Smoked Trout Appetizer Spread is centerpiece of holiday platter

Posted on Mon, Dec 10, 2012 : 11:20 a.m.

Smoked Trout Appetizer Spread is centerpiece of holiday platter

By Peggy Lampman

Smoked Trout Appetizer Spread

Peggy Lampman | Contributor

The new Holiday Cookbook answers all of your cooking needs. Strapped for time? Check out the well-tested Super-Simple section.

The Smoked Trout Spread from Plum Market is delicious spread on crackers or cucumber slices without alteration. And if you’ve more time than I do today, you could pipe or stuff the spread into cherry tomato shells.

In ready-made food, less (on the ingredient list) is more.

There’s really no reason to alter the Plum Market recipe further. But I couldn’t help myself; I have some sort of recipe disorder that won't allow me purchase a ready-made food without adding to it, as in the recipe below.

The container cost me about $5, and there were no funky preservatives or ingredients that could only be translated by a chemist. It’s scratch-made with the fish, cream cheese, sour cream and other seasoning by real folks, not machines.

Ann Arbor delis are filled with yummy read-to-go party fare such as this. Monahan's, Traklements, Back Alley Gourmet, Zingerman's, Whole Foods, Produce Station, Mediterranean Market, Arbor Farms and Busch's come to mind. How about a platter of artisan smoked meat from Biercamp? A friend of mine has Mediterrano fill her own bowls with party fare. Have you ever baked off any of those frozen spinach phyllo triangles from Trader Joes? Pretty dang good. And ordering a tray of freshly prepared sushi from one of the many Japanese Restaurants around town could be the most popular appetizer in a spread.

Here are some examples of other ready-mades I've dressed up for parties: Fruit and Cheese Platter, Mediterranean Appetizer Platter, and Smoked Duck and Apples.

Yield: 1 small bowl of dip
Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

1/3-1/2 pound container of Plum Market Smoked Trout Spread
2 tablespoons capers
1 teaspoon chopped red onion
2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill
1 or more teaspoons horseradish, optional
Bread rounds, crackers, cucumbers, celery slices for serving

Directions

Combine trout spread with capers, onion, dill and horseradish to taste, if using.

Peggy Lampman is a real-time food writer and photographer posting daily feeds on her website and in the Food & Grocery section of Annarbor.com. You may also e-mail her at peggy@dinnerfeed.com.

Comments

Linda Peck

Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 2:04 a.m.

Peggy, I made a double batch for the family gathering today and it was totally gone by dinnertime. Thanks again! I will do this one again.

Peggy Lampman

Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 1:03 p.m.

So glad it was enjoyed, Linda! Thanks for the feedback and have a lovely holiday. Peggy

Linda Peck

Wed, Dec 12, 2012 : 5:34 p.m.

Thanks, Peggy! This will be great at my holiday gathering!

Epengar

Mon, Dec 10, 2012 : 10:34 p.m.

Bay Port Fish brings fresh, smoked, and frozen fish down from Saginaw Bay to the Ann Arbor Farmers Market. They have whitefish and trout spreads too. The Market is open on Saturdays 7-3 all year, and on Wednesdays 7-3 through Dec 19. http://www.realtimefarms.com/farm/5388008/bay-port-fish

treetowncartel

Tue, Dec 11, 2012 : 5:39 p.m.

Interesting, I had always been told not to eat fish from the Saginaw area due to the contaminants in the water from all the industrial manufactures that were located in the area and upstream to Dow in Mt. Pleasant

Peggy Lampman

Mon, Dec 10, 2012 : 11:18 p.m.

I'll make a point to try that one - thanks for the tip!

treetowncartel

Mon, Dec 10, 2012 : 8:08 p.m.

@ Peggy, they have challah, and it is good. I usually get the pastrami/corned beef combo that comes on an onion roll. I would also give a thumbs up to their roast beef. Also, just to forewarn you, there is no seating at the deli.

treetowncartel

Tue, Dec 11, 2012 : 2:32 a.m.

I have had the Breadbasket's sandwiches. While it is good, the one located in Oak Park on Greenfield is much better than the one here, they also have a more expansive menu. Locally, I like to go to Back Alley Gourmet for a sandwich on grilled Challah. Although, half thetime when I call in an order and sub out the rye and ask for challah they still put the sandwich on rye.

Peggy Lampman

Mon, Dec 10, 2012 : 10:09 p.m.

It's been a while since I've been out that way. Have you tried the corned beef and pastrami sandwiches at the Bread Basket across from Showcase Cinema? Man oh man...

Peggy Lampman

Mon, Dec 10, 2012 : 6:55 p.m.

That's the place with the incredible challah, right?

treetowncartel

Mon, Dec 10, 2012 : 5:02 p.m.

Ooops, Freudian slip, I meant to say smoked whitefish salad.

treetowncartel

Mon, Dec 10, 2012 : 5 p.m.

FYI, The Star Deli in Southfield at Telegraph and Twelve mile has the best smoked trout salad/spread in the region.