Roasted Merquén Dry Rubbed Atlantic Salmon Fillet Topped with Chilean Pebre Salsa

Download PDF recipe

Serves: 4

TASTE OF CATER CARE FACT

This recipe is full of the flavours of Chile and uses both Merquén and Pebre salsa. Merquén is a traditional Chilean seasoning originally created by the Mapuche people that is used as a dry rub to flavour meat and seafood before it is cooked or as a condiment that is sprinkled over food at the table. We’ve included our recipe for the spice mix which always includes smoked paprika as its base. Pebre salsa is a huge favourite in Chile, made and eaten in every home and usually served on bread or with BBQ’d meat and fish.

INGREDIENTS

• 320gm Salad Tomato – using a sharp knife, lightly cross each tomato.
• 40 leaves Coriander – rinse, drain and roughly chop.
• 40gm Mild Jalapeño – finely chop.
• 2 Garlic Cloves – peel and finely chop.
• 4 stems Shallots – use white stem only and finely slice.
• 10ml Red Wine Vinegar
• 20ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• To Taste – Sea Salt and Ground Black Pepper
• ¼ tsp Mild Ground Chilli Powder
• 1 tsp Ground Coriander
• 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
• ½ tsp Dried Oregano Leaves
• ½ tsp Sea Salt
• 4 x 180gm Atlantic Salmon Fillets (centre cut, skin on and pin boned)
• As Required – Extra Virgin Olive Oil Spray

METHOD

1. Pre-heat an oven to a moderate temperature – 160°C.
2. Over a moderate heat, bring a saucepan half-filled with water to the boil, add the tomatoes and continue to boil for 20 seconds. Remove the tomatoes from the saucepan and place into ice cold water for 5 minutes, then remove and drain well. Peel the loosened skin from the tomatoes. Discard the skin and reserve the tomatoes.
3. Cut the tomatoes into quarters lengthways, remove the seeds from each quarter, then cut the tomato quarters into a 1cm dice.
4.  In a mixing bowl, add the tomato, coriander leaves, jalapeños, garlic, shallots, red wine vinegar and olive oil, mix to thoroughly combine and season to taste. Set the Chilean pebre salsa to one side for 30 minutes to allow its flavours to further develop.
5. In a mixing bowl, add the chilli powder, ground coriander, smoked paprika, oregano leaves, and sea salt. Mix to thoroughly combine, then set the Merquén spice to one side.
6. On a clean work surface, lay out the salmon fillets, flesh side up, evenly sprinkle each fillet with the Merquén spice, then gently rub the spice into each fillets flesh.
7. Over a moderate heat, lightly spray the saute pan with oil. Add the salmon and sear for 1 minute on each side or until it is lightly browned on both sides. Remove the salmon from the heat and place it skin-side down in a single layer on a roasting tray that has been sprayed with oil. Place the tray into the oven and roast for 8 minutes or until it is cooked to the desired degree. Remove the tray from the oven, cover with aluminium foil and allow to rest for 5 minutes.

TO SERVE

Place a salmon fillet onto the centre of each serving plate and top each generously with Pebre salsa.