Smoked Trout Schmear Recipes

SMOKED SALMON SPREAD

Steps:

• Cream the cheese in an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until just smooth. Add the sour cream, lemon juice, dill, horseradish, salt, and pepper, and mix. Add the smoked salmon and mix well. Chill and serve with crudites or crackers.
• If you can find it, I prefer Norwegian salmon; it's drier and less salty than other smoked salmon.

SMOKED TROUT SPREAD

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in the bowl of your food processor fitted with the steel blade. Process using onoff turns until finely chopped but not pureed. Spoon into a decorative bowl or crock, cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight so the flavors can meld.
• Note: It's important not to overprocess this or the texture will become powdery and mousselike.
• To serve: To enjoy best flavor, remove the spread from the refrigerator fifteen minutes or so to allow the mixture to "temp up". Serve either with assorted warmed crackers or any of the suggested accompaniments listed in the introduction to this recipe.

SMOKED TROUT SCHMEAR

Steps:

• Place crumbled trout and softened cream cheese in a bowl. Add lemon juice, dill, chives, capers, horseradish, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper. Mix together with a fork until mixture achieves the chunkiness or creaminess you prefer.
• Transfer to a ramekin. Wrap with plastic wrap.
• Refrigerate for 2 or 3 hours before serving to let flavors develop.
• Note: The ideal amount of salt, acidity, and heat are very subjective. Equal proportions of cream cheese and smoked trout is a good starting point, but everything else should be added "to taste."

SMOKED-TROUT SPREAD

Steps:

• Break up trout into food processor, add chives and grind until finely minced. Pulse in lemon juice and yogurt. Season with pepper.
• Transfer to a small serving bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.