Recipes: Appetisers: Smoked Salmon and Pesto Dip

There are things I love about living in New England, and one of those is that very few people here will touch salmon because the local stuff is all farm raised and just plain nasty tasting. That means that when the Man-thing's company gets gift packs of smoked Pacific salmon, we get all of it. Mmmmm.....

This is a properly layered dip, but it's also great all mixed together and then served open-faced on a toasted bagel with some fresh tomato slices on top.

Be sure to make this well in advance if you're planning on using a molded dip since it will need to chill at least 6 hours to completely set up. Otherwise, it can be served as soon as it's finished, about 30 minutes from start to TA-DAH! If making this dip in advance (and it is a great do-ahead holiday treat for entertaining), store in the refrigerator and let stand 10 to 15 minutes before serving so it has a chance to soften enough for spreading on crackers or whatever.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz Smoked Salmon, bones and skin removed and flaked
  
• 2 tsp Fresh Dill (or ½ tsp dried dill)
• 2 Tbsp Fresh Chives, snipped fine
• 1 clove Garlic, chopped very fine
• 12 oz Cream Cheese, softened and divided into 4 and 8 oz portions
  
• ¼ C. Pesto
• Coarse ground pepper, to taste
  
• Crackers, bagel chips, small pieces of artisan bread, or other fun things to spread it on

Procedure:

1. If molding, line the bottom and sides of a bowl, loaf pan, or desired mold with plastic wrap and set aside. If using a serving dish, reverse steps 2 and 3 so that the pesto and cream cheese layer is on the bottom of the dish instead of the top of the mold.
   
2. In a medium bowl, combine the salmon, dill, chives, and garlic together. Add 4 oz of softened cream cheese and mix thoroughly. Adjust seasoning with pepper if needed. Transfer to mold and chill 20 minutes.
3. Mix pesto and remaining 8 oz cream cheese and spread evenly over salmon mix. If planning to unmold onto a serving plate, chill for at least 6 hours. Otherwise, dip may be served immediately.
   
4. To unmold, invert loaf pan, bowl, or mold onto serving platter and remove plastic wrap. Let stand 15 minutes. Garnish with fresh dill, chives, and/or tomato.
5. Serve with crackers, bagel chips, etc.