Fish in a fish

10 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
5cupsAll-purpose flour
½teaspoonSalt
1cupButter flavored Crisco
¾cupIce cold water
2tablespoonsMargarine
1mediumOnion; chopped
¾cupConverted rice
½cupChopped parsley
31ouncesCanned red salmon; drained (reserve liquid)
2tablespoonsMargarine
2tablespoonsFlour
Evaporated milk* (mix with salmon liquid to make 1-1/2 cups total)
8ouncesCooked small shrimp
½teaspoonDill weed
¼teaspoonJohnny's season salt
1Egg; beaten
Green olive slice; for eye
1Lemon
Parsley

Directions

PASTRY

FILLING

SAUCE

ASSEMBLY

Pastry: Toss flour with spoon and lightly measure leveling off each cup. Combine flour and salt in large bowl. With pastry blender cut in shortening to size of small peas. Add cold water, tossing with a fork until pastry clings together. Press firmly into a ball and divide in half. Filling: In 2 qt. saucepan, melt margarine and saute onion until clear. Add rice, stirring to coat. Add 11/2 cup water, cover and steam over low heat until tender, about 20 minutes. Stir in parsley, cool, cover and chill. Remove backbone and skin from canned salmon and break into large flakes.

Sauce: Make a roux with margarine and flour. Stir in liquid and cook over medium heat stirring constantly until thickened. Stir in dill weed, season salt and shrimp. Cool.

To assemble: Draw a fish shape on light cardboard to fit diagonally on a large baking sheet. Roll out pastry and cut out fish shape.

Place on sheet. Spread rice mixture over pastry within 1" of edge.

Arrange fish over rice. Spoon sauce over salmon. Roll out remaining pastry to cover and gently place over fish. Moisten edge with ice water and press top crust to seal. Cut excess pastry from around edge. Create fish scales by pressing with fork. Using a knife, cut in slit for mouth and x for eye. With scissors, make rows of snips 1" apart along back toward tail. Brush with beaten egg. Bake at 425 for 15 minutes, then at 375 for 40-45 minutes until golden brown. Slide off end of tray onto serving platter. (May need to cool slightly to firm crust before moving.) Garnish with lemon slice twists and parsley and place green olive slice for eye. Serves 10-12.

Carol, Anchorage, Alaska

Source: Alaska Seafood Cookbook Reprinted by permission from the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute Meal-Master compatible recipe format courtesy of Karen Mintzias