Delia Smith Salmon En Croute

This classic salmon en croute is a beautifully balanced dish with flaky salmon, a creamy herb filling, and crisp golden puff pastry. The texture is rich yet light, with buttery pastry giving way to soft salmon and fragrant herbs. It is a moderately easy recipe that looks impressive but is very manageable for home cooks. From start to finish, it takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Ingredients

For the salmon filling

• 600g salmon fillet, skinless and boneless
• 200g full-fat cream cheese
• 2 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Salt, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the pastry

• 500g ready-rolled puff pastry
• 1 egg, beaten
• Plain flour, for dusting

How to Make Delia Smith Salmon En Croute

• Prepare the oven: Preheat the oven to 200°C or 180°C fan. Place a shelf in the middle of the oven so the pastry cooks evenly and turns golden.
• Prepare the filling: In a bowl, mix the cream cheese, dill, parsley, lemon zest, and lemon juice until smooth. Season lightly with salt and black pepper.
• Prepare the salmon: Pat the salmon dry with kitchen paper. Season lightly on both sides with salt and pepper.
• Assemble the en croute: Lay the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Spread half of the cream cheese mixture down the centre, place the salmon on top, then spread the remaining mixture over the salmon.
• Wrap the pastry: Fold the pastry over the salmon to fully enclose it. Seal the edges well and trim off excess pastry if needed.
• Brush and chill: Place the parcel seam-side down on a lined baking tray. Brush all over with beaten egg and chill for 15 minutes for a better finish.
• Bake: Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the pastry is puffed, crisp, and deep golden.
• Rest and serve: Allow the salmon en croute to rest for 5 minutes before slicing to keep the filling neat.

Tips

How do I stop the pastry from going soggy?

Make sure the filling is not too wet and always chill the assembled parcel before baking. This helps the pastry puff properly.

Can I prepare this ahead of time?

Yes, you can assemble it up to 24 hours in advance and keep it covered in the fridge. Brush with egg just before baking.

How do I know when it is cooked?

The pastry should be golden and crisp. The salmon inside will be just cooked and flaky.

Serving Suggestions

• Steamed new potatoes with butter
• Lightly dressed green salad
• Buttered asparagus or green beans

Storage

Room temperature

Let the salmon en croute cool slightly, but do not leave it out for more than 2 hours.

Refrigerator

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in the oven to keep the pastry crisp.

Freezing

Freeze unbaked or baked portions for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating or baking.

Nutrition

• Calories: 520 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 32 g
• Protein: 34 g
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 14 g
• Sodium: 520 mg

Nutrition values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients used.

FAQs

Delia Smith Salmon En Croute

Recipe by Milli RoseCourse: MainCuisine: BritishDifficulty: Medium

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Total time

1

hour 

10

minutes

Flaky salmon wrapped in golden puff pastry with a creamy herb filling. A classic and elegant main course.

Ingredients

• 600g salmon fillet, skinless

• 500g puff pastry

• 200g cream cheese

• 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped

• 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

• 1 tsp lemon zest

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 1 egg, beaten

• Salt and black pepper

• Plain flour, for dusting

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 200°C or 180°C fan.
• Mix cream cheese, herbs, lemon zest, and juice.
• Season salmon lightly with salt and pepper.
• Assemble salmon and filling on pastry and seal.
• Brush with egg and chill briefly.
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until golden.
• Rest briefly before slicing and serving.

Notes

• Chilling before baking improves pastry rise.
• Do not overfill to avoid leaks.
• Best served warm for ideal texture.