Smoked Trout Spread

A traditional Christmas Eve dinner in many Italian-American homes is the Feast of the Seven Fishes.  It supposedly started in Southern Italy as la vigilia (the vigil) symbolizing the wait for the birth of Christ.

This meal is not a “feast” as we think of it, nor does it always have just seven dishes.  Catholics don’t eat red meat on Christmas Eve, and many Italian-Americans are Catholic.  Also, Christmas Eve is considered to be a day of fasting so seven (or eight or nine) different seafood dishes are prepared and eaten for the meal.  The big feast comes on Christmas day!

And so to honor the tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes, here is a recipe for one of those fish dishes and some others that you can add to your own feast at the bottom.

buon Natale

Ingredients for the Smoked Trout spread

  • 1 cup smoked trout cut in small pieces  ** See Note
  • 2 tablespoons finely minced white onion
  • 3 Tablespoons plain Greek yogurt (the best flavor comes from full or low fat)
  • ½ teaspoon olive oil (I used one that is infused with blood orange)  ** See Note
  • ½ teaspoon crushed fennel seed
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

** NOTE:  I purchased some pretty good smoked trout at Trader Joe’s at a very reasonable price.  If you can’t find it, any smoked fish will work.  Also, Trader Joe’s has a lemon infused olive oil that would work instead of the blood orange, but any high quality olive oil will work.

Making the Spread 

Mash the smoked trout with a fork until it is broken into very small pieces.

Add all the remaining ingredients and mix well.  Refrigerate overnight to give all the ingredients an opportunity to marry.

Serve at room temperature with crackers or toasts

 

5 from 8 votes
Smoked Trout Spread

A delicious and easy appetizer for any party, any time of year.

Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American, Italian, seafood
Keyword: crackers, fennel, smoked trout, snack, spread, yogurt
Servings: 1 cup of spread
Author: HelenFern
Ingredients
  • 1 cup smoked trout cut into chunks
  • 2 Tablespoons finely minced white onion
  • 3 Tablespoons plain Greek yogurt (the best flavor comes from full fat versions)
  • 1/2 teaspoon olive oil (I used one that is infused with blood orange)  ** See Note below
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed fennel seed
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
  1. Mash the trout with a fork until it is broken into very small pieces.

  2. Add all the remaining ingredients and mix well. 

  3. Refrigerate overnight to give all the ingredients an opportunity to marry.

  4. Serve at room temperature with crackers or toasts

Recipe Notes

** NOTE:  I purchased some pretty good smoked trout at Trader Joe’s at a very reasonable price.  If you can’t find it, any smoked fish will work.  Also, Trader Joe’s has a lemon infused olive oil that would work instead of the blood orange, but any high quality olive oil will work.

 

© Copyright 2016 The Lazy Gastronome

Some ideas for your feast –

  • An antipasto salad with shrimp or crab instead of cured meats
  • a pot of cioppino
  • an arugula and watercress salad with calamari or shrimp bits
  • steamed clams with lemon and fennel
  • and don’t forget some tiramisu for dessert!

Here are some other seafood recipes you could include in your feast:


 

© Copyright 2016 The Lazy Gastronome

 

Leave me a comment – I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas!

This entry was posted in Appetizers, Christmas, Fish, Holidays, Internationally Inspired, Italian and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

16 Responses to Smoked Trout Spread

  1. Angela @marathonsandmotivation.com says:

    This sounds great! I love smoked fish, Yum!!

  2. Mmmm, yummy! I love smoked anything (food-related). Thanks for sharing this with us at #FridayFrivolity this week and I hope you had a fabulous Christmas!

  3. Pingback: Tasty Tuesday's - Appetizer Favorites! - Savvy In The Kitchen

  4. I haven’t tried something like this, but it looks interesting! This sounds so delicious, too! Thanks for sharing, Helen!

  5. Pingback: Smoked Trout and Canadian Bacon Hash - The Lazy GastronomeThe Lazy Gastronome

  6. nancy says:

    5 stars
    it was super tasty for the party

  7. Liz says:

    5 stars
    Fabulous!!! I love smoked fish and this spread was delicious!!

  8. Kim says:

    5 stars
    Great recipe! Making it again for New Year’s Eve!

  9. Amy Liu Dong says:

    5 stars
    Wow! This spread looks amazingly delicious! Indeed a perfect appetizer adds-on to our pastry and biscuit! Loved it!

  10. Leslie says:

    5 stars
    Such a delicious and satisfying dish!

  11. Angela says:

    5 stars
    This smoked trout spread has great flavor. I made it for my in-laws when they were over last. They loved it.

  12. Swathi says:

    5 stars
    Smoked trout spread looks delicious.

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