We celebrated this past New Year’s Eve with friends, sharing a decadent, eight-course meal: three seafood/fish dishes, two vegetarian, two meat, and one dessert — each paired with a glass of wine or champagne. One of the dishes we contributed was a Smoked Salmon and Avocado Roll, a fresh, creamy, and zesty appetizer paired with a glass of 2023 Peth-Wetz Unfiltered Riesling.
The gastronomic feast began shortly after 18:30 and ended just before midnight. No one knew in advance what the others were making, and surprisingly, there were no duplicates. Each dish was thoughtfully put together and out-of-this-world delicious.
If you enjoy fish appetizers, you may also want to try our Trout ceviche with grapefruit.
Ingredients:
- 2 medium organic limes (zest and juice)
- 2 Tbsp freshly grated horseradish
- 3 Tbsp sesame oil
- 2 ripe avocados
- ¼ cup (about 120 g) peeled, deseeded cucumber
- 1 bunch of dill (thick stems removed)
- 5 large (butterflied) or 10 smaller slices of smoked salmon
- 4 Tbsp capers, rinsed
- Small bunch of arugula (for garnish)
- 2 Tbsp black sesame seeds (for finishing)
- Sea salt and pepper (I used a colourful mix, milder than black)
Instructions:
- Grate the zest of one lime into a medium bowl. Peel and finely grate the horseradish into the same bowl, then add the lime juice (about 3 tbsp) and the sesame oil. Stir to combine and set the dressing aside.
- Chop the avocados into small pieces and place them in a medium bowl. Finely chop the cucumber and add it to the bowl. Chop a good handful of dill, removing the thick stems, and add it to the bowl, using as much as you like. Add 2 to 3 tbsp of lime juice and gently toss everything together.
- Lay a slice of smoked salmon on a smooth work surface and trim it into a rough rectangle. If the slice is uneven or too short, add an extra piece of salmon with a slight overlap. The rectangle should measure roughly 5 × 16 cm, but it does not need to be exact.
- Place a heaping tablespoon of the avocado mixture about 5 cm from one short end of the salmon. Fold the short end over the filling, then roll it up. The mixture may fall out and look messy at first, but once a tube begins to form, stand the roll upright and continue rolling until complete. Return any fallen avocado mixture to the top of the roll, tidying it as needed, and add more filling if the roll is not full.
- Use a small spatula to slide under the roll and place it on a small serving plate. Add a few fingerfuls of arugula as a garnish.
Elegant Smoked Salmon and Avocado Roll Appetizer
A fresh, elegant smoked salmon roll filled with creamy avocado, cucumber, and dill, finished with a zesty lime–sesame dressing and capers.
Ingredients
Method
- Grate the zest of one lime into a medium bowl. Peel and finely grate the horseradish into the same bowl, then add the lime juice (about 3 tbsp) and the sesame oil. Stir to combine and set the dressing aside.
- Chop the avocados into small pieces and place them in a medium bowl. Finely chop the cucumber and add it to the bowl. Chop a good handful of dill, removing the thick stems, and add it to the bowl, using as much as you like. Add 2 to 3 tbsp of lime juice and gently toss everything together.
- Lay a slice of smoked salmon on a smooth work surface and trim it into a rough rectangle. If the slice is uneven or not long enough, add a piece of extra salmon with a slight overlap. The rectangle should measure roughly 5 × 16 cm, but it does not need to be exact.
- Place a heaping tablespoon of the avocado mixture about 5 cm from one short end of the salmon. Fold the short end over the filling and begin rolling it up. The mixture may fall out and look messy at first, but once a tube begins to form, stand the roll upright and continue rolling until complete. Return any fallen avocado mixture to the top of the roll, tidying it as needed, and add more filling if the roll is not full.
- Use a small spatula to slide under the roll and place it on a small serving plate. Add a few fingerfuls of arugula to the plate as a garnish.
- Whisk the dressing with a fork until creamy, then fold in the capers. If the dressing is too thick, add a little more sesame oil or lime juice to taste. Drizzle the dressing over the arugula and lightly over the salmon roll, sprinkle with black sesame seeds, and serve.