Irish Smoked Salmon on Brown Bread
Local name: Bradán deataithe
In short: Cold-smoked salmon draped over buttered brown soda bread with lemon, capers and dill cream. A simple Irish starter that needs no cooking. It takes about 15 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 320 kcal
Smoked salmon on buttered brown bread is a classic Irish starter: cold-smoked salmon draped over dense soda bread, with lemon, capers and a little black pepper. It needs no cooking, only good ingredients and a light hand. Here a spoonful of dill cream adds freshness. It turns up at weddings, Christmas lunches and cafés alike, usually with a wedge of lemon on the side.
Instructions
- Stir the crème fraîche with the lemon juice, half the chopped dill and a pinch of pepper.
- Butter the bread thinly, right to the edges. Cut each slice in half on the diagonal, or leave whole.
- Fold or drape the smoked salmon over each slice in loose waves.
- Spoon a little dill cream on top and scatter with the capers, red onion, remaining dill and a grind of pepper.
- Serve at once with lemon wedges, so the bread does not go soft.
Tips
- Buy cold-smoked salmon from a source you trust and keep it in the fridge until the last minute. Serve within 30 minutes of assembling.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free bread, or serve the salmon on thick cucumber slices.
Questions and answers
Is smoked salmon safe to eat without cooking?
Cold-smoked salmon is cured and smoked but not cooked. Pregnant women, older adults and anyone with a weakened immune system are usually advised to avoid it unless it has been heated.
What bread is traditional with smoked salmon in Ireland?
Buttered brown soda bread. Its dense, nutty crumb holds up to the salmon and needs no toasting.
Can I make smoked salmon on brown bread ahead?
Make the dill cream a day ahead. Assemble the slices no more than 30 minutes before serving, so the bread stays firm.
How long does it take to make Irish Smoked Salmon on Brown Bread?
About 15 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Irish Smoked Salmon on Brown Bread?
About 320 kcal per serving, with 14 g of protein, 31 g of carbohydrates and 16 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 320 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 14 g |
| Carbohydrates | 31 g |
| Fat | 16 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 1300 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
