Salmon Waffles

When I had guests the other day I made these waffles as an appetizer. I think they were the best part of my whole meal and I could have eaten nothing else but these waffles. There is salmon in the batter which gives them a nice salty taste and they are topped with some sour cream or creme fraiche to complement the salty salmon. Perfect appetizer.

 Salmon Waffles
(from Dorie Greenspan)


Storing

Waffles are best eaten hot off the iron, although they can be kept for about 20 minutes in a 200 degree F oven. You can freeze freshly made or leftover waffles. Layer them between sheets of wax paper and wrap them airtight. To revive them, thaw, then reheat and recrisp them in a toaster or toaster oven.

• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1-1/4 teaspoons salt, or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, or to taste
• 1-3/4 cups whole milk
• 2 large eggs
• 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 3 ounces thinly sliced smoked salmon, cut into thin strips or slivers
• 5 scallions, white and light green parts only,
       halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons snipped fresh chives (or more scallions),
       plus more for sprinkling
• Crème fraîche or sour cream, for serving
• Salmon roe, for topping (optional)

Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper together in a medium bowl. In another bowl or a large measuring cup with a spout, whisk together the milk, eggs, and melted butter. Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry and stir everything together gently—it's better to have a few lumps than it is to beat the batter. Stir in the smoked salmon, scallions, and chives. (You can cover the batter and leave it at room temperature for up to 1 hour before waffling; stir well before using)

When you're ready to make the waffles, preheat a waffle iron according to the manufacturer's directions. If your iron is not nonstick, brush it lightly with oil or spritz it with vegetable cooking spray. If you'd like to keep the waffles warm while you're making the full batch, center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 200 degrees F; line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.

When the iron is hot, pour about 1/2 cup batter over the grids, using a spatula to spread it evenly across the surface—you want a thin layer. (Precisely how much batter you need will depend on the size of your iron.) Let the batter bake for about 30 seconds before closing the lid and baking the waffle until it is well browned on the underside—that's the side that will always be brownest and most beautiful, no matter what you do. To keep the waffles warm if you're not serving as you go, place them on the baking sheet and slide them into the oven. Continue until you've cooked all the batter.

Cut the waffles into quarters and arrange the quarters on plates. Top each one with crème fraîche or sour cream, salmon roe, if you're using it, and a sprinkling of chives. Or, if you've made mini waffles, you can create millefeuilles with them, sandwiching the waffles with cream. Count on 3 little waffle stacks per serving.