Whisky-cured salmon with beetroot and blinis

Try curing your salmon at home for maximum flavour – it takes time but it’s not at all difficult.

Ingredients

For the salmon

• 1 side of salmon
• 150g/5½oz sea salt
• 150g/5½oz caster sugar
• 100ml/3½fl oz whisky

For the blinis

• 200g/7oz plain flour
• 7g sachet instant yeast
• 250ml/9fl oz milk
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 free-range egg whites
• 50g/1¾oz butter

For the beetroot

• 200g/7oz redcurrant jelly
• 3 cloves
• 50ml/2fl oz whisky
• 100ml/3½fl oz red wine vinegar
• 50g/1¾oz Dijon mustard
• 10 beetroots, cooked and cut into cubes

To serve

• 250g/9oz crème fraîche
• mustard cress or micro herbs, to garnish

Preparation method

1. Lay long strips of cling film over a work surface. Lay the salmon on top and cover with the sea salt, sugar and whisky. Wrap the fish tightly in cling film and place in the fridge for 12 hours.

2. Wash the salmon to remove the salt rub, then slice it thinly.

3. To make the blinis, whisk together the flour, yeast, milk, salt and sugar. Set aside in a warm place to prove for an hour.

4. For the beetroot, heat the redcurrant jelly, cloves, whisky and vinegar in a saucepan. Simmer until the volume of liquid has reduced by half. Strain through a sieve.

5. Whisk in the mustard, then stir through the beetroot. Set aside until ready to serve.

6. For the blinis, whisk the egg whites in a separate bowl until stiff peaks form when the whisk is removed. When the batter has proved fold in the egg whites.

7. To cook the blinis, melt the butter in a large frying pan. Add a tablespoon of batter to the pan per blini and cook until golden-brown on the underside. Flip over and cook the other side. Remove the blini and place onto kitchen paper. Repeat until you have used all the batter. Keep the blinis warm until ready to serve.

8. To serve, place slices of salmon onto serving plates, with a few blinis, a spoonful of beetroot and a quenelle of crème fraîche. Garnish with mustard cress or micro herbs.