Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Buffy Hargett
Sparked by the leisurely pleasures of the cocktail-and-canapé Mad Men era, smørrebrød (Danish open-faced sandwiches) are the latest craze in stress-free entertaining. With a little clever prep, you can set out an impressive DIY spread in under an hour. Now we'll toast to that. Skål, y'all!
How to Make It
Step 1
Opt for a rustic pumpernickel, rye, or sourdough--the bread lays the foundation and needs to be sturdy enough to support high-rise toppings. Trim the crusts and go bite-size, or indulge in full-on knife-and-fork dinner fare. Brush bread slices with melted butter or olive oil, and bake at 400° for 8 to 10 minutes or until crisp.
Step 2
Set out a few versatile spreads that guests can mix and match with different toppings; The New Egg Salad and Sour Cream-Herb Sauce are two of our favorites. Other great options include garlic-and-herb cheeses, flavored butters, rémoulade, and country-style mustards.
Step 3
Toppings can be minimal or lavish--anything goes as long as it looks great and the flavors play well together: thinly sliced meats and cheeses, bacon, pickled shrimp, smoked trout, hard-cooked eggs, crabmeat. Also consider condiments such as bacon marmalade and tomato chutney.
Step 4
Think color and crunch. Pickled squash and onions, julienned peppers, thinly sliced cucumbers and radishes, peppery watercress, fresh herbs, sprouts and microgreens, grape tomatoes, and slivers of fresh seasonal fruit.
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