Raymond Blanc’s whole roast salmon

Name: Raymond Blanc’s whole roast salmon
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: Serves 8-10
Cuisine: French recipes
Ingredients: For the salmon; 1 large potato, sliced 1mm thick (see tips); 1 large carrot, sliced 1mm thick (see tips); 2.5-3kg whole organic salmon, scaled, gutted and cleaned (see tips); ½ bunch fresh thyme, leaves stripped; 4 fresh rosemary sprigs, leaves stripped; 1 garlic bulb, cloves separated and crushed, skin on; 3 preserved lemons, cut in half, flesh removed and thinly sliced or chopped; 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil; For the spring vegetables; 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil; 3 little gem lettuces, cut into quarters; 200g radishes, trimmed and halved if large; 250g asparagus, trimmed and cut into thirds; ½ bunch fresh flatleaf parsley, roughly chopped; ½ bunch fresh chervil, roughly chopped (see tips)

By: Raymond Blanc

Published: 17 May 19
Updated: 18 Mar 24

Test kitchen approved

Raymond Blanc’s whole roast salmon makes a lovely change from meat in spring. Why not serve the whole fish at the table for Easter lunch?

Raymond says: “The whole fish roasted with vegetable crisps and paired with colourful spring veg, is a showstopper. It’s ideal if you fancy a change from the traditional spring lamb – just a few minutes of preparation and you’ll create a wonderful feast for the senses.”

We’ve got more springtime recipes from the brilliant Raymond Blanc: how about his grilled asparagus with vegetable crumble? Or, check out our Easter recipe collection.

Serves 8-10
Hands-on time 20-25 min, oven time 40 min

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Ingredients

For the salmon

 1 large potato, sliced 1mm thick (see tips)
 1 large carrot, sliced 1mm thick (see tips)
 2.5-3kg whole organic salmon, scaled, gutted and cleaned  (see tips)
 ½ bunch fresh thyme,  leaves stripped
 4 fresh rosemary sprigs,  leaves stripped
 1 garlic bulb, cloves separated and crushed, skin on
 3 preserved lemons,  cut in half, flesh removed  and thinly sliced or chopped
 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

For the spring vegetables

 2 tbsp extra-virgin  olive oil
3 little gem lettuces,  cut into quarters
 200g radishes, trimmed  and halved if large
 250g asparagus, trimmed  and cut into thirds
 ½ bunch fresh flatleaf parsley, roughly chopped
 ½ bunch fresh chervil,  roughly chopped (see tips)

Method

Heat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4. Arrange the sliced potato  and carrot in an even layer over  the base of a large roasting tin. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Put the salmon on a large chopping board and score the skin and flesh to the bone, 3-5 times  on each side. Stuff the cuts and cavity with the thyme, rosemary, garlic and preserved lemons, then put in the tin on top of the sliced  vegetables (see Make Ahead).
Drizzle over the olive oil,  season generously with salt and pepper, then roast for 40 minutes.
Remove the fish from the oven  and check to make sure it’s cooked through – at the thickest part, the flesh should easily come away  from the bone when you test it with  a knife. Cover the salmon lightly with foil, then leave to rest while you prepare the spring vegetables.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan (with a lid) over a high heat. Add the lettuce wedges, radishes, 50ml cold water and some salt and pepper, then cook for 4-5 minutes until the lettuce stalks and radishes begin  to soften.
Add the asparagus pieces and cook for 1 minute more, then remove from the heat and stir in  the chopped parsley and chervil.
Transfer the vegetables and salmon to a large serving platter  (or serve the roast potatoes and carrots, salmon and spring vegetables on separate dishes),  then pour the cooking juices over the salmon. Put the platter in the centre of the table and let your guests help themselves.

Recipe from April 2019 Issue

Nutrition

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 737kcals
Fat: 49.8g (9g saturated)
Protein: 63.2g
Carbohydrates: 7.6g (2.4g sugars)
Fibre: 3.3g
Salt: 0.8g

delicious. tips

Use a mandoline to cut the vegetables, or slice as thinly as possible using a sharp knife (they won’t get quite as crisp but they’ll still cook through).

If you discover your oven isn’t large enough to accommodate the whole fish, remove the head before stuffing the salmon.

Fresh chervil, though common in French cooking, can be hard to find. Buy it from finefoodspecialist.co.uk or ask your greengrocer. If you can’t find it, use extra parsley or tarragon.
Prepare the recipe to the end of step 2 up to 8 hours ahead and keep covered in the fridge. Complete from step 3.
Head straight for a chablis with this  for a fresh, cool-climate take  on the chardonnay grape.

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