Smoked Salmon Torta Recipes

Steps:

• To prepare the crêpes, stir the whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, and salt together in a medium bowl. Whisk the milk, eggs, and melted butter together in a small bowl. Pour half of the milk mixture into the flour mixture and whisk until smooth. Add the remaining milk mixture and continue whisking until the batter is completely smooth. Strain the batter through a fine-mesh strainer. Let the batter rest for half an hour before cooking.
• Line a tray with parchment paper. Heat a crêpe pan or a 7-inch nonstick sauté pan or skillet over moderately high heat. Spray the pan lightly with cooking oil or brush with melted butter. Pour 1/4 cup of batter into the side of the pan and swirl to coat the bottom, forming a thin layer. Cook until bubbles appear on the surface of the crêpe and the edges begin to brown lightly. Flip the crêpe over using a spatula. Cook the second side for about 10 seconds and turn the crêpe onto the prepared tray to cool. Continue cooking crepes until all the batter is used. You should have 11 crêpes (see Note).
• To prepare the filling, in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade attachment, process the cream cheese until smooth, about 30 seconds. Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula and add the scallion, capers, lemon juice, milk, and salmon. Process for another 15 seconds, then scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula again. Blend for another 10 seconds or until the mixture looks fairly smooth. Divide the filling into 10 portions, each about 2 heaping tablespoons.
• Place a crêpe on a serving plate and spread one portion of filling completely and evenly over its surface with a metal offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Top with another crêpe and carefully spread another portion of filling on top, making sure you spread to the edges. Continue until all of the filling and the crêpes are stacked, ending with a plain crêpe on top. Cover the torte with plastic film and chill for at least 1/2 hour before slicing and serving.
• Cut the torte into small wedges with a sharp knife. Clean the knife between cuts to make a neat sliced appearance. Any remaining pieces of torte can be wrapped tightly with plastic film and stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Steps:

• Beat together cream cheese and butter; add salt to taste.
• Line an 8x4-inch loaf pan with a piece of plastic wrap large enough to extend over edge of pan. Arrange dill sprigs on bottom.
• Carefully spread a third of the cheese mixture in the lined pan to make an even layer.
• Sprinkle with half the chopped dill and top with half the smoked salmon.
• Repeat layers, ending with cream cheese mixture.
• Press down lightly to compact layers.
• Cover and chill overnight.
• To serve, pull edges of plastic wrap to loosen torta; invert onto plate and carefully remove plastic wrap.
• Serve with bread and/or crackers.

Steps:

• Place the pistachios in a small dry skillet and stir over medium heat until lightly toasted and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Pour the pistachios into a colander and stir and shake them over the sink to cool them and to remove some of the skins. Chop the pistachios and set them aside.
• In a small bowl, blend together the two cheeses and a few grinds of white pepper until smooth. Line a deep 3 or 4-cup bowl or fluted mold with plastic wrap. Spoon one third of the cheese mixture inside and pack it down; level the top with a rubber spatula. Sprinkle the minced salmon evenly over the cheese and press it down with the back of a tablespoon. Spoon another third of the cheese over the salmon, pack it down, and level the top with a spatula. Sprinkle all but 1 tablespoon of the pistachios evenly over the cheese and press it down with the back of a tablespoon. Spoon in the remaining cheese, pack it down, and level the top. Cover with the overlapping plastic wrap and chill for 2 or 3 hours.
• Uncover the top of the cheese, turn the bowl upside down, and unmold the cheese onto a large plate. Remove the plastic and sprinkle the reserved pistachios on top of the torta. Let the torta sit at room temperature for 1 hour. Circle the cheese with crostini and baguette slices and serve with 2 knives for cutting into wedges and spreading on the crostini and baguette slices.