Saffron Salmon Pilaff

Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 35 minutes
Serves: 4

I love this combination of salmon with raisins, pine nuts and saffron – all cooked in one pot. A pilaff is a rice dish from Turkey. The secret of the perfect pilaff lies in the success of rice to stock. It is better that the dish is slightly drier as drying out a soggy pilaff is an impossible task!
Make this for an informal supper for friends or family. A plain green salad is all that is needed to accompany this dish.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 red onions – peeled and thinly sliced
  • 5 cm piece fresh ginger – peeled and finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic – peeled and finely chopped
  • 50g raisins
  • 300g long grain rice
  • Juice and zest of 1 orange
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon saffron threads
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper – to season
  • 800ml vegetable stock
  • 550g salmon fillet – skinned and cut into large cubes

Garnish

  • 4 tablespoons fresh mint- roughly chopped
  • Pine nuts - toasted

Method

1) Place the pine nuts in a dry saucepan. Heat gently until golden. Remove and set aside.
2) Heat the oil in the same saucepan. Sauté the onions, ginger, cinnamon and garlic for about 10 minutes.
3) Add the rice to the dish and stir well. Add the raisins, juice and zest of an orange and saffron. Cook for a couple of minutes and pour over enough stock to cover the fish.
4) Bring to the boil, reduce the heat to simmer and cover with a lid. Continue to cook for a further 15 minutes.
5) Uncover the pilaff and stir in the cubes salmon. Recover and return to the heat for a final 5 minutes.

To serve the stylish way: Place a generous portion of pilaff onto a warm plate. Garnish with toasted pine nuts and chopped mint.

For more information about my cookery school, events for singles, Hen nights please call Denise on 0845 108 22 68 or email denise@jewishcookery.com.

If your synagogue or charity is interested in a cookery demonstration as a fund raising event contact Denise on 0845 108 22 68.

For further information please contact:

Denise's Kitchen
Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 2HD

Telephone - +44 (0)1923 836456, Fax - +44 (0)1923 826180
E-Mail - denise@jewishcookery.com