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Two-Colour Fish Terrine with Citrus-Ginger Sauce

Two-Colour Fish Terrine with Citrus-Ginger Sauce

In this smoked salmon terrine recipe, a duo of sole fillets and a smooth salmon mousseline create a contrast of colour and flavour.  You may jump to the relevant part of the article for the ginger sauce recipe. A simple butter sauce is served with the terrine, which makes a good main-course luncheon dish when accompanied by lightly cooked asparagus.
You may also listen to the recipe by pressing the play button below:
Getting Ahead: The terrine can be baked 1 day ahead and kept, covered, in the refrigerator. Before serving, reheat it in a bain-marie on top of the stove, allowing 10-15 minutes, with the water at a simmer. Make the sauce just before serving.
Order of work:
  • Prepare The Salmon Mousseline

  • Assemble And Bake The Terrine

  • Make The Citrus-Ginger Sauce

Click here to see how to peel and chop fresh root ginger
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Course Seafood
Cuisine French
Servings 8
Calories 140 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 lb (750 g) fresh fillet Salmon
  • 3 Egg white
  • Salt and pepper
  • 12 fl oz (375ml) Double cream
  • 4 (fillets) sole
  • Butter for terrine mould
  • 2 slices smoked salmon, total weight about 90 g (3 oz)
  • #For the citrus-ginger sauce#
  • 5 Parsley
  • 1 inch (2.5 cm) piece of fresh root ginger
  • 1 Lemon
  • 1 Lime
  • 3 tbsp (45ml) Double cream
  • 6 oz (175 g) unsalted butter, chilled
  • Other suitable fish: plaice salmon trout

Instructions
 

  • #Prepare The Salmon Mousseline# Run the blade of the small knife over the salmon fillet to find any bones. Pinch the bones between your thumb and the small knife blade and pull to remove them.
    Run the blade of the small knife over the salmon fillet to find any bones
    Run the blade of the small knife over the salmon fillet to find any bones
  • If necessary, skin the salmon fillet. Rinse the salmon with cold water and pat dry, then cut into pieces “To skin the fillet, set skin-side down and, holding the tail, cut through to the skin at the tail end. Cut the flesh from the skin.”
  • Put the salmon pieces in the food processor. Work the fish until smooth, using the pulse button and scraping down the side with the rubber spatula. TAKE CARE: Do not overwork the fish or it will be tough when cooked.
  • Gradually add the egg whites. Using the pulse button, work the mixture until smooth, 1-2 minutes, scraping down the side with the rubber spatula. Mix in salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl. “After adding egg white, mousseline mixture is smooth and quite stiff”
  • Set the bowl in a larger bowl of iced water
    Set the bowl in a larger bowl of iced water
    Set the bowl in a larger bowl of iced water. Gradually beat in the cream with the wooden spoon, a few tablespoons at a time, stirring well between additions. “It is best to work in the cream by hand because the mixture could separate if overworked in the food processor “Pour cream into cool mixture a little at a time”
  • Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Drop in a little mousseline mixture and simmer until it is firm, 2-3 minutes; it will become lighter in colour. Taste it and add salt and pepper to the rest of the mousseline mixture, if needed. Cover the bowl and chill. #Assemble And Bake The Terrine# Heat the oven to 180° C (350° F, Gas 4). If necessary, skin the sole fillets. Rinse the fillets and pat them dry, then cut each fillet lengthwise in half. Brush the inside of the terrine mould and lid with melted butter.
  • Line the terrine mould with 6 of the sole fillet pieces, arranging them crosswise and skinned side inwards. “Leave gaps between the sole fillet pieces so that the pink salmon mousseline can show through”
  • Wrap each remaining sole fillet lengthwise in a slice of smoked salmon, tucking in the ends neatly. “Sole wrapped in smoked salmon gives colourful contrast when terrine is sliced”
  • Put one-third of the salmon mousseline into the terrine and spread it evenly with the spatula. “Spread mousseline carefully in mould to avoid air pockets” “Overhanging sole fillets will be wrapped over top when terrine is full”
  • Arrange 1 of the smoked salmon and sole fillet cylinders lengthwise on top of the mousseline
    Arrange 1 of the smoked salmon and sole fillet cylinders lengthwise on top of the mousseline
    Arrange 1 of the smoked salmon and sole fillet cylinders lengthwise on top of the mousseline. Spread another third of the salmon mousseline in the terrine. Top with the second wrapped sole fillet.
  • Cover with the remaining mousseline. Using the rubber spatula, smooth the top and press the filling well into the mould.
  • Fold the ends of the sole fillets over the top
    Fold the ends of the sole fillets over the top
    Fold the ends of the sole fillets over the top. Tap the terrine on the work surface to eliminate any air pockets. Put the lid on the terrine mould and set it in the roasting tin. “Sole fillets will make attractive bands round cooked mousseline”
  • Add hot water to the tin to come just over halfway up the terrine mould. Bring this bain-marie to a boil on top of the stove, then transfer the terrine in the tin to the heated oven. “Water should come more than halfway up sides of mould” “Water bath ensures terrine cooks evenly”
  • Bake until the skewer inserted in the terrine 30 seconds is hot to the touch when withdrawn, 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 hours. Take the terrine from the oven and let stand 5-10 minutes while you make the sauce. “You can insert the skewer into the terrine through the hole in the lid of the mould” #Make The Citrus-Ginger Sauce# Strip the parsley leaves from the stalks and pile them on the chopping board. With the chefs knife, finely chop the leaves. Peel and finely chop the ginger. “Gently tear leaves from stalks with fingers” “Leftover parsley stalks are good for flavouring stock and making bouquet garni”
  • Using the vegetable peeler, pare the zest from the lemon. Cut the zest into fine strips. Squeeze the juice from the lemon and reserve it. Squeeze the juice from the lime and reserve.
  • Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil, add the strips of lemon zest, and simmer 2 minutes. Drain in the sieve and set aside. “Blanching lemon zest removes any bitterness”
  • In a small, heavy-based saucepan, boil the ginger and lemon juice until reduced to 15 ml (1 tbsp), about 1 minute. Add the cream and boil until reduced to 30 ml (2 tbsp), about 2 minutes. Cut the butter into pieces.
  • Take the pan from the heat and add the butter, a few pieces at a time, whisking constantly and moving the pan on and off the heat. The butter should thicken the sauce to a creamy consistency without melting to oil.
  • Add the parsley, lemon zest, and lime juice to the sauce. Whisk into the sauce until mixed. “Lime juice gives sauce extra citrus tang”
  • Holding the lid firmly on the mould, tip it sideways over the saucepan to drain 15-30 ml (1-2 tbsp) liquid into the sauce. Whisk to mix. Discard the remaining liquid from the terrine. Season the sauce to taste.

TO SERVE

  • Turn out the terrine. Cut it into 2 cm (3/4 inch) slices and serve on pools of sauce on warmed individual plates, alternating sole-banded mousseline slices with unbanded slices. "Asparagus decorated with shreds of lemon zest is complementary accompaniment" "Pink slices of salmon mousseline are studded with sole circled by smoked salmon"

Video

Keyword Fish recipes, Salmon recipes