Finding Light & Joy – Smoked Fish Spread

Smoked Fish Spread | My Blue&White Kitchen

One night a couple of months ago, I sat down and "wrote down" a (mental) list of things I would like to start doing, do more, or do again. I was searching for more happy moments, for ways to bring more light and joy into my life. I quickly realised that I would love to have a veggie garden this summer. I'm still working on it but hope to harvest things like radishes, peas, and herbs later this summer. I wanted to knit more both by myself and in company. Since then, I've spent many days knitting while drinking coffee and chatting with lovely people. I also knew that it was finally time to start taking riding lessons again. I spent a great deal of my childhood and adolescence at the stables but had since neglected this passion of mine. Last Monday, I finally sat in the sattle again! My muscles are still hurting (like seriously HURTING!) but I had so much fun. It felt good and familiar. I had found my happy place; well, one of them.

Daily hassles, work, and chores... It's so easy to start neglecting ourselves. What do you want? What brightens up your day? Stop for a while and listen to yourself; to your body and mind. Life can be so very short, so why wait?

Smoked Fish Spread | My Blue&White Kitchen

Because this is a food blog, I also have a recipe for you. This smoked fish spread is one of those recipes that I originally didn't even plan to share with you. I just knew that it wouldn't be the most beautiful dish to look at and that it would be especially hard to do its deliciousness justice in a pic. But as I had my first sporkful of this spread, I just knew that if I wanted to do justice to you, my readers, I would need to share it on the blog. So I did my best to make it look like a thing that you would like to make.

This smoked fish spread is wonderful served on hearty, Nordic style rye bread or with boiled new potatoes. You could also use it as sandwich stuffing! It's really quick and easy to make; the only step that needs a bit of accuracy and time is boning the fish. The spread can be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge until ready to use. Are you celebrating Midsummer next week? Well, I'm definitely going to serve this next Friday and am sure that it will be a total crowd-pleaser.


Smoked Fish Spread

makes about 4 dl / 1 ⅔ cups

You can use any smoked fish. I recommend a nice mix of 2 or 3 types of fish – I used smoked rainbow trout and Atlantic mackerel. The spread can be made ahead and stored in the fridge until ready to use. Serve with hearty rye bread or boiled new potatoes.


300 g smoked fish, skin and bones removed
200 g sour cream
½ red onion, finely chopped
a small bunch of dill, finely chopped
juice of about ¼ lemon
pinch of fine sea salt
freshly ground black pepper

more dill, for garnish


Put the smoked fish into a food processor and pulse briefly - we want to have the fish slightly puréed. In a small bowl, mix together sour cream and onion. Add smoked fish and dill. Season with lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.

Place in the fridge until ready to use.


Smoked Fish Spread | My Blue&White Kitchen

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Hello 2015 – Nordic Canapés with Roe & Gravlax

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas in good company and enjoyed delicious food and got a chance to relax for a few days! If you're like me, you're surprised by the approach of New Year's Eve. It's quite ridiculous as Christmas and New Year are always just one week apart from each other, but every single year I find myself kind of surprised by their proximity. Suddenly, one has to change from Christmas mood to the celebration of a new, hopefully exciting year.

Some of you may have made plans for New Year's Eve. Maybe a party at a friend's house or a casual get-together? Or maybe you're feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all and consider spending a night at home. Or you're hosting a New Year's Eve party yourself (awesome!). Well, for all of you who haven't yet decided what to serve next Wednesday whether to friends, family, or just yourself, I have a Nordic treat that I strongly recommend you to consider.

I call these Nordic canapés as they really are a culinary love letter to Nordic flavors. Dark rye bread is topped with smetana, a kind of sour cream from Eastern and Central Europe, finely diced red onion, roe, gravlax, and dill. These are super easy and quick to prepare, look absolutely stunning, and taste amazing. In my world, there's no better way to welcome guests into your home. Serve with a glass of sparkling wine and welcome 2015 with a broad smile.


Nordic Canapés with Roe & Gravlax

I recommend dark rye bread or Nordic potato rye bread/limpa (which I actually used), but crispbread or lightly toasted toast would work as well. Use whatever roe you like the most or are able to find; this time, I used vendance (the orange one in the pictures) and European whitefish (the yellow one). You can make gravlax yourself or buy it from a trusted source. Always make sure the gravlax is fresh; it should be consumed within a couple of days.

dark rye bread or Nordic potato rye bread/limpa
butter
smetana or full-fat sour cream
red onion, finely diced
fish roe, thawed if frozen
gravlax, cut into thin slices
dill

Cut out canapés using a cookie cutter of your choice. I used a round one with a diameter of 4 cm / 1.5". Lightly butter each piece. Top with smetana or full-fat sour cream, finely diced red onion, roe or gravlax (or even both), and dill. Serve and enjoy!


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