Salmon Terrine with Chives - Light and Festive French Starter
French cuisine Light Fish Salmon Buffet Picnic Lunch box Festive Gluten-free Basics Summer Make-ahead Batch cooking Shabbat Passover

Salmon Terrine with Chives - Light and Festive French Starter

Fish terrine is a classic of French cooking. There are versions of it ranging from the most budget-friendly to the most festive. Here I’m sharing a fresh salmon terrine that’s flavorful, light and easy to make.

Gravlax - Homemade Scandinavian Cured Salmon
Fish Salmon Make-ahead Scandinavian cuisine Appetizer Buffet Brunch Swedish cuisine Shavuot Festive Batch cooking No-bake Shabbat Passover Summer

Gravlax - Homemade Scandinavian Cured Salmon

Perfect for a summer meal or brunch, gravlax is raw salmon cured in a mix of salt, sugar and spices. This gentle “cooking” method gives the fish a melt-in-the-mouth texture, fragrant and full of flavor. Ideal served in thin slices, on toast or as an elegant starter. A simple, no-cook preparation that always makes an impression.

Nile Perch with a Herb Crust
Fish Nile perch Light Summer Spring Baked French cuisine Budget-friendly Lactose-free Gluten-free Festive Passover

Nile Perch with a Herb Crust

Nile perch is a good white-fleshed fish that lends itself to all sorts of preparations. You can pan-fry it, for example, and serve it with a shallot and white wine cream sauce; today I’m suggesting you dress it up with a crust of fragrant herbs, a bit like a crumble. A simple recipe that’s tasty and light.

Herring and Potato Salad (Hareng Pomme Ć  l'Huile) - French Bistro Classic
French cuisine Make-ahead Herring Potatoes Kemias Salads Fall Fish Batch cooking Ashkenazi cuisine Passover

Herring and Potato Salad (Hareng Pomme Ć  l'Huile) - French Bistro Classic

Herring and potato salad, or hareng pomme Ć  l’huile, is another French bistro classic that everyone loves. It’s very simple to make and, as is so often the case, its success depends mostly on the quality of the ingredients: good potatoes and good herring.

Tunisian Fish Balls in Red Sauce (Hraimeh-Style) - Tender, No Frying
Appetizer Buffet Shabbat Festive Fish Freezable Tunisian cuisine Make-ahead Batch cooking Rosh Hashanah Budget-friendly Passover

Tunisian Fish Balls in Red Sauce (Hraimeh-Style) - Tender, No Frying

Here’s an excellent fish ball recipe to keep in your recipe notebook: it’s simple and full of flavor, with no frying. They’re incredibly tender, and kids love them. You can serve them mini-size as an appetizer, in their sauce as a starter, or as a main course with bulgur or rice.

Salmon Tartare with Passion Fruit
Fish Summer Appetizer Buffet Brunch Festive Light Make-ahead Tu BiShvat

Salmon Tartare with Passion Fruit

If you’ve spent any time on Pita & Chocolat, you’ve probably noticed that I love fish tartares. I’ve already shared my tuna tartare with mango and my pani puri with tuna and salmon tartare. Today I’m adding a newcomer to the collection, with a fruit that makes a nice change. What I love about this kind of starter is that it’s simple, festive and beautiful on the plate all at once.

Fish Soup with Rouille - Made from Heads and Bones
Fish Soups & creamy soups Make-ahead Winter Light French cuisine Fall Batch cooking

Fish Soup with Rouille - Made from Heads and Bones

Here is a flavorful, simple way to make homemade fish soup, served with rouille sauce. If you’re not in the habit of asking your fishmonger to set aside the heads and bones for you, it’s time to start! Top this soup with the fish of your choice, steamed and added just before serving.

Smoked Salmon and Leek Quiche
French cuisine Quiches & savory tarts Buffet Leeks Fall Winter Make-ahead Fish Shavuot Picnic Salmon Batch cooking Lactose-free Appetizer

Smoked Salmon and Leek Quiche

Leek season has begun! Smoked salmon and leek quiche is a wonderful seasonal recipe, and a great way to use up an already-opened package of smoked salmon. If you like fish quiches, you’ll probably also enjoy white fish and mushroom quiche and salmon, spinach and ricotta quiche.

Endive Gratin with Smoked Salmon - a Twist on the French Classic
French cuisine Smoked salmon Fish Salmon Endives Fall Winter Make-ahead Batch cooking

Endive Gratin with Smoked Salmon - a Twist on the French Classic

Endive gratin with smoked salmon is a wonderful variation on the famous French endives au jambon (endives wrapped in ham). To be honest, this is the recipe that won me over to cooked endives. If, like me, you don’t love them, here is a recipe (with tips) that should help you enjoy them. And if you already do, it’s simply delicious, so you should have a treat too!

Smoked Fish Platter (Assiette Nordique) - Scandinavian-Style Cold Plate
Fish Salmon Light Make-ahead Scandinavian cuisine Appetizer Buffet Brunch Swedish cuisine Shavuot Festive Batch cooking No-bake Gluten-free Lactose-free Ashkenazi cuisine Winter Hanukkah Passover

Smoked Fish Platter (Assiette Nordique) - Scandinavian-Style Cold Plate

Served as a cold starter or as a more generous main, the assiette nordique (Nordic platter) is an elegant dish of smoked fish and salad, served with blinis or toast. Here is my suggestion for the one I like to make; you can adapt it to your taste and to whatever you have in the fridge.