Description
A delightful and elegant dish featuring tender salmon fillets wrapped in crispy filo pastry parcels, filled with a creamy leek mixture. Perfect for a light lunch or a sophisticated dinner, these salmon and leek parcels combine flaky pastry with a rich, savory filling.
Ingredients
Scale
Leek Filling
- 4 leeks, trimmed and finely chopped
- 25g butter, divided (a few knobs for cooking leeks, remaining for brushing pastry)
- 3 tbsp water
- 100g full-fat crème fraîche or cream cheese
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Pastry and Salmon
- 6 sheets filo pastry
- 2 skinless salmon fillets
- Melted butter for brushing
Instructions
- Prepare the leeks: Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped leeks, 3 tablespoons of water, and a couple of knobs of butter. Cover and cook gently for 10 minutes until the leeks are tender and softened. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely before mixing with the crème fraîche or cream cheese. Season the mixture with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 200°C (fan 180°C) or gas mark 6 to ensure it is hot and ready for baking the parcels.
- Assemble the parcels: Lay one sheet of filo pastry flat and brush with melted butter. Layer two more sheets on top, brushing melted butter between each sheet to keep them moist and flaky. Place one salmon fillet in the center of the layered pastry and season it with salt and pepper. Spoon half of the leek mixture evenly over the salmon. Carefully fold the ends over the top, then pull up the sides and scrunch the pastry together to fully enclose the filling, forming a neat parcel. Repeat this process with the remaining ingredients to make the second parcel.
- Prepare for baking: Brush both parcels thoroughly with melted butter to help them turn golden and crisp during baking. Place them onto a lightly greased baking sheet to prevent sticking.
- Bake the parcels: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and cook the parcels for 20-25 minutes or until the filo pastry is browned, crisp, and flaky.
- Serve: Remove the parcels from the oven and serve immediately. These parcels pair wonderfully with a fresh green salad for a balanced and satisfying meal.
Notes
- Keep filo pastry sheets covered with a damp tea towel to prevent drying out while assembling the parcels.
- If you have leftover filo, re-wrap tightly in cling film and store in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
- You can substitute crème fraîche with cream cheese for a slightly different but equally creamy texture.
- Ensure salmon fillets are of even thickness to promote uniform cooking.
- For a richer flavor, consider adding fresh herbs like dill or chives to the leek mixture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: salmon parcels, filo pastry, leek filling, baked salmon, easy dinner, seafood recipes, British cuisine
