Beetroot and Salmon Tartare

Most of us pick up ready cooked beetroot in vinegar and forget how easy and delicious freshly cooked beetroot can be and how it adds a natural sweetness to a dish. Roasting produces a delicious flavour that compliments many dshes This starter is healthy, light and fabulous served with rye, pumpernickel or sour dough bread and is impressive at dinner parties or just served as a light lunch

Serves 4
4 medium fresh beetroot, trimmed and scrubbed
1½ tsp chives, finely chopped
1½ tsp tarragon, finely chopped
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp shallots, finely chopped
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
3 drops tabasco sauce
2½ tbsp extra virgin olive oil
½ tsp flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
230g skinless salmon fillet, bones removed, diced
Pea shoots for garnish (optional)
Salt and black pepper


1 Heat the oven to 200C/400F/gas mark 6. Place the beetroot in a small roasting pan with 125ml of water. Cover and cook for about 1 hour, until tender when pierced with a fork. Set aside to cool.
2 Peel and dice the beetroot. Transfer to a bowl and add half the chives, tarragon, mustard and shallots. Add half the lemon juice, all the tabasco, and 1½ tbsp oil. Mix well and season to taste. Cover and refrigerate.
3 Combine the salmon and the remaining chives, tarragon and shallots in a bowl. Add the parsley, and the remaining mustard, lemon juice and olive oil, then season to taste. Mix well, cover and chill.
4 To serve, take four 8cm baking rings and place them on your serving plates. Put a quarter of the beetroot tartare in the bottom of each, then top with an even layer of one quarter of the salmon tartare. Pat gently to compress. Remove the rings, and garnish with pea shoots if desired.

By adding the chives and tarragon to the dish you give it great flavour whilst the lemon gives the dish an added freshness. Salmon can be bought fairly cheaply at the momnet. Look out for special offers and freeze it to use at a later date making this dish a cheap and healthy and great for the summer