COLD POACHED SALMON WITH DILL MUSTARD SAUCE

Cold Poached Salmon With Dill Mustard Sauce image

Provided by Nigella Lawson

Time 30m

Yield 10 to 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 small bunch fresh dill
1 whole salmon (wild, if possible), about 6 pounds, cleaned and scaled (or substitute a center-cut section of a larger salmon)
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons yellow mustard seeds
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 onion, peeled and quartered
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
3 tablespoons chopped dill
1/2 teaspoon salt, or as needed
1 generous bunch dill
2 lemons, cut into wedges

Steps:

To poach salmon, begin by placing the small bunch of dill inside cavity of the salmon, and put salmon in a fish poacher or a large roasting pan. (If necessary remove head to fit salmon in pan.) Cover with water, and add salt, sugar, mustard seeds, peppercorns and onion. Place over high heat, and bring to a boil. Turn salmon over, and cook 10 minutes. Turn off heat, and let salmon cool in water for about an hour.
To make sauce, whisk together the mustard and brown sugar in a small pitcher. Add sour cream and vinegar, and whisk until smooth. Mix in the chopped dill, and season with salt. Cover, and refrigerate until serving.
To serve, remove salmon from poaching liquid and lay on large sheet of parchment or waxed paper. Remove skin from top, gently peeling it away, along with fins. Carefully lift top layer of salmon in one long fillet, removing it from backbone and transferring it to a large platter.
Lift backbone off fish in one piece, and pick out any other visible bones. Turn fish over, and remove skin as before. Then place second fillet alongside the first on platter. Arrange leafy sprigs of dill between fillets, and drizzle sauce on top. Scatter lemon wedges around edges of plate. Pass pitcher of sauce separately.