SUMPTUOUS SMOKED SALMON
The Balmoral’s Michelin starred Number One restaurant is one of Edinburgh’s most prestigious. Using the best quality local ingredients to create dishes with contemporary flair, Executive Chef, Jeff Bland and Head Chef, Brian Grigor dazzle diners with their beautifully presented plates.
Here, they present a recipe for their acclaimed smoked Shetland salmon, quail egg and caviar starter, simplified so that you can make it at home. A delightful dish, it’s the perfect starter at a summer party. Serve al fresco, with a refreshing glass of champagne.
The Balmoral smoke their Shetlands salmon in-house and you can purchase the fish direct from the hotel for £50.
Smoked Salmon, Quail Egg, Caviar & Lemon Purée
Ingredients (serves 12 – 14)
1 side of smoked salmon
250g unsalted butter
The zest and juice of 1 lemon
4 quail eggs
1 red apple
1 radish
10 g caviar
Method
In a mixer, whip the butter until light in colour, add lemon zest and juice and continue to mix for 2 minutes.
Lay out a 30cm length of cling film on work surface.
Cut the salmon into long strips and lay out 1 layer on the cling film, spread with the soft butter.
Repeat until you have 12 layers of salmon, with butter between each layer.
Fold over cling film and roll into a sausage shape as tightly as possible, tying both ends to make a roulade. Chill for 2 hours.
Cook the quail eggs in boiling water for 2 minutes 20 secs and plunge into ice water to stop them cooking.
Once cool, put into a bowl with 50% vinegar to water, this will help break down the shell so they are easier to peel.
Serve a slice of the salmon roulade on a plate with slices of apple, radish and the caviar topped quail egg.
In the restaurant, we serve the dish with lemon puree, salmon skin, crackling and micro mizuna.
Sometimes, the best ideas start in the most unexpected places. Often as a conversation between friends, perhaps over a drink. And so it was for Lydia Forte and Edgardo Osorio, Founder and Creative Director of Aquazzura whose shared vision led to the creation of Aquazzura Bar, a seasonal cocktail bar in the Secret Garden of Hotel de Russie. We sat down with them over a Margarita – what else? – to find out more…
Along the Mediterranean, food is intrinsic to daily life. Mornings begin with fishermen hauling in their catch, while market stalls brim with sun-ripened produce. Meals unfold slowly, often outdoors, with dishes meant to be shared. No rush, no excess - just ingredients at their peak, prepared simply and enjoyed in good company.
To visit Scotland without sampling its whisky is to miss out on a defining feature of its heritage. From historic distilleries to the contemporary innovators bringing fresh perspectives to the craft, for guests of The Balmoral, the city’s whisky scene is waiting to be explored. Here’s where to start…
