Hot-Smoked Salmon with Creme Fraiche and Crispbread -- a 30-second appetizer
As a former resident of Seattle, I’m a sucker for salmon in all its forms, but especially smoked salmon. It’s one of my go-to ingredients for turning an everyday dish into something exquisite.
First a quick smoked-salmon primer: Hot-smoked salmon has a firm, flaky texture, since the fish is cooked during the smoking process. Cold-smoked salmon (lox is included in this category), has a soft and silky texture, and is usually served in thin slices.
For an easy-but-dreamy Valentine’s Day breakfast, fold smoked salmon into an omelet with some goat cheese and dill, or lay it across rye toast and top it with a poached egg.
Construct delectable little hors d’oeuvre for a romantic dinner -- or any get-together at all -- by playing mix-and-match with the following ingredients.
- Base (choose one): crackers, toasted baguette or rye bread , Belgian endive leaves, cucumber slices, or thick-cut potato chips
- Spread (choose one): cream cheese, goat cheese, or crème fraiche. Mix in fresh parsley, dill, mint, basil, or chives if you like.
- Hot- or cold-smoked salmon
- Toppings (choose one or two): capers, red onion, avocado, radish, asparagus, hard-cooked egg, marinated artichoke hearts, peppadew peppers, roasted red peppers, halved grape tomatoes, or finely grated lemon zest.
Looking for more smoked salmon inspiration? Try some of these recipes:
Rye Toasts with Smoked Salmon, Cucumber, and Red Onion
Potato Galette with Smoked Salmon
1 Rye Toasts with Smoked Salmon, Cucumber, and Red Onion
2 Smoked-Salmon Cobb Salad
3 Smoked Salmon Croque Madames
4 Potato Galette with Smoked Salmon
5 An afternoon meeting in the test kitchen is perked up by hot-smoked salmon from Pure Food Fish Market. http://www.freshseafood.com/
