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Barbecued salmon and wilted spinach with anchovy butter

Neil Perry
Neil Perry

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Neil Perry's barbecued salmon and wilted spinach with anchovy butter.
Neil Perry's barbecued salmon and wilted spinach with anchovy butter.William Meppem

Anchovy butter adds terrific flavour to the fish – and leftovers can be kept in the freezer and used with all sorts of dishes.

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Ingredients

  • 4 x 200g salmon fillets (with skin on)

  • sea salt

  • extra virgin olive oil

  • 1 fresh lime, quartered

  • freshly ground black pepper

For the anchovy butter

  • 250g unsalted butter, at room temperature

  • 125g anchovy fillets

  • juice of ½ lemon

  • freshly ground black pepper

For the Spinach

  • 60ml extra virgin olive oil

  • 2 cloves garlic, sliced

  • 2 bunches English spinach, stems removed, washed

  • sea salt

  • pinch of chilli flakes

  • 1 lemon, quartered

  • freshly ground black pepper

Method

  1. 1. To make the anchovy butter, place butter and anchovies in a food processor and purée. Add lemon juice and pepper and process for 1 minute. Roll the mixture into a log with a sheet of baking paper or foil (about 35cm long and 4cm in diameter). Wrap in cling wrap and refrigerate until firm. Slice into 1cm rounds. (This will make about 35 portions. Keep the rest in the freezer to use to add flavour to all sorts of dishes.)

    2. Preheat the barbecue to a high heat. Make sure the grill bars are well cleaned. Place the salmon fillet on a chopping board, skin side up, and scrape the skin with the back of a knife to remove excess moisture. Repeat 3 times and dry with kitchen paper.

    3. Season the salmon fillets with sea salt and brush with extra virgin olive oil. Place the fish on the grill with the skin side down and cook for 3 minutes, then turn over and cook for a further 3 minutes. Remove from the grill and place a 1cm slice of anchovy butter on each piece of fish. Set aside, keeping warm until ready to serve.

    4. For the spinach, heat the extra virgin olive oil in a sauté pan and add the garlic. Cook over medium heat until the garlic is light brown. Add the spinach in about three batches, pushing it around with a pair of tongs. Turn the heat up high and add some sea salt and the chilli and continue to stir. The spinach should become glossy and wilted as it is coated with the oil. Squeeze over lemon juice and a good grind of fresh pepper.

    5. Divide the spinach between four large white plates, then place a piece of fish on top of the spinach and squeeze lime juice over each. Garnish with a good grind of pepper and serve immediately. 

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Neil PerryNeil Perry is a restaurateur, chef and former Good Weekend columnist.

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