Name: Smoked Salmon Starter with Marinated Artichokes and Blood Orange
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 blood orange (the largest you can get); 12 marinated artichoke heart slices; 4 generous slices of smoked salmon; some parmesan shavings; some small baby leaves or herbs (in the picture, I've used watercress); balsamic vinegar (optional)

This starter of smoked salmon, marinated artichokes and blood orange just oozes class. Its colours are a feast for your eyes and all your senses are going to be paying attention to every single bite you take!

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Smoked Salmon Starter Recipe
A bite of Zingy Nirvana
Turn it into a Smoked Salmon Salad
Can’t get Blood Oranges?

Smoked Salmon Starter Recipe

Remember the Chargrilled Marinated Artichokes we did a couple of posts ago? I used those artichokes for this Starter of Smoked Salmon, Marinated Artichokes and Blood Orange for a business lunch I catered to yesterday. Business lunches tend to be light, the clients aren’t usually fans of carb heavy meals in the middle of the day, understandably so, I would say.

The whole ensemble packs a punch with its bold flavours. The smoky, woody aroma of the smoked salmon, the sharp, piquant taste of the marinated artichokes, the sweet and sour, citrusy, almost raspberry-like temperament of the blood orange – so much going on in just one bite.

A bite of Zingy Nirvana

You really have to take your time with this starter and savour the explosion of flavours taking place with each bite. None wants to play second fiddle, so you’ll just have to take it all in; bit by bit, and all at once!

But wait, before you get a sensory overload, don’t forget the parmesan shavings! The parmesan is just what you need to make all the flavours play nice with its calm, tangy creaminess. Just what’s needed to bring you back down to earth, to a place of zen-like contentment. Only to have you dying for the next mouthful!

Colourful salad plate with salmon and oranges. Orange salad — Smoked Salmon Salad

Turn it into a Smoked Salmon Salad

This starter of smoked salmon, marinated artichokes and blood orange, can easily be turned into a salad, by increasing the number of orange slices and artichokes, and by adding some salad leaves.

Not only are the colours a feast for your eyes but all your senses are going to be paying attention to every single bite you take. Just what my clients need to stay awake for lunch meetings!

As my kids would say, you really need this in your life! Your guests will thank you for it, trust me! It is a fantastic recipe to entertain with, perfect for Valentine’s Day, for Christmas and even a summer party, when any old orange will do just as nicely. So if you can’t get blood oranges, you can use any type of orange, the recipe will still work.

I’m giving you the recipe to serve up exactly what you see in the images here. But as mentioned above, you can easily increase the portions accordingly to turn it into a bigger serving, whether still as a starter or a side salad. You can, of course, use shop bought marinated artichokes, sold as antipasto ingredients.

Can’t get Blood Oranges?

Use firm, ordinary oranges, or even grapefruit. You could even use clementines, and decorate the plate with the segments, instead of using them as a base.

For more classy entertaining ideas, check out my Amuse Bouche and Starter page, for recipes like:

Roasted Butternut Squash with Burrata and Spicy Basil Oil

Salsa Morada Fresca (Fresh Purple Salsa) — Roasted Butternut Squash with Burrata and Spicy Basil Oil

♥ If you like the recipe, don’t forget to leave me a comment and that all important, 5-star rating! 😉 Thank you! ♥

And if you make the recipe, share it on any platform and tag me @azlinbloor, and hashtag it #linsfood

Lin xx