Driftwood Beach Appetizer (Printable version)

A charming mix of crisp crackers, smoked white fish, and creamy hummus accented with fresh dill and lemon zest.

# What you need:

→ Crackers

01 - 3.5 oz pale, rustic-style crackers (water crackers, matzo, or lavash), broken into driftwood-like pieces

→ Fish

02 - 4.2 oz smoked white fish (trout, mackerel, or haddock), flaked into bite-sized pieces

→ Hummus Shore

03 - 8.8 oz classic hummus
04 - 1 tbsp olive oil
05 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
06 - 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds

→ Garnish

07 - 1 tbsp fresh dill fronds
08 - Zest of ½ lemon
09 - 1 tbsp capers, rinsed and drained
10 - Microgreens (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Spread hummus evenly on a large serving platter, shaping it into a gentle shoreline using a spatula or spoon.
02 - Drizzle olive oil over the hummus, dust with smoked paprika, and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds to emulate sand.
03 - Place the broken crackers along one edge to resemble driftwood washed ashore.
04 - Scatter flaked smoked fish atop and around the crackers, varying sizes for a natural appearance.
05 - Finish with fresh dill, lemon zest, capers, and optional microgreens for brightness and texture.
06 - Present immediately so guests can enjoy fish and hummus with the crackers.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks stunning without requiring actual cooking skills, which means you can spend your time actually enjoying people instead of panicking in the kitchen.
  • The creamy hummus, smoky fish, and briny capers create this perfect balance of flavors that tastes way more sophisticated than the fifteen minutes it takes to assemble.
  • Everyone gets to scoop and build their own bites, turning a simple appetizer into something interactive and fun.
02 -
  • Assemble this within an hour of serving because the hummus can dry out slightly and the crackers will start to soften if they sit too long on the plate.
  • Don't skimp on the quality of the smoked fish—this dish has so few components that every single one needs to pull its weight flavor-wise.
  • The beauty of this appetizer is that it looks way more complicated than it actually is, which is the whole point and also your secret superpower.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds yourself if you can—they're dramatically more flavorful and add a nuttiness that makes the whole dish taste more developed.
  • Use cold smoked fish rather than hot smoked if you can find it, because it flakes more delicately and tastes less overpowering alongside the other delicate flavors.
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