Rillettes de Saumon | French Salmon Spread
- Appetizers & Snacks, Breakfast & Brunch, Dips & Spreads & Sauces, Fingerfood, France
Rillettes de Saumon is a delicious salmon spread with a delicate blend of flavors and creamy texture. Tender poached salmon is mixed with creamy cream cheese, seasoned with garlic, shallots, fresh chives, and a touch of lemon juice. This elegant French dish is ideal as an appetizer, snack, or sophisticated addition to dinner parties or barbecues. Served on toasted baguette or crackers, this quick and easy recipe guarantees a moment of culinary delight for any occasion.
Ingredients you will need for this recipe:
How to make Rillettes de Saumon:
(1) Cook the Salmon Fillets:
In a pot of lightly salted water, bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the salmon fillets for about 8-10 minutes until the salmon is fully cooked. Remove the salmon from the water and let it cool. Once cooled, flake the salmon with a fork and place it in a food processor.
(2) Prepare the Ingredients:
While the salmon is cooking, finely chop the garlic and shallot, and thinly slice the fresh chives.
(3) Mix the Rillettes:
In the food processor, combine the flaked salmon, chopped shallot and garlic, sliced chives, lemon juice, cream cheese, and soft butter. Blend until you get a smooth, spreadable mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
(4) Serve:
Transfer the salmon rillettes to a serving bowl, garnish with additional chives, and refrigerate for at least one hour to let the flavors meld.
Serve with toasted baguette slices, bread, or crackers.
Some Recipe Tips:
Storage: Rillettes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Poaching the Salmon: Instead of boiling the salmon, you can poach it for a more delicate texture. Simmer the fillets gently in water or a mixture of water and white wine with a few aromatics (like bay leaves, peppercorns, and dill) until just cooked through.
Adding Texture: For added texture, you can mix in some finely diced smoked salmon along with the poached salmon. This will give your rillettes a delightful combination of flavors and textures.
Balancing Flavors: Adjust the lemon juice and seasoning to taste. If you prefer a tangier rillettes, add a bit more lemon juice. For a creamier texture, you can add a little more cream cheese or butter.
Herb Variations: Experiment with other fresh herbs such as dill, parsley, or tarragon to add different flavor profiles to your rillettes.
Serving Suggestions: For an extra touch, serve your rillettes with capers, pickles, or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice on top. These accompaniments can add a nice contrast to the richness of the rillettes.
Rillettes de Saumon | French Salmon Spread
Course: Appetizers & Snacks, Dips & Spreads & Sauces, Fingerfood, Breakfast & BrunchCuisine: FranceDifficulty: Easy15
minutes1
hourRillettes de Saumon is a delicious salmon spread with a delicate blend of flavors and creamy texture. Tender poached salmon is mixed with creamy cream cheese, seasoned with garlic, shallots, fresh chives, and a touch of lemon juice. This elegant French dish is ideal as an appetizer, snack, or sophisticated addition to dinner parties or barbecues. Served on toasted baguette or crackers, this quick and easy recipe guarantees a moment of culinary delight for any occasion.
Ingredients
250 g salmon fillets
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
2 tablespoons thinly sliced chives
2 tablespoons lemon juice
100 g cream cheese
1 tablespoon soft butter
salt & pepper to taste
1 baguette, bread, or crackers of your choice
Directions
Cook the Salmon Fillets:
In a pot of lightly salted water, bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the salmon fillets for about 8-10 minutes until the salmon is fully cooked. Remove the salmon from the water and let it cool. Once cooled, flake the salmon with a fork and place it in a food processor.
Prepare the Ingredients:
While the salmon is cooking, finely chop the garlic and shallot, and thinly slice the fresh chives.
Mix the Rillettes:
In the food processor, combine the flaked salmon, chopped shallot and garlic, sliced chives, lemon juice, cream cheese, and soft butter. Blend until you get a smooth, spreadable mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve:
Transfer the salmon rillettes to a serving bowl, garnish with additional chives, and refrigerate for at least one hour to let the flavors meld.
Serve with toasted baguette slices, bread, or crackers.
Notes
- Storage: Rillettes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
- Poaching the Salmon: Instead of boiling the salmon, you can poach it for a more delicate texture. Simmer the fillets gently in water or a mixture of water and white wine with a few aromatics (like bay leaves, peppercorns, and dill) until just cooked through.
- Adding Texture: For added texture, you can mix in some finely diced smoked salmon along with the poached salmon. This will give your rillettes a delightful combination of flavors and textures.
- Balancing Flavors: Adjust the lemon juice and seasoning to taste. If you prefer a tangier rillettes, add a bit more lemon juice. For a creamier texture, you can add a little more cream cheese or butter.
- Herb Variations: Experiment with other fresh herbs such as dill, parsley, or tarragon to add different flavor profiles to your rillettes.
- Serving Suggestions: For an extra touch, serve your rillettes with capers, pickles, or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice on top. These accompaniments can add a nice contrast to the richness of the rillettes.
