Smoked Trout And Chive Cream Cheese Spread

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• 1 smoked trout fillet
• 1 (8 ounce) container whipped cream cheese
• 2 scallions, trimmed and sliced very thinly
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper (or black)
• 3 tablespoons thinly sliced chives (optional)

Recipe

• 1 smoke the trout according to the recipe stove top smoker smoked whole trout. (see related recipe).
• 2 cool to room temperature.
• 3 pick over the trout fillet, removing any fine bones or pieces of skin but leaving the trout in the largest pieces possible.
• 4 stir the trout, cream cheese, scallions, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper together gently in a mixing bowl until blended, leaving the trout in smallish pieces. (for an even chunkier spread, beat all the ingredients except the trout together, then gently fold in the trout)
• 5 taste and stir in a little more salt and/or pepper if you like.
• 6 the spread may be made up to two days in advance and stored, covered in the refrigerator.
• 7 bring to room temperature and sprinkle the chives over the top before serving.
• 8 if you're making canapes or stuffing celery with the spread, sprinkle a little of the chives over each.