This recipe takes us to Venice, where the art of cicchetti began. Think of cicchetti as a cousin of Spanish tapas and Basque pintxos: bite-sized, savoury dishes. Cicchetti has its roots in traditional Venetian wine bars, called bacari, as far back as the 13th century. Since Venice was a buzzing port city, cicchetti were mostly eaten by sailors and merchants. Wanting a drink during their break, Venetian workers needed a quick bite to keep from getting too drunk on empty stomachs. That’s why cicchetti are made to be eaten quickly, often while standing and sipping local wine.
A classic cicchetti you’ll see is a little piece of toasted bread, called crostini, with all sorts of fun toppings. The joy of crostini is that they invite creativity. Since the portions are small and the base is so simple, the toppings are the perfect chance to play with bold, rich flavours.
In the spirit of boldness, this recipe pairs kiwi with salmon. At first glance, they might seem an unlikely combination, but the tartness of the kiwi actually balances the rich, savoury salmon, especially alongside creamy goat’s cheese.
Since cicchetti are often displayed in bars or passed around at parties, looks matter just as much as taste. We eat with our eyes, after all! Luckily, the orange of the salmon and yellow-green of the kiwi make this recipe particularly eye-catching.
With that in mind, here’s how to make some good-looking, and even better tasting, smoked salmon and kiwi cicchetti.
Ingredients (for 16 cicchetti)
- 200g smoked salmon belly cut
- 16 slices of toasted baguette
- 300g spreadable goat cheese
- 2-3 golden kiwis
- 8 small teaspoons salmon roe
- Water cress
Method
- Slice your baguette, around 6 to 13mm thick, and toast it.
- Cut your kiwi into thin slices using a knife or mandoline.
- Spread goat’s cheese on top of the toasted bread.
- Top your crostini with watercress, sliced kiwi, and a slice of smoked salmon.
- For the final touch, add a small amount of salmon roe.
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Pair your cicchetti with a glass of dry white or prosecco and have yourself a taste of Venice. That is, with a Smokin’ Brothers twist!
If you’re ready to get cooking, explore our range of smoked salmon here.