White cake with shrimps and salmon

I know what you’re thinking: “Another white cake?”  But this time it’s «White cake, the salty sequel».

I know what you’re thinking: “Another white cake?”  But this time it’s «White cake, the salty sequel». You may clearly see their similarities; they are both a visual feast, all white and snowy, yet they are completely different.

This gorgeous, salty cake with seafood has been a real gem in my recipe books for years. I have no idea who came up with the recipe but it really stands out! It is a recipe with infinite variations and each one of them is so unique. I usually prefer to serve it as a starter but it can easily be served as a main dish as well.

This impressive cake will add style and glamour to your table; that’s why it’s rarely missing from our festive menus even though I have to admit that it’s not a strictly Christmas dish for us. It’s included in our menus regularly but no one seems to get tired of it and it’s always welcomed with excitement and joy when it makes its appearance on our table. It’s definitely an ace up my sleeve whenever I’m looking for a way to impress my guests!

Me and my friends must have made tons of this alluring cake throughout the years. I love it when tested and trusted recipes are shared between friends and that’s also how I came to know this particular one –and of course, I instantly loved it!

A white, snowy feast for the eyes, this cake almost looks as if it came straight out of a fairy tale. It can be easily decorated in so many ways that it can look different and unique every single time you decide to make it. The same holds true for its taste. So many different options and combinations to choose from! Its base is always the same; layers of crêpe, yogurt, mayonnaise and then seafood, chicken, turkey, vegetables, leftovers! The combination of drained yogurt with mayonnaise makes this cake very light and fresh.

Our favorite festive version of this recipe is with seafood. Shrimps, smoked salmon, perhaps some smoked trout combined with salmon roes that literally burst in your mouth. The perfect bite! Fresh cucumber, pickles, caper, herbs, peas are just some of the veggies that blend together really well. You can also use tuna or any other smoked fish that you like. A Russian friend of mine, after trying this cake, told me that it must be a descendant of the world-famous Russian Olivier salad. The taste is indeed quite similar!

Regardless of its origins, we love it for its delicious taste and its impressive appearance that definitely qualify it to become a part of our beautiful festive menus.

I’m sure that those of you who were familiar with this recipe, have already included it in your Christmas menu. But if you just joined the party, I highly recommend that you give it a try! The list of ingredients may be long but I guarantee that it’s super easy. I know these days are quite intense and there’s no time for overcomplicated things!

Pick the ingredients that you like and have fun with it. Be creative when you decorate it and enjoy it with your loved ones!

Ingredients

5-6 crêpes (20cm diameter)

500gr drained yogurt

300gr mayonnaise

300gr smoked salmon fillet, chopped

500gr lightly boiled shrimps, chopped

150gr smoked trout fillet, chopped

100gr red caviar

2 medium cucumbers, chopped

1 small jar of pickled cucumbers

1 small cup capers

1 bunch of dill, chopped

 

For the crêpes:

1 cup milk

1 cup flour

2 eggs

Salt

Oil

Method

1. Crêpes. Mix all the ingredients. Add a few drops of oil in a pan and heat it up. Add your crêpe mixture and cook both sides. The thinner your crêpe is, the lighter your cake will be.

2. Cake. After having chopped all your ingredients, mix mayonnaise with yogurt and add some salt. Our ingredients are smoked and salty enough so there’s no need for too much salt. Cut your crêpes to equal sizes (20cm diameter).

3. Start layering your cake. Place the first crêpe in your serving platter and use it as a base. Spread a layer of yogurt and add some of your ingredients evenly (salmon, shrimps, trout, red caviar, cucumber, pickles, caper and some dill). Make sure you have enough ingredients for the whole cake. Continue layering. I prefer to use 5-6 crêpes.

4. Lastly, spread what’s left from the mixture of yogurt and mayonnaise all over your cake. Start decorating (you can use some red caviar on top and some chopped dill on the sides).

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