watercress sauce.

[oxocube]

Am making the salmon parcel recipe in this month's Good Food but the sauce to go with it is just whizzed up watercress, creme fraiche and s+p. Tastes bland. What can I add to it to jazz it up a bit but still keep the 'fresh' taste IYSWIM. Salmon is in puff pastry on bed of softened onions and fennel if this makes any difference!! TIA

black pepper

My watercress recipe also has shallots and 1/2 glass white wine in it too. Let me know if you want me to dig it out.

redballoons, that sounds more interesting! This was a recipe for salmon en croute in this month's Good Food and it was really unpleasant!. The sauce was boring and the sauted fennel and onion and garlic mix to sit the salmon on tasted a bit 'tired'!! Not fresh and zingy like I wanted. If you have a second, I would appreciate your recipe!!

Hi oxo, sorry, haven't been able to get on the pc till now. Hope this works for you. It's the only watercress sauce I know how to make and have tasted!

"Classic Watercress Sauce"
25g/1oz butter
2 small shallots, finely chopped
1 stick celery, finely chopped
1 bay leaf
75ml/ 1/8pt veg stock
1/2 glass dry white wine
2x 85g pks watercress, chopped
150ml/ 1/4pt carton single cream

Melt the butter in a saucepan and gently fry the finely chopped shallots and celery for 2-3mins until tender. Add the wine, stock, bay leaf and simmer for 2-3 mins. Remove the bay leaf, add in the cream and chopped watercress, heat through, season to taste and serve.
For a smoother sauce, liquidise before serving.

This is the only watercress sauce I have made and tasted so I hope it works out for you! I always liquidise it. Let me know what you think! Recipe taken from a free "watercress is good for you" leaflet my mil has.

Sorry to repeat myself

PS. I have also used milk instead of cream (about 100ml I think), not as rich but an ok substitute if you don't have any cream to hand.

brilliant redballons, thanks. Will try that with salmon next week when in-laws come to stay. Am trying to wow them with culinary expertise

..Inlaws!?! Will happily be your scapegoat if it comes out terribly! (but then again if someone as simple as me can make this sauce I'm sure you can!)

With my [watercress] salmon I do a selection of roasted vegetables on the side with potato (homemade chips, jacket, boiled). For the veg, slice three colour peppers, half aubergine, 1-2 courgettes, mushrooms, red onion, leeks, dizzle with olive oil and garlic salt(from spice jar). Cook for 35-45 mins, 190dg. Yummy!

Will credit you of course as will be wonderful!