An overhead shot of a smoked trout and avocado salad on toasty bread.
Two toasts topped with smoked trout and avocado salad.

When I was flipping through Chez Panisse Vegetables a fews week ago en route to green goddess dressing, I came across a recipe for smoked trout and avocado salad. I had coincidentally just returned from Trader Joe’s, where I had stocked up on tins of their smoked trout.

Have you ever had it? I can’t seem to find it anywhere else, and I love it — it’s so nice to have on hand for quick meals and snacks.

I love serving it on toasted quinoa-flax bread, but any good, nutty, seedy bread will work here.

PS: No Tuna “Tuna” Salad Sandwiches … so good

ingredients for smoked trout salad
Components to make trout and avocado salad.
Components to make trout and avocado salad.
Avocado added to the salad.
A bowl of smoked trout and avocado salad.
quinoa and flax bread, ready for broiler
toasted quinoa-flax bread.
Four open-face toasts topped with smoked trout and avocado salad.
avocado and smoked trout toasts, up close
wren eating quinoa-flax bread
An overhead shot of a smoked trout and avocado salad on toasty bread.
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smoked trout and avocado toasts

Smoked Trout and Avocado Salad Toasts

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5 from 2 reviews

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Description

Adapted from a recipe in Chez Panisse Vegetables.

I use two of Trader Joe’s 3.9 oz tins of smoked trout for this recipe.

Ingredients

  • 1 large shallot
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 heads Belgian endive
  • 2 to 3 scallions, finely sliced
  • 1/2 pound smoked trout, see notes above
  • 1 firm, ripe avocado
  • 1/4 cup finely minced parsley
  • Four 1-inch thick slices good bread

Instructions

  1. Preheat the broiler to high. Finely mince the shallot and place in a small bowl. Cover with the lemon juice and a pinch of salt and freshly cracked pepper. (I like to add a pinch of sugar, too.) Set aside to macerate for 15 to 20 minutes. Use a fork to whisk in the olive oil. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary.
  2. Meanwhile, quarter the heads of endive through the core, then finely slice crosswise. Place in a large bowl. Scatter the scallions over top. Break the smoked trout into large pieces over top. Pour the dressing over top, and use your hands to gently toss everything together, keeping the trout in largish pieces. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed—now is the time to correct for seasoning because once the avocado is in, you don’t want to toss too much or it will all turn to mush.
  3. Dice the avocado, and add to the bowl followed by the parsley. Toss with your hands again gently until combined. Set salad aside.
  4. Arrange bread on cooling rack set on sheet pan. Drizzle lightly with olive oil. Broil 2 minutes or until lightly golden, keeping a close watch. Remove pan from oven, flip slices of bread over, drizzle with more oil, and return pan to the oven for another 2 minutes, or until bread is golden. Transfer toasts to a platter. Mound trout and avocado salad over top. Serve immediately.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Toast
  • Cuisine: American