How exactly does one cook a whole poached salmon?

[tassisssss]

I have a crappy ceramic hob that makes simmering anything difficult (aaaaargh) and I don't want to have to buy a special pan...so I'm thinking it's not for me. Can I buy them ready cooked and pass off as my own?

Are there other salmony dishes that can be made for a party buffet? Or will I push my luck and ask SIL to make her divine salmon and leek pies when she's already having my kiddos so I can get ready...

In the dishwasher

If you don't have a fish kettle it's pretty difficult to poach a whole salmon, since you're never going to get it in a saucepan.

You could buy one ready cooked (but they are expensive), but if I were you I'd ask the fishmonger to fillet the salmon for you, and then poach the fillets gently in water, with lemon slices, black peppercorns, salt, dill and parsley, and then once the salmon is cooked and cold, flake it and put it on a platter, surrounded by cucumber slices and with small pot of mayonnaise in the middle. I've done that and it looks very classy. Tastes rather good too, especially if you flavour the mayonnaise with herbs.

poaching in the oven

I second dishwasher. Can't remember the exact method though!

My mum's always recommended the dishwasher approach. Sounds bonkers though.

You can borrow a fish kettle from Waitrose. I think it's free, but can't remember- I know all their glasses etc are.

We did one in the dishwasher.

No Waitrose or Costco nearby sadly though there are rumours that Waitrose is on the way...

So the dishwasher...I'm really not sure I'm brave enough, tell me more...

Or I remember years ago when Hugh FW did a programme called friends for dinner, and they wrapped the salmon in foil, stuck it in the sink, filled with boiling water and left until water went cold (water from kettle).

I do whole salmon in the oven, sat in a little bath of cider or white wine and then the whole thing covered in foil.

You can either have it hot, or let it cool and serve it cold.

I have fab salmon recipe that you would love (need a whole side of salmon to do but is oven based; think ww has had it if you want to confer re tastiness) - will email it (stupid mumsnet couldn't let me amalgamate my nickname and email addresses so have somehow lost an n in the process ...).

HA, please do, sounds perfect.

How odd about the n! x

Thanks WW, have the recipe now but i think it might be a bit faffy for me, I'm a much lazier cook than HA!

check you, WW! when I eventually have a gas hob and can actually simmer things I will bear that in mind!