Salmon Smear Recipes

THE BEST SMOKED SALMON SPREAD

Steps:

• Process cream cheese in a food processor to soften completely; add salmon, capers, green onion, dill, cream, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, and lemon juice. Process the mixture again until creamy and smooth.

GRILLED SALMON STEAKS

Steps:

• Prepare grill by lighting 4 quarts of charcoal (1 starter chimney's worth), or turning gas grill to medium-high.
• Examine steaks for pin bones by rubbing fingers over surface of meat. If found, remove with bone tweezers or pliers reserved for culinary uses.
• Using a sharp paring or boning knife, trim bones from the cavity side of the steak. Trim the stomach flaps so that 1 side is missing about 2 inches of skin and the other, 1 inch of meat. Roll the skinless section up into the hollow of the cavity, then wrap the other around the outside to form a round resembling a filet mignon. Tie in place with 2 passes of butcher's twine. (Do not tie it too tight or fish will pop out during cooking.)
• Combine cumin, coriander, fennel and peppercorns on a double thick piece of aluminum foil and toast over grill, shaking gently until seeds become fragrant. Crush seeds in mortar and pestle or pour into spare pepper grinder. Coat steaks lightly with oil, season with salt, then liberally grind toasted seeds on both sides of steaks.
• Quickly wipe hot grill grate with a rag or towel dipped in a little Canola oil, then grill fish to medium rare, about 3 minutes per side. (Fish should be well colored on the outside and barely translucent at the center.
• Serve steaks alongside simple salad dressed with "Veni, Vedi, Vinaigrette."

SCHMEAR (CREAM CHEESE WITH LOX SPREAD)

Steps:

• In a food processor, work the cream cheese until it is smooth, turning off the motor and scraping down the sides of the work bowl several times.
• Add the scallions, lox, salt and pepper. Continue working the cream cheese mixture until it is blended (by the way, it is okay if there are some chunks of salmon in the mixture).
• Remove cream cheese mixture to a pretty container or small bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve. Schmear on bagels, matzoh, or toasted pumpernickel or rye bread, or whatever you like.

BAKED SALMON STEAK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8x8-inch baking dish with olive oil.
• Pour 1/4 cup olive oil in a shallow bowl and dip salmon steaks in oil to coat. Stir garlic salt, onion salt, paprika, black pepper, and salt together in a small bowl; sprinkle seasoning onto salmon. Place salmon steaks into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with chives, thyme, and spinach leaves. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the fish and seasonings.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the salmon is cooked through and the flesh flakes easily, about 45 minutes.

PAN SEARED SALMON I

Steps:

• Preheat a large heavy skillet over medium heat for 3 minutes.
• Coat salmon with olive oil. Place in skillet, and increase heat to high. Cook for 3 minutes. Sprinkle with capers, and salt and pepper. Turn salmon over, and cook for 5 minutes, or until browned. Salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork.
• Transfer salmon to individual plates, and garnish with lemon slices.

NEW YORK CITY "SCHMEAR" SALMON

Steps:

• Make the salmon: Rub salmon with liquid smoke, salt and pepper. Bring to room temperature in roasting pan. Place in 250-degree, pre-heated oven. Cook 35 minutes. Make sauce: Mince garlic, onion and chives. Place in food processor with remaining sauce ingredients. For a thicker sauce, add more cream cheese. For a thinner sauce, add more cream. Taste and adjust seasonings, remembering that salmon itself will also be somewhat salty. Assemble the dish: Place tomato slices on salmon. Top with sauce. Garnish with capers.

SALMON SPREAD

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, onion, lemon juice, horseradish and mustard. Stir in the salmon. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve with crackers or as a sandwich spread.

SALMON SMEAR

Steps:

• Combine cream cheese, salmon, lemon juice, onion, horseradish, salt, and liquid smoke in a bowl. Blend well.