Driftwood Beach Appetizer (Printable)

Smoked fish and pale crackers arranged on creamy hummus for a fresh, beach-inspired starter.

# What You'll Need:

→ Crackers

01 - 3.5 oz pale, rustic-style crackers (water crackers, matzo, or lavash), broken into driftwood-like pieces

→ Fish

02 - 4.2 oz smoked white fish (trout, mackerel, or haddock), flaked into bite-sized pieces

→ Hummus Shore

03 - 8.8 oz classic hummus
04 - 1 tbsp olive oil
05 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
06 - 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds

→ Garnish

07 - 1 tbsp fresh dill fronds
08 - Zest of 1/2 lemon
09 - 1 tbsp capers, rinsed and drained
10 - Microgreens (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Spread hummus evenly on a large serving platter, shaping into a gentle shoreline using a spatula or spoon.
02 - Drizzle olive oil over hummus, dust with smoked paprika, and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds to create a sandy appearance.
03 - Place broken crackers along one edge of the platter, mimicking driftwood washed ashore.
04 - Scatter flaked smoked fish over and around the crackers for a natural, variegated look.
05 - Top with fresh dill, lemon zest, capers, and optional microgreens for freshness and visual appeal.
06 - Serve immediately, allowing guests to combine fish, hummus, and crackers.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It feels like you've spent hours fussing, but genuinely takes about 20 minutes from start to serve.
  • The smoky fish and bright lemon zest balance so well that nobody realizes how simple it actually is.
  • It's one of those dishes that looks impressive enough for guests but tastes even better when you're just making it for yourself.
02 -
  • The hummus layer needs to be thick enough to hold the crackers and fish without becoming a soup—thin spreads turn into sauce within minutes.
  • Any moisture on the fish pieces will weep into the hummus and turn everything soggy, so pat your smoked fish very dry before flaking and arranging.
  • This dish does not improve with sitting; make it just before serving or everything loses its textural magic.
03 -
  • Keep everything cold until the moment of assembly—a warm platter or room-temperature hummus will turn this from crisp and fresh to soft and sad.
  • Use a platter slightly larger than you think you need so the arrangement breathes and each element has space to be noticed.
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