bread with sliced avocado and salmon near basil mint on plate

Smoked Salmon Tart with Potato Base: A Crispy, Elegant Twist on a Classic

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September 2, 2025 Christopher (0) Comments

Introduction

Transform your brunch or light dinner with a smoked salmon tart with potato base. This dish elevates the humble potato by turning it into a crisp, golden canvas for lusciously smoked salmon. Instead of relying on pastry, the potato gives the tart a rustic charm and satisfying crunch. Topped with tangy yogurt or creamy spreads, fresh dill, lemon zest, and silky salmon, this tart balances textures and flavors beautifully. Let’s dive into how to craft this impressive yet approachable dish.

Why a Potato Base Works So Well

  • Natural crispiness: When grated or mashed potatoes are baked or cooked into a solid base, they develop a satisfying crunch and golden crust.
  • Flavor canvas: Potatoes are mild yet savory, offering a neutral base that lets the rich, smoky salmon shine.
  • Gluten-free friendly: Ideal for those avoiding traditional pastry shells—especially if using grated or mashed potato rather than flour.
    Sources describe similar concepts such as a crisp “melt-in-the-mouth base” formed solely from potatoes Petitchef.

Variations on the Theme

1. Classic Greek-Inspired Potato Base

  • Boil and mash potatoes; mix with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
  • Press into a tart pan or baking sheet and bake until lightly golden.
  • Let cool; top with a Greek yogurt-lemon-shallot spread; layer smoked salmon; finish with dill and lemon zest.
    This mirrors the recipe structure described on Petitchef Petitchef.

2. Potato Tart with Creamy Custard

  • Line a tart dish with thinly sliced boiled potatoes.
  • Layer smoked salmon and caramelized onions.
  • Pour over a mixture of eggs, cream, and fresh dill; bake until set and lightly colored.
    Based on recipes from BBC Good Food and MyMarketKitchen Good Foodmymarketkitchen.tv.

3. Grated Potato Crisp Base (Darphin Style)

  • Grate raw potatoes, squeeze out excess moisture.
  • Season and fry in a skillet until crisp and golden.
  • Once cooled, top with herbed goat cheese, smoked salmon, red onion, capers, and chopped egg.
    From the “tartine” style approach by A Beautiful Plate A Beautiful Plate.

Step-by-Step Recipe: Smoked Salmon Tart with Potato Base

What You’ll Need

  • 800g potatoes (russet or new potatoes)—boiled and mashed, or grated and pressed
  • 2 tbsp olive oil (if baking mashed potato base)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 small shallot, finely chopped
  • Zest and segments of ½ lemon
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt (or substitute cream cheese)
  • 100–125g smoked salmon, thinly sliced
  • Fresh dill, finely chopped
  • Optional: caramelized onions, capers for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prepare the base
    • Mashed potato version: Mash boiled potatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Press evenly into a parchment-lined tart pan or baking sheet.
    • Grated potato version: Grate raw potatoes, squeeze out moisture, season, then fry or bake until crisp.
  2. Bake the base
    • Bake at ~200 °C (390 °F) for about 40 minutes or until it starts to develop a light golden crust Petitchef.
  3. Make the topping
    • Combine Greek yogurt, lemon zest, lemon segments (supremes), shallot, salt, and pepper Petitchef.
  4. Assemble
    • Spread the yogurt mixture over the cooled potato base. Layer smoked salmon slices on top.
  5. Finish and garnish
    • Sprinkle with fresh dill and remaining lemon zest. Optionally, add capers or thinly sliced red onion for textural contrast.
  6. Serve
    • Best enjoyed warm, at room temperature, or chilled. Perfect for brunch, light dinners, or elegant entertaining.

Tips for Excellence

  • Dry your potatoes: Whether mashed or grated, removing excess moisture ensures a crisp crust.
  • Even base thickness: Helps the tart hold its shape and bake uniformly.
  • Let it rest: Cooling for 10 minutes after baking helps the base firm up—making slicing clean and neat.
  • Use high-quality smoked salmon: The flavor is the star. Choose silky, delicate slices for the best result.
  • Play with toppings: Add caramelized onions for sweetness or capers for briny zing, as seen in various iterations A Beautiful Platemymarketkitchen.tv.

Conclusion

The smoked salmon tart with potato base is a creative, crowd-pleasing alternative to ordinary tarts or quiches. With a golden, crispy potato foundation, creamy tangy spreads, and luxuriously smoky toppings, it delivers on texture, flavor, and visual appeal. Whether it’s for brunch, a light dinner, or a stylish gathering, this tart is both memorable and approachable. Try it once—and you’ll want to serve it again.

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