Smoked salmon delight: A family-friendly Norwegian salad

Layered salads are not only a feast for the taste buds but also a striking table decoration. One such option is the Norwegian salad, which delights with its taste and simplicity of preparation. The secret to its uniqueness lies in the delicate smoked salmon, which gives the dish an unforgettable aroma. Thanks to this salad, my children finally warmed up to eating fish, a challenge for many parents.

Norwegian salad combines fresh vegetables, rice, and smoked salmon. In the original version, Scandinavians use canned salmon in oil, but this is not always easily available in Canada. You can successfully substitute it with smoked fish, giving the salad a unique character. Preparing this dish doesn't take much time, and the result will delight every lover of Scandinavian cuisine.

Ingredients:

• 125 ml (1/2 cup) of white rice,
• 1 medium carrot,
• 1 onion,
• 2 cucumbers,
• A small bunch of dill,
• 255 g (9 oz) of smoked salmon,
• A few lettuce leaves,
• Juice of 1/2 lemon,
• 3-4 tablespoons of mayonnaise,
• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil,
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

How to prepare Norwegian salad?

1. Cooking the rice

Cook the rice until it's fluffy by covering it with 188 ml (3/4 cup) of lightly salted water. Once it reaches a boil, reduce the heat and cook covered for 10 minutes, until the rice absorbs all the water. Then leave it covered for another 10 minutes.

2. Preparing the vegetables

Peel the carrot and grate it on a medium grater. Sauté it in oil until soft, seasoning with salt and pepper. Slice the onion into thin half-rings, place them in a bowl, and pour lemon juice over it to soften its sharp flavour. Peel the cucumber and cut it into thin sticks, then mix it with finely chopped dill.

3. Assembling the layered salad

Lay the lettuce leaves at the bottom of a platter, creating a base for the next layers. Mix the cooked rice with a bit of mayonnaise and spread it over the lettuce. Next, crumble the smoked salmon and spread it evenly over the rice. Drain the onion and place it on top of the salmon, followed by a layer of mayonnaise. The next layer is the sautéed carrot, also covered with a thin layer of mayonnaise. Lastly, arrange the cucumbers with dill, creating a decorative dome.

4. Chilling and serving

Place the Norwegian salad in the fridge for at least an hour to allow the flavours to meld. Just before serving, you may lightly salt the cucumber, but remember that salting it earlier may cause it to release too much juice. Slice the salad like a cake and serve chilled.

Norwegian salad is a delicious and healthy dish that is sure to please the whole family. Its versatility and ease of preparation make it perfect for any occasion.