoop onto cool plates. Serve with warm toast strips.

Source: New York's Master Chefs, Bon Appetit Magazine
Written by Richard Sax, 1985/ Chef: Seppi Renggli, The Four Seasons Restaurant, New York