Salmon with jersey benne potatoes and tomato and basil dressing

The recipe for this dish comes from Dale Gartland, Executive Chef of Kauri Cliffs, The Farm at Cape Kidnappers and Matakauri Lodge. Adapted for the home cook, it's based around the wonderful salmon from the Mt Cook region, potatoes, green beans, tomatoes and basil from Cromwell Gorge, and Bannockburn olive oil. A true South Island dish from the Matakauri menu.

Ingredients

500 g	Potatoes, jersey benne, washed
2 Ltr	Water
1 head	Garlic, cut in half
5 sprigs	Thyme
1	Bay leaf
40 g	Salt
2 Tbsp	Olive oil
1 dash	Chardonnay vinegar
1 Tbsp	Olives, chopped
1 Tbsp	Thyme, picked leaves
6 fillets	Salmon, 150g each (Main)

Tomato and basil dressing

1	Lemon, segments chopped (see tips below)
½ cup	Extra virgin olive oil, good quality
1 dash	Balsamic vinegar
3	Tomatoes, deseeded and diced
10	Basil leaves, ripped or julienned

Directions

1. Mix all dressing ingredients together and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
2. Place the water, potatoes, garlic, thyme, bay leaf and salt in a saucepan and boil until the potatoes are nearly cooked through, then drain and leave to air-dry for 20 minutes, peel the potatoes and place in a pan over a low heat.
3. Lightly crush the potatoes with the olive oil, vinegar, chopped olives and picked thyme leaves and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Keep warm while cooking the salmon.
4. Heat a little oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Cook salmon skin-side down for a couple of minutes, then flip over and cook another couple of minutes. You want your salmon a little pink in the centre.
5. Serve with green beans or asparagus.

Tip

To segment lemons and other citrus fruit, use a sharp knife to peel the fruit, removing all pith too. Hold the lemon in your hand, over a bowl to catch the juices. Cut along either side of the white membrane between each segment to release it.