Salmon Coulibiac

Coulibiac is a popular Russian Pirog ( a dough filled with either sweet or savoury ) dish served during festivities. Quite intriguing the first time i heard about it... I even asked the waiter --  Couli what? and while looking at it, the methodology is working on my mind and the thought of pastry dough discouraged me to make one, until i found the solution, TING!  This might be a little overwhelming, but with few alternatives we can enjoy gourmet food at the comfort of our homes. Try it!

I'm not going to scare you with the dough (I will try my own dough one of these days) but for now-- let's make it a little easy-peasy...

SALMON COULIBIAC
what you need: 

about 1/2  kg slab of salmon belly (boneless and skinless) 
Cooked Rice Pilaf , rice, vege or your favourite quinoa
Salt and pepper
2 square sheets of puff pastry
eggyolk for brushing

Assembly:

1. Frozen salmon slab, dash with salt and pepper
Take out your puff pastry and thaw halfway just enough to fold it.

2. Lay flat the pastry on a baking tray lined with parchment (for easy cleaning and assembling)

3. Place rice at the center the size of the salmon slab.
Lay the slab on top the rice (skin side on top).
Then  cover the layers with another puff pastry.
Bring the two pastry sheets together, either fold or crimp to seal the sides.

4. Turn the pastry side-up, this time the rice side should be on top.
Then place the pastry in  your baking tray and into the freezer for about an hour to settle the pastry.

5. While freezing the pastry, pre-heat oven to 180 degrees with fan.
When oven is ready, take out the pastry, brush the top with slightly beaten eggyolk .
Bake for 20 minutes or until top of pasty turns brown.

6. When done, remove from oven and let it rest for at least 10 minutes before serving and slicing.

Note:  You can make this ahead, even a day before your party or dinner or lunch to save time, after all this has to be frozen before baking.

You can use blached vegetables instead or rice pilaff.  Best is blanched spinach, asparagus or broccoli.

BAKED CRUSTED SALMON

Kids fancied Salmon, thanks to the Japanese Restaurant which catered to their cravings of Salmon Teriyaki if not Ramen. Kids liking Salmon is admirable cause i can't eat fish dishes where i can still taste the fish😀! I'm more of a fried seafood kind of person so any other form is less appealing. Reason why i do admire people who eat sushi, sashimi and ceviché. Although i'm not an all-out fish consumer, Kids and Hubby are my reasons I am still preparing these dishes for them to enjoy while i watch them eat. Thanks to technology, variety of seafood dishes are explored to cater to the palate of seafood eater like me.😁

Tonight is powering up with Omega-3 and fibre with Salmon and Broccoli. Easy dinner while enjoying Harry Potter marathon with the kids courtesy of holiday treats. Placing everything in a baking dish, time it and wait.

Baked Crusted Salmon
Ingredients:

About 1 kl slab of Norwegian Salmon (debone)
1/4 c bread crumbs
1/4 c grated parmesan cheese
1 head minced garlic
1/2 tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped
1 tbsp melted butter
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp smokey monterey seasoning

2 pcs of broccoli cut the florets and blanch-- side dish 

Method:
Pre-heat oven at 180℃.
Wash the Salmon, debone and pat dry.
Place Salmon on a baking tray.
Mix all the ingredients to combine.
Press the ingredients mixture against the top side of the Salmon.
Bake Salmon for about 15 minutes or so until the top turns a little brown.
Remove from the oven and sprinkle with fresh finely chopped parsley and lemon wedges on the side.
Ready to serve with rice or mashed potato or with your favourite grilled vegetables.
Ours is blanched broccoli.