Hot Smoked Salmon Picnic Loaf Recipes

HOT SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• The night before serving, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons salt, the peppercorns, and lemon zest in a small bowl. Place the salmon fillets skin-side down on a large flat ceramic or glass dish. Spread the mixture evenly on top of the salmon. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• At least 1 1/2 hours before you plan to cook the salmon, soak the wood chips in water.
• Thirty minutes before you¿re ready to cook, heat the charcoal. Place a double layer of coals on one side of the grill, light them, and allow them to burn until the coals are gray on the outside. (I use a charcoal chimney to light the coals.) Sprinkle half the soaked wood chips on the hot coals (you will see lots of smoke). On the other side of the grill, place the foil pan and pour in 1 cup water. Place the cooking grate over the coals and the pan.
• Scrape most of the sugar mixture off the salmon and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt. Place the salmon skin-side down on the side of the grill directly over the foil pan. Put the lid on the grill, making sure the top and bottom vents are open. Smoke the salmon for 10 minutes. Add the remaining wood chips directly on the coals and cook for 5 to 10 more minutes, depending on the thickness of the salmon, until it's firm to the touch and barely cooked. Don't overcook the salmon or it will be dry!
• Transfer the salmon to a clean platter and immediately cover tightly with aluminum foil. Allow to rest for 10 minutes. Remove and discard the skin, if desired, and serve hot, at room temperature, or cold with the Fresh Dill Sauce.
• Place the mayonnaise, sour cream, yogurt, cream cheese, scallions, dill, parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Puree for a few seconds, until well mixed. Add the cucumber and puree for another few seconds, until combined. Pour into a container and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to develop.

SMOKED SALMON PARTY LOAF

Steps:

• With an electric mixer, beat 24 oz.
• cream cheese with the butter until blended.
• In another bowl, combine 4 oz.
• cream cheese and pesto.
• In another bowl, combine the smoked salmon and 4 oz.
• cream cheese.
• In another bowl, combine 4 oz.
• cream cheese with the chopped olives.
• In a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan lined with plastic wrap, spread 1 cup of butter/cream cheese mixture.
• Spread pesto/cream cheese mixture on top.
• Carefully, spread 1 cup of butter/ cream cheese mixture on top.
• Carefullly, spread smoked salmon mixture on top.
• Spread 1 cup of butter mixture on top.
• Spread olive mixture on top.
• Finally, carefully spread the last cup of butter mixture on top.
• Cover with plastic wrap.
• Press firmly and chill until cold and firm, at least 8 hours or up to 3 days.
• Dropping the individual layers with a teaspoon makes it easier to spread more evenly.
• To serve, remove top plastic and turn onto a platter.
• Slice and serve on individual plates.
• It's nice served with thin slices of bread, toast points, or crackers.

SALMON PICNIC PLATTER

Steps:

• Hard boil the eggs by cooking them in boiling water for 8 mins, then cool quickly under cold running water and peel. Halve the eggs and pop the yolks into a bowl. Mash the yolks with the mayonnaise, cayenne pepper and some seasoning. Spoon or pipe the mixture back into the egg halves and chill until you need them.
• Flake the cooked salmon into large chunks and put it on a platter with the hot-smoked salmon and the eggs.
• Spread the bottom half of the rolls with cream cheese, then add the smoked salmon and a squeeze of lemon juice and top with the other half of the roll. Cut each one in half.
• Peel and slice the cucumber. Mix the yogurt with the dill, lemon zest and some seasoning, then stir in the cucumber. Pile the mixture into the centre of the platter. Serve with extra bread, rolls or wraps and lemon wedges.