Celebrate Christmas with our global team’s favourite salmon dishes

Salmon is loved around the world, and that doesn’t stop at Christmas! If you’re looking for Christmas salmon recipes that will wow your guests, you’re in the right place.

We asked our ASC teams around the world to share their favourite festive salmon dishes and why they are so special to their community. We hope we inspire you to try some delicious new recipes and to make salmon the centrepiece of your Christmas dinner!

 

🍱 In Japan we take sushi to new heights at Christmas!

Salmon sushi cake is a popular festive dish in Japan and is as delicious as it sounds – sticky rice shaped into a circular cake and finished with strips of vegetables and omelette, prawns, fish roe and salmon sashimi shaped into delicate flowers.

Sushi cakes are a modern twist on Japan’s traditional sushi, which has been served on festive occasions, from family parties to festivals, for generations. For Christmas, sushi cakes make traditional sushi even more special and families often make the cakes together as part of their festive traditions. The use of bright colours and fresh ingredients reflect the joy of the festive season and are a brilliant opportunity to showcase a family’s creativity!

A simple version of a traditional sushi cake can be found here but you can add as many seafood toppings as you like – the sky’s the limit!

 

🔥In Germany we roast salmon at bustling festive markets

German Christmas markets play a big role in German holiday tradition and have been replicated around the world. In amongst the crafts, gifts and glühwein (hot, spiced red wine), at German markets you’ll find Flammlachs – salmon cooked over an open fire – a warming, hearty dish to enjoy with friends.

The dish is inspired by Nordic salmon-cooking traditions which also bake the fish over an open flame, giving the salmon a smoky taste and making the flesh very tender. It’s become a traditional dish to enjoy as part of the festive season in Germany, and can be prepared simply with a little salt and pepper or rubbed with your favourite herbs and spices for even more flavour.

Try Flammlachs at home.

 

🍬In Belgium and the Netherlands our bonbons are fishy, not sweet!

At Christmas, both countries love serving salmon bonbons, which are different fillings wrapped in smoked salmon to resemble little festive parcels.

These luxurious treats are a host’s dream – simple to create and can be made in advance, but look like more complicated than they are!

Salmon bonbons make a really versatile starter or canapé, as they can be filled with all kinds of flavour combinations. Our favourites are goat’s cheese, avocado and apple, and ricotta, prawn and dill, but we recommend experimenting!

Here’s one of our favourites to get you started.

 

🧑‍🍳 In the United States, we serve the best snacks!

Salmon is the most popular fish in the U.S. And we don’t just serve salmon as a main meal – we love it for snacking too! So it’s only natural we chose to highlight a quick and delicious salmon spread during the holiday season!

Snacking boards have taken the country by storm, and amongst the crackers or crostini, fruit, nuts and cheese we love to include our salmon pickled pepper cream cheese spread. It’s thick and creamy with a bit of a kick to it – perfect for seafood lovers and those guests who might just be dipping their toes into the seafood world. You can even make it with salmon leftovers, if you have any.

Find our recipe here.

 

🧂In France extra flavour comes from a salt crust

Cooking fish with a salt crust dates back several centuries and originally comes from the Mediterranean and Middle East, where people living in coastal regions used salt to preserve food as well as to cook it. The salt crust gives extra flavour to the food, keeps moisture in and ensures a soft texture.

Salmon has become a popular fish to cook with a salt crust, and you find it not only in France but in Italy and Scandinavia too.

In France, saumon en croûte de sel has become a festive favourite, especially for people living by the coast. French culinary tradition values simplicity, elegance and respect for the natural flavours – all of which are delivered by a salt-crusted salmon dish, which only needs coarse salt, salmon and herbs or spices to create a delicious meal. The highlight? When the salt crust is broken open at the table, showing guests the succulent salmon inside!

Wow your guests with this salt-baked salmon.

 

🍝 In Italy, it must be pasta!

Italians traditionally don’t eat meat on Christmas Eve, which provides a great opportunity to enjoy seafood! Originally part of Catholic tradition, the rules on Christmas Eve meat abstinence were changed by the Church back in 1966, and the tradition now remains as a popular custom.

Our favourite seafood dish for Christmas Eve has to be tagliatelle al salmone – a simple, delicious combination of smoked salmon, fresh pasta, heavy cream, vodka and lemon. This is a family favourite you can make throughout the year, but we look forward to sharing it with guests every year on Christmas Eve.

Make it at home!

Look for the teal ASC label

When you shop for your festive salmon, be sure to look for the teal ASC label – it’s your assurance that your salmon has been responsibly farmed with consideration for the fish, farmers and environment. To learn more about responsible seafood farming, and for lots more delicious seafood recipes, follow us on Instagram.