Smoked Salmon & Caviar: Simple Canapés for Festive Occasions

# What this recipe delivers These smoked salmon and caviar canapés pair crisp, buttered bread rounds with creamy crème fraîche, delicate smoked salmon and a small spoonful of lumpfish (black) caviar. Fresh chopped chives finish each piece. The steps are straightforward and the result reads as refined without elaborate technique.

# Ingredients at a glance

• 1 loaf sliced white bread (about 21 slices)
• 80 g melted butter
• 160 g crème fraîche
• 200 g smoked salmon
• 1 jar lumpfish caviar (black caviar)
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives

# Timing and yield

• Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan).
• Active cooking is short: cutting, brushing and baking.
• Bake bread rounds 5 minutes on each side until golden.

# Method, step-by-step

1. 1Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) and line a baking tray with baking paper.

1. 1Brush both sides of each round with melted butter. Arrange on the lined tray.
2. 2Bake for 5 minutes on one side, then flip and bake 5 minutes on the other side, until the rounds are golden-brown. Remove and cool.
3. 3To assemble, place a small spoonful of crème fraîche on each cooled round. Add a small piece of smoked salmon on top of the crème fraîche. Finish with a tiny spoon of lumpfish caviar and a sprinkle of chopped chives.

# Serving notes Serve the canapés at room temperature. They make an effective starter or accompaniment for drinks receptions and festive gatherings because most prep can be done ahead: toast the rounds, store them cooled and assemble shortly before serving so the bread stays crisp.

# Practical tips

• Use a small cutter (5½ cm) so each bite remains balanced between bread, crème fraîche, salmon and caviar.
• Brush both sides of the bread with melted butter before baking for even browning and a crisp exterior.
• Cool toast completely before adding crème fraîche to avoid soggy bases.
• Keep caviar chilled until the moment of assembly and spoon it gently to preserve texture.

# Why this works

# Quick checklist before you start

• Oven preheated to 180°C (160°C fan)
• Baking tray and paper ready
• Biscuit cutter and pastry brush available
• All toppings portioned for quick assembly

Enjoy these canapés as an easy, elegant starter that you can prepare quickly or assemble near serving time to keep textures crisp and flavours bright.