Cucumber Smoked Trout And Pickled Beet Salad Food

PICKLED BEET SALAD

Steps:

• Cut off the leaves from the beets leaving 1 inch of stem attached. Do not trim the taproot. Scrub the beets to remove any dirt. Put them in a large saucepan and cover with cold water by about 2 inches. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and simmer until fork tender, about 25 to 30 minutes. Drain.
• When cool enough to handle, trim, and peel the beets. Slice into rounds and toss in a medium bowl with the onion.
• In a small saucepan bring the sugar, vinegar, water, and salt to a boil. Stir to dissolve the sugar and salt and immediately pour over the beets and onion. Refrigerate overnight before serving.

SMOKED TROUT AND POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Soak the onion slices in a bowl of ice water. Cover the potatoes with water in a pot; add a pinch of salt, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and let cool slightly; pat dry.
• Meanwhile, whisk the creme fraeche, vinegar, olive oil and mustard in a large bowl to make a smooth dressing. Stir in the dill. Drain the onion, pat dry and add to the dressing. Add the potatoes and cucumber, season with salt and pepper and toss to coat.
• Divide the watercress among 4 plates and add some potato salad to each. Flake the trout with your fingers and scatter on top. Serve with pumpernickel bread and/or pickled beets, if desired.

CUCUMBER, SMOKED TROUT, AND PICKLED BEET SALAD

Steps:

• In a sieve set over a bowl drain beets, reserving 1/4 cup juice, and halve beet slices. In a bowl whisk together reserved beet juice and sour cream and season with pepper and salt.
• Stir in half of trout, half of dill, beets, cucumber, and onion and season with pepper and salt. Top salad with remaining trout and dill. Chill salad, covered, until cold, about 30 minutes.

BEET AND CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Mix water, vinegar, and sugar together in a bowl; add onion and cucumber. Set aside to marinate, at least 20 minutes.
• Combine 2 hard-boiled eggs cut into bite-size pieces and beets together in a bowl.
• Drain liquid from onion and cucumbers. Toss onion and cucumbers with beet mixture. Stir mayonnaise into beet mixture. Arrange sliced hard-boiled egg atop salad; sprinkle with dill, salt, and pepper.

PICKLED BEET AND CUCUMBER SALADS

Steps:

• Stir vinegar, shallots and 6 teaspoons sugar in small bowl to blend. Let marinade stand while preparing vegetables.
• Cook beets in large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 30 minutes; drain. Peel beets. Cut into wedges. Transfer to medium bowl. Toss with 1/2 cup of marinade to coat.
• Place cucumbers in large bowl. Sprinkle 4 teaspoons sugar over. Toss with remaining marinade. Season salads to taste with salt and pepper. Cover separately and refrigerate 1 day, stirring occasionally. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Drain salads separately; return to bowls. Mix half of chives into each salad. Arrange salads on platter and serve.

SMOKED TROUT AND BEET SALAD WITH PINK CAVIAR

Steps:

• Make the vinaigrette: Put shallots, mustard, lemon zest and vinegars in a small bowl and stir together. Season with salt and pepper. Leave for 5 minutes to macerate, then whisk in oil. Set aside.
• Prepare the salad: Scrub beets, then simmer in abundant salted water until tender when pierced with a skewer, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain and cool slightly. When beets are still somewhat warm, rub off and discard skins. Trim any rough bits with a paring knife.
• Cut beets into half-moon slices, 1/4-inch thick, and place in a medium bowl. Add celery slices. Season with salt and pepper and dress with half the vinaigrette. Toss well with your hands to coat.
• Arrange salad leaves on individual plates, then distribute beet mixture. Break smoked trout fillets into rough 1-inch pieces and arrange over beets. Scatter a few radish slices over each salad. Add some chopped egg, if using. Sprinkle lightly with salt and drizzle with remaining vinaigrette.
• Top each salad with a generous teaspoon of trout roe and sprinkle with chives and dill sprigs.