TROUT CAVIAR & SALMON BLINI TORTES

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  • 2

Ingredients

  • MAKE EGG SALAD:
  • 2 SERVINGS
  • FOR EGG SALAD
  • 1 hard-boiled large egg, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped chives
  • FOR BLINI
  • 2 tablespoons buckwheat flour
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 1 large egg, separated
  • 1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted and cooled, divided
  • FOR FILLING
  • 1/4 lb thinly sliced smoked salmon at room temperature
  • 2 oz trout caviar, such as rainbow trout caviar*, or salmon roe
  • GARNISH: sour cream; chopped chives
  • Stir together all ingredients and a pinch of salt.

Preparation

Step 1

MAKE BLINI:

Whisk together dry ingredients in a bowl. Add milk and yolk and whisk until smooth.

Beat egg white with a clean whisk in another bowl until it just holds soft peaks. Fold into batter along with 2 tablespoons melted butter.

Brush a 12-inch nonstick skillet with some of remaining melted butter, then heat over medium heat until hot.

Working in batches of 6 or 7, drop 1 level tablespoon batter per pancake into skillet and cook until bubbles appear on surface and undersides are golden, 45 seconds to 1 minute. Flip over and cook 1 minute more. Brush blini on both sides with some of remaining melted butter, then transfer to a plate and keep warm, covered with foil.

Brush skillet with butter between batches.

FILL TORTES:
Drape smoked salmon on 6 blini and top with egg salad. Spoon caviar onto 6 more blini, then stack on egg-salad-topped blini.

COOKS NOTE: Egg salad can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring to cool room temperature before using.

*Domestic caviar is available at specialty markets and Sunburnt Trout Company (800-673-3051).