Smoked Salmon & Horseradish Cream Verrine with Cucumber & Tomato

All Photos © Christine Elise McCarthy 2013

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I recently discovered the VERRINE.  Here is the web definition:

verrine

A verrine is a confection, originally from France, made by layering ingredients in a small glass. It can be either sweet or savoury.

If you Google image search “verrine” you get an amazing array of gorgeous appetizers & desserts.  See HERE.

Last night, I decided to try my hand at one.  As per usual, I was restricted to what I already had on hand.  Fortunately, I had smoked salmon, cucumbers, dill & heirloom cherry tomatoes.  I also had a fresh horseradish root.That fucker cost $8 but it is like a Fred Flintstone club.  I grated a bunch up with a microplane but in the end, couldn’t really taste it.  You might just want to use a little prepared horseradish sauce,instead, if you attempt this recipe.  Also – I left my cream sauce very thick – like a whipped cream cheese.  You might like yours a bit runnier.  In that case, just use more heavy cream.The only part of this dish that is a proper recipe is the horseradish cream.  The rest is just a layering of ingredients that you can alter to your own tastes.  I made these in three sizes: a shot glass, a stemmed apperitif glass & a tumbler.  You can choose the serving size appropriate for the occasion.  Know that I ate all three of these myself last night.  These would make a wonderful brunch starter – sort of like a bagel with the works – without the bagel.

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Horseradish Cream

INGREDIENTS

4 oz cream cheese

4 TBS fresh grated horseradish root OR prepared horseradish sauce to taste

2 sprigs fresh dill

7 (or more) TBS heavy cream

1/8 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS

Blend everything in a food processor.  Add more heavy cream if you like a thinner sauce.  Add more horseradish sauce if you enjoy kick.

Smoked Salmon Verrine with Cucumber & Tomato & Horseradish Cream

INGREDIENTS

Smoked salmon

Cucumber

Tomato (I used multicolored heirloom cherry tomatoes)

Dill

Capers

Fresh lemon

Fresh bread or bagel

Horseradish cream

Fresh pepper

DIRECTIONS

Dice the salmon, tomato, cucumber & bread.  Put some bread in the bottom of each serving glass (I only used bread in the tumbler – not in the smaller verrines) & layer with cucumber, tomato & horseradish cream.  Top with dill & capers & squeeze a little lemon on top.  Finish with cracked pepper & serve!

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