SALMON WITH ASPARAGUS RECIPES

1. Pop the couscous into a bowl, just cover with boiling water, put a plate on top and leave for 10 minutes to do its thing.
2. Slice the courgette into batons, snap the woody ends from the asparagus and deseed and finely chop the chilli.
3. Roughly chop the tomatoes, then pick and roughly chop the coriander leaves, discarding the stalks.
4. Slice the salmon into finger-sized strips, drizzle with olive oil, then season with pepper and a small pinch of sea salt.
5. Heat a small non-stick frying pan over a medium heat, add the salmon, then scatter over the courgette and chilli. Cook for 2 minutes, turning the salmon halfway.
6. Stir the tomatoes, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of oil and the chopped coriander into the couscous, then season to taste with salt and black pepper.
7. Carefully remove the salmon strips to a plate, then add the couscous to the veg left in the pan. Toss and mix together, then place the salmon strips on top of the couscous. Cover with a lid or some tin foil and place back on a high heat for 1 final minute, or until the fish is beautifully cooked.
8. To serve, slide everything onto a plate, spoon over the yoghurt, then tuck in.

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/Gas 4. Lightly butter a large sheet of foil big enough to wrap the salmon, and place over a large roasting tin (see tip).

2. Place the dill in the centre of the foil. Season the buttered foil with salt and pepper and place the salmon on top, skin side up. Pour over the white wine and lemon juice. Bring the two long edges of the foil together and fold the edges together, scrunching them up to make a parcel and sealing the edges at the side like a Cornish pasty (see tip).

3. Place in the oven to poach for about 25 minutes until the salmon is just cooked, the flesh pale pink and opaque. Leave to rest for 10 minutes. Then carefully remove the skin, pulling off in one piece if possible (see tip). Use a palette knife to scrape off any grey fat.

4. Blanch the asparagus tips in a saucepan of boiling water for 3 minutes. Drain and refresh under cold water. Mix all of the dressing ingredients together in a jug, and season with salt and pepper.

5. Using two fish slices, carefully transfer the salmon to a serving platter. Arrange the asparagus along the length of the fish, scatter the shrimps over the top and spoon over some of the dressing. Garnish with slices of radish or micro herbs and serve at room temperature with the remaining dressing in a jug.

Cook time: 25-30 minutes plus resting.

Prepare Ahead:
Assemble the dish up to 3 hours ahead. The salmon can be poached up to 8 hours ahead and the dressing made up to a week in advance.

Mary’s Classic Tips:
* If you don’t have a roasting tin large enough for the length of the piece of salmon, the grill pan makes a good alternative.
* Make sure you have a good seal around the edges of the foil parcel before baking it. This will ensure no steam escapes out of the sides, and the fish will cook beautifully inside.
* It is so much easier to remove the skin from the salmon while it is still warm; if the salmon cools down too much, the skin will stick firmly to the flesh and be tricky to remove.

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/Gas 4. Lightly butter a large sheet of foil big enough to wrap the salmon, and place over a large roasting tin (see tip).

2. Place the dill in the centre of the foil. Season the buttered foil with salt and pepper and place the salmon on top, skin side up. Pour over the white wine and lemon juice. Bring the two long edges of the foil together and fold the edges together, scrunching them up to make a parcel and sealing the edges at the side like a Cornish pasty (see tip).

3. Place in the oven to poach for about 25 minutes until the salmon is just cooked, the flesh pale pink and opaque. Leave to rest for 10 minutes. Then carefully remove the skin, pulling off in one piece if possible (see tip). Use a palette knife to scrape off any grey fat.

4. Blanch the asparagus tips in a saucepan of boiling water for 3 minutes. Drain and refresh under cold water. Mix all of the dressing ingredients together in a jug, and season with salt and pepper.

5. Using two fish slices, carefully transfer the salmon to a serving platter. Arrange the asparagus along the length of the fish, scatter the shrimps over the top and spoon over some of the dressing. Garnish with slices of radish or micro herbs and serve at room temperature with the remaining dressing in a jug.

Cook time: 25-30 minutes plus resting.

Prepare Ahead:
Assemble the dish up to 3 hours ahead. The salmon can be poached up to 8 hours ahead and the dressing made up to a week in advance.

Mary’s Classic Tips:
* If you don’t have a roasting tin large enough for the length of the piece of salmon, the grill pan makes a good alternative.
* Make sure you have a good seal around the edges of the foil parcel before baking it. This will ensure no steam escapes out of the sides, and the fish will cook beautifully inside.
* It is so much easier to remove the skin from the salmon while it is still warm; if the salmon cools down too much, the skin will stick firmly to the flesh and be tricky to remove.