Friday, June 20, 2008
One of the tastiest appetizers you can prepare for a gathering is a simple salmon spread. Usually salmon spreads are little more than smoked salmon mixed with cream cheese. This spread uses a combination of smoked salmon and freshly poached salmon, mixed together with lemon juice, capers, Dijon, chives, lemon zest, and butter. It's absolutely delicious on toasted baguette slices.
Salmon Spread Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces skinless salmon fillet
- 8 ounces smoked salmon, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon of grated lemon peel
- 2 Tbsp of lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives
- 1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon drained capers, chopped
- 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
- A baguette
Method
1 Poach salmon fillet by heating 1/2 inch of water in a skillet to boiling. Add salmon fillet; reduce heat to low; cover and simmer for 4-5 minutes, or until salmon flakes easily when tested with a fork. Carefully remove salmon from water with a slotted spatula or spoon; drain salmon on paper towels. Transfer salmon to medium bowl; cool slightly.
2 With wooden spoon, stir and mash poached salmon until it almost becomes a smooth paste. Add smoked salmon, butter, Dijon mustard, capers, pepper, lemon peel, lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons chopped chives; mix thoroughly.
3 Spoon salmon mixture into a serving bowl. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving or until soft enough to spread. Sprinkle with remaining chopped chives and serve with sliced French baguette, toasted or plain.
Makes about 3 cups of spread, so depending on how thinly or thickly you put it on baguette slices, you could have 20-50 servings. For a lower-carb version, spread over slices of cucumber.
