Savory Smoked Salmon & Olive Tapenade Crostini
Elevate your appetizer game with these Savory Smoked Salmon & Olive Tapenade Crostini. Perfect for gatherings or an elegant evening at home, these delicious bites offer a delightful combination of rich flavors and light textures. The crispy baguette slices provide a satisfying crunch, while the garlicky olive tapenade adds a robust, briny contrast to the silky, smooth smoked salmon. Enhanced with a fresh dill-infused crème fraîche, each crostini is a culinary delight that will impress your guests. Prepping the tapenade and the crème fraîche ahead of time allows this hors d’oeuvre to come together in minutes—a perfect solution for entertaining on the fly. Treat yourself and your guests to a flavorful, bite-sized treat that’s as beautiful as it is delicious!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
17
Ingredients
Ingredients
smoked salmon
1 lb (sliced into 3-inch pieces)
baguette
1 (thinly sliced and toasted)
olive oil
2 tablespoons
red onion
1 small (cut into quarters and thinly sliced)
green olives
3/4 cup (finely chopped)
black olives
3/4 cup (finely chopped)
additional olive oil
1/8 cup
lemon zest
1 teaspoon
capers
1 teaspoon (chopped)
garlic
1 teaspoon (minced)
fresh parsley
1 teaspoon (finely chopped)
ground black pepper
1 pinch
crème fraîche
1 cup
lemon zest (for sauce)
1 teaspoon
lemon juice
1 tablespoon
fresh dill
1 tablespoon (finely chopped)
kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon
Instructions
1
Prepare the Olive Tapenade by finely chopping both green and black olives. In a mixing bowl, combine the chopped olives with 1/8 cup of olive oil, minced garlic, chopped capers, lemon zest, parsley, and a pinch of ground black pepper. Mix well and refrigerate until ready to use.
2
For the Crème Fraîche Sauce, combine 1 cup of crème fraîche with 1 teaspoon of lemon zest, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, chopped dill, and a pinch of kosher salt in a bowl. Stir until smooth and well combined. Refrigerate until it's time to assemble the crostini.
3
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). If you prefer, you can use pumpernickel slices or small sandwich party breads as alternatives to baguettes. Slice the baguette thinly and place the slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle a little olive oil over the top of each slice, then bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, approximately 5-7 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.
4
To assemble the crostini, spread a generous spoonful of the olive tapenade onto each cooled baguette slice. Add a few rings of red onion on top, followed by a slice of folded smoked salmon. Finish each piece with a dollop of the dill crème fraîche sauce.
5
For an added touch, garnish each crostini with a sprig of fresh dill, a thin twist of lemon, or an olive slice before serving.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Savory Smoked Salmon & Olive Tapenade Crostini?
It is an elegant appetizer featuring crispy baguette slices topped with a garlicky olive tapenade, smoked salmon, and a fresh dill-infused crème fraîche.
How do I prepare the olive tapenade?
Finely chop green and black olives, then mix them with 1/8 cup olive oil, minced garlic, chopped capers, lemon zest, parsley, and black pepper.
What is the recommended oven temperature for toasting the bread?
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to toast the baguette slices.
How long should I bake the baguette slices?
Bake them for approximately 5-7 minutes until they are golden brown.
Can I use a bread other than a baguette?
Yes, pumpernickel slices or small sandwich party breads are excellent alternatives.
What goes into the Crème Fraîche Sauce?
The sauce is a mix of 1 cup crème fraîche, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, chopped dill, and a pinch of kosher salt.
How should the smoked salmon be prepared?
The recipe calls for 1 lb of smoked salmon sliced into 3-inch pieces.
In what order do I assemble the crostini?
Spread tapenade on the bread, add red onion rings, place a slice of folded smoked salmon on top, and finish with a dollop of dill crème fraîche.
Can I make the components ahead of time?
Yes, prepping the tapenade and the crème fraîche sauce in advance allows the appetizer to be assembled quickly.
What types of olives are used?
The recipe uses 3/4 cup of finely chopped green olives and 3/4 cup of finely chopped black olives.
How should the red onion be sliced?
Cut one small red onion into quarters and then into thin slices.
What garnishes are suggested for this recipe?
You can garnish with a sprig of fresh dill, a thin twist of lemon, or an olive slice.
How many ingredients are in this recipe?
There are 17 ingredients in total.
What kind of oil should I drizzle on the bread?
Use olive oil to drizzle over the baguette slices before baking.
Should the tapenade be refrigerated?
Yes, mix the ingredients and refrigerate the tapenade until you are ready to use it.
How much crème fraîche is needed?
The recipe requires 1 cup of crème fraîche.
What adds the briny flavor to the tapenade?
The combination of green olives, black olives, and chopped capers provides the robust, briny contrast.
What is the texture of the finished crostini?
The crostini offers a satisfying crunch from the toasted bread combined with the silky texture of smoked salmon.
Is lemon zest used in the sauce?
Yes, 1 teaspoon of lemon zest is added to the crème fraîche sauce.
How should the capers be prepared?
One teaspoon of capers should be chopped before being added to the tapenade.
What herbs are used in the olive tapenade?
Finely chopped fresh parsley is used in the olive tapenade.
What is the role of the lemon juice in the sauce?
One tablespoon of lemon juice is used to add acidity and brightness to the crème fraîche.
How much salt is used in the sauce?
The recipe uses 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt for the sauce.
Should the bread be cooled before assembly?
Yes, remove the bread from the oven and let it cool before spreading the tapenade.
How much garlic is included?
The recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of minced garlic.
What kind of pepper is used?
A pinch of ground black pepper is added to the tapenade.
How much fresh dill is required?
One tablespoon of finely chopped fresh dill is mixed into the sauce.
Is this recipe suitable for gatherings?
Yes, it is specifically described as a perfect solution for entertaining and elegant gatherings.
How much olive oil is used for the bread?
Two tablespoons of olive oil are suggested for drizzling over the baguette slices.
What type of salmon is best?
The recipe specifies using 1 lb of smoked salmon.