I'm hunting around for an elegant, simple fish dish for a dinner's main course. Even though I anticipated some issues with this, I tried a half-batch exactly as written, and I had several problems: 1) It was really, REALLY bland; and 2) like other reviewers, I ended up with soggy-bottom salmon. I tweaked my second attempt quite a bit, with great results: Instead of using fresh spinach (which has a really high moisture content), I used very-well-drained frozen spinach. To give the spinach some needed flavor, I sauteed a mixture of finely-chopped mushrooms, garlic, shallots, nutmeg, butter, and salt for about 10 minutes, then added the spinach and sauteed for another 10-15 minutes to cook off as much moisture as possible (I hate to crash a recipe and rewrite it in the comments, but this seriously needed a flavor boost). I also removed the finished product to a rack to cool, which helped alleviate the sog factor. I'd say this dish is a good launching pad to add flavors that suit you - just do whatever you can to reduce the amount of moisture inside the pastry.
My family loved this--even the three kids! Thaw the pastry for 45 min. to an hour at room temp. I used frozen spinach, a 9-oz. box, but I cooked it in the microwave and squeezed all the water out. Instead of salt and garlic powder, I used garlic salt. I also brushed a little egg-beaters on the top (not sure if that was needed, but it looked golden brown when done). I had to cook it about 15 min. extra to get the golden brown color, so allow enough time. I was concerned that the salmon would be overcooked, but it was still moist and flaky. This recipe makes more than what it says, at least enough for 8 - 10 people.
Oh my gosh-this was the BEST way to serve salmon and it makes a ton. Just be sure to follow the thawing directions for the puff pastry exactly on the box for best results.
Delicious. My boyfriend and I made this for dinner last night and both loved it. The only change we made was to add a bit of freshly grated parm cheese to the pesto.
Okay it doesn't specify but the spinach should definately be FRESH! If the dough is too thick then roll it out a little before placing the ingredients inside. That way you can fit more ingredients inside too! Hope this helps.
Very TASTY! Made a few adjustments used 1/2 tsp of garlic salt instead of powder/salt. Added feta cheese and sun dried tomatoes. Also did an egg wash (1 egg & 1 tsp of milk wisk and brush on pastry) Just heavenly hubby and 2 yr old loved it!
Hubbie says four and a half stars because it was "too simple". I give it SIX stars BECAUSE it was so simple! Would not change a thing. Great recipe! Quick. I brushed egg on the top of the pastry to make it a little more attractive.
SOOO GOOD!
I used Mediterranean feta cheese instead of pesto. So good, and so easy.
We didn't care for this recipe. I think the concept is great but the pesto seemed to ruin the salmon for us. I may try this again but not with salmon or pesto maybe with chicken and swiss cheese and prosciutto. -I would rather barbecue my salmon with a little EVOO Sesame oil sea salt and lemon pepper then ruin it with pesto. I followed the recipe and cooked it 15 minutes longer then the recipe calls for and the pastry still was not fully cooked and I used the suggestions of others and rolled it out to be a little thinner. Not sure why it didn't cook all the way through. It looked done on the outside and everything else was done but the pastry was not. Sorry for the bad review...
