Sometimes I know which ingredients I want to use but I don’t know how to assemble them to make something new and creative. So, I start looking for inspiration anywhere: TV, cookbooks, magazines.
Nowadays the easiest way is to search online on websites such Pinterest, TasteSpotting or FoodGawker. You can just type the ingredients and a ton of drooling food pictures come up to inspire creativity and -most of the times- an incredible sudden hunger.
Since all I needed was inspiration, I didn’t look for a recipe. I just looked for ingredients pairing with smoked salmon and improvised to create a nice appetizer.
Easy and Quick Appetizer
This is a perfect appetizer for Christmas or New Year’s Eve if you’re having a fish menu. But it’s actually perfect for any kind of dinner – formal or informal.
It’s quick and easy and it taste delicious (of course, you can’t go wrong pairing smoked salmon with cream cheese and avocado!). You can use normal drinking glasses – it’s nice if you use glass because you can see all the layers. But you can also make them in cocottes or use a pastry ring to make a tower on a plate. Also a very stunning presentation!
TIP: Since these glasses were too big I did 2 layers of avocado, but for a greater balance of flavors I would recommend only 1 layer of each!
The Recipe
If you like this recipe, try also the Tuna and Lime Tartare. This recipe would pair well with the Limoncello Prosecco Drink.
Smoked Salmon and Avocado glass
Ingredients
- 1 Ripe Avocado
- 3.5 oz Smoked Salmon
- 1/3 cup Cream Cheese
- 3 tbsp Fresh Chives
- 1 Lemon
- 1 Tortilla
- Cumin
- Salt
- Black Pepper
Instructions
- First, grate the lemon zest and set it aside. Cut the avocado in half, scoop out the pulp and roughly chop it, toss it in a food processor and immediately add the juice of 1/2 lemon so it doesn't turn brown.
- Season with salt, black pepper and a pinch of cumin and blend it until it's reduced in small chunks (or if you prefer you can blend it until it's smooth and creamy). Alternatively, you can also mash it with a fork.
- With a spoon or a sac-a-poche, fill the bottom of a glass with part of the mashed avocado.
- Chop the salmon and season it with the lemon zest (to taste) and black pepper. Add it in the glass on top of the avocado.
- Finely chop the chives and mix them with the cream cheese. Add it on top of the salmon and then finish with another layer of avocado (although you can make as many layers as you want).
- Cut the tortilla in small triangles, season with salt and pepper and toast it in a skillet or in the oven until crunchy.
- Serve the glasses with grated lemon zest and the toasted tortillas.
Notes
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
2 Comments
sue|theviewfromgreatisland
January 11, 2016 at 6:13 pmThis is absolutely beautiful! I can imagine all sorts of pretty variations, too 🙂
Jessica
January 11, 2016 at 8:17 pmThank you! Yes, it is really versatile! 🙂