SALMAGUNDI

 

Almost a year ago, we had some friends for drinks and nibbles. I was going to make a couple of pizzas and had already made the pizza base but then I saw a sad post on another food group and there was a picture of this amazing platter called Salmagundi. The poor guy said that he prepared it to take to a party but it got cancelled. It's an European food group. Anyway, I had never heard of Salmagundi before and I googled it and apparently it is a British 17th century dish that is basically a salad but it always includes meat and fish and many times eggs and nuts presented in either layers or in a beautiful way. I decided to make it with whatever I had in the fridge and it was a great success. Delicious and healthy. I served it with a vinaigrette. For dessert we had my grandmother's Coconut slice. Beautiful night with great company.  

Ingredients for this one

Little gem / cos lettuce

Serrano ham

Boiled beetroot

Snow peas

Boiled eggs

Coriander

Anchovies

Small capsicums - roasted

Green olives

Cornichons

Rocket

Smoked salmon

Basil

Lebanese cucumber

Grape tomatoes

Kalamata olives

Carrots

Fennel

Pepita seeds

For the dressing:

1 tsp crushed garlic

1 tsp Dijon mustard

Salt and pepper 

3 Tbsp white wine vinegar

5 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

A few weeks later, I made it again in individual platters. It's a big salad really... but delicious when you combine all those flavours with a vinaigrette dressing.  

I used the following for two people:

A few curly lettuce leaves

1 small avocado

1 carrot

1 apple

1/2 Lebanese cucumber

A handful of rocket & baby spinach leaves

2 gherkins 

8 cherry tomatoes 

3 spring onions

A few mint leaves

6 small grilled capsicums 

A handful of mixed olives

4 slices Serrano

2 small pieces of hot smoked salmon

1 cooked beetroot

6 snow peas

12 baby bocconcini 

For the dressing:

1 tsp crushed garlic

1 tsp Dijon mustard

Salt and pepper 

3 Tbsp white wine vinegar

5 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil