If you are looking for something fun to do this Easter, why not try making your own wild Alaska salmon Scotch eggs! These impressive picnic bites are easy to make and just bursting with flavour. Simply blend fillets of wild Alaska salmon with fresh herbs and lemon to a smooth paste and wrap around freshly boiled eggs. Coat the eggs twice in zesty lemon and paprika breadcrumbs, and fry until golden brown. Serve hot or cold with plenty of creamy tartare sauce to add something special to your Easter day.

Alaska salmon are wild and sustainable. They swim freely in the icy waters of the North Pacific Ocean, feeding on natural marine life. It is this natural diet of crustaceans and other marine life that give wild Alaska salmon its distinctive colour and flavour. Wild Alaska salmon is low in fat and a natural source of protein, vitamins, calcium and Omega 3 oils which may help to maintain a healthy heart as part of a balanced diet.

Makes 4 Scotch Eggs

Ingredients

• 500g (18 oz) wild Alaska salmon fillet, skinned
• 2 handfuls fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 2 handfuls fresh dill, finely chopped
• 8 medium eggs
• grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

Zesty breadcrumbs:

• 200g dried white breadcrumbs
• grated zest of 2 lemons
• ½ tsp paprika
• oil, for deep frying

Method

1. First, place the salmon in a food processor and blend to form a smooth paste
2. Add the parsley, dill, one beaten egg, lemon juice and zest, and season well with salt and cracked black pepper. Cover and refrigerate
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, lemon zest, paprika and season generously with salt and black pepper
4. Boil 4 eggs to your liking; soft boil for 6 minutes or hard boil for 10-12 minutes
5. Shell the eggs while they are still warm. Split the salmon paste into four equal portions, and flatten in the palm of your hand. Place an egg in the centre of the flattened salmon and wrap the paste around it, squeezing gently to seal the joins
6. Beat the remaining eggs and dunk each Scotch egg in this. Transfer the Scotch eggs into the breadcrumbs and roll to coat
7. Repeat the coating procedure by dunking the Scotch eggs once again in the beaten egg, and finally into the breadcrumbs
8. Lower the scotch eggs carefully into a deep fat fryer with 180oC, 350oF hot frying oil and deep fry for 5-6 minutes until the eggs are golden brown. Drain on kitchen paper to remove excess oil
9. Serve with tartare sauce, a leafy green salad and lemon wedges
   

Cook’s tip: These eggs are fantastic both hot and cold. You can also make mini wild Alaska salmon Scotch eggs with quails eggs; just boil quails eggs for 2 minutes and shell, wrap the salmon paste around these and coat with beaten egg and breadcrumbs, then deep fry until golden