Last-minute Party Food: Herbed crepes with smoked salmon and radishes
Gosh, it’s all of a sudden New Year’s Eve and I haven’t gotten a thing ready for the party tonight!
A rummage through the refrigerator and my trusty Thermomix will see me through, I know it! Ah, great. A few slices of smoked salmon, an egg and some cream cheese, plus a few herbs in the bottom drawer. Saved!
Here is my absolute favourite party food which is really quite simple and so tasty, everyone comes back for more. Darn, no leftovers for me the next morning…
Herbed crepes with smoked salmon and radishes
Recipe adapted from Gourmet Magazine, January 2004
Makes 2 servings or about 12 hors d’oeuvres. Easily doubled or tripled.
Active time: 30 min; Start to finish: 1 hr
According to Gourmet Magazine, “All but the most experienced of crêpe chefs will admit that the first crêpe in a batch is often not of the best quality. The level of heat under the skillet needs to be fine-tuned as you go. With that in mind, our recipe makes enough batter for 2 crêpes, even though you’ll only need 1 for this hors d’oeuvre. If the first crêpe comes out well, freeze the extra, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, to use another evening.”
For crêpes
1/3 cup (80 g) whole milk
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vegetable oil plus additional for cooking crêpes
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill
For filling
1 oz cream cheese (30 g), softened
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
Rounded 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 oz (30 g) thinly sliced smoked salmon
2 medium radishes, cut into 1/8-inch-thick matchsticks
Make crêpes:
- Blend milk, flour, egg, and 2 teaspoons oil in your Thermomix until smooth, about 5 seconds/Speed 5. Add chives and dill and pulse 1 or 2 times to just combine. Chill batter, covered, 30 minutes.
- Stir batter to redistribute herbs. Lightly brush a 10-inch nonstick skillet with oil, then heat over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Holding skillet off heat, pour in half of batter (1/4 cup), immediately tilting and rotating skillet to coat bottom. (If batter sets before skillet is coated, reduce heat slightly for next crêpe.) Return skillet to heat and cook until crêpe is just set and pale golden around edges, 10 to 15 seconds. Loosen edge of crêpe with a heatproof plastic spatula, then flip crêpe over carefully with your fingertips. Cook until underside is set, about 20 seconds more. Transfer crêpe to a plate. Make another crêpe in same manner, brushing skillet again with oil. If you have doubled or tripled the recipe, continue until all batter is used up.
Prepare filling and assemble hors d’oeuvre:
- Stir together cream cheese, lemon juice, zest, and pepper in a small bowl until smooth.
- Put 1 crêpe, browned side up, on a work surface, and spread with all of cheese mixture. Arrange salmon in an even layer over bottom half of crêpe (side nearest you), then scatter radishes over salmon. Beginning at bottom, tightly roll up crêpe, then cut roll crosswise into 4 pieces, trimming ends if desired.
Madame Thermomix’s Top Tips:
• Crêpes can be made (but not filled) 1 day ahead and chilled, layered between sheets of wax paper and then wrapped in plastic wrap.
• Cheese mixture can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring to room temperature before using.
• Crêpe can be rolled with filling (but not cut) 1 hour ahead and kept, wrapped in plastic wrap, at room temperature. Cut into pieces just before serving.
