Verrines with Shaved Fennel, Smoked Salmon, Apples and Lime-Yogurt Sauce

Photos, recipes and styling by Béatrice Peltre

Verrines (French trifles or parfaits) are like edible artworks, blending layers of flavor and texture to create a stunning presentation that is as enjoyable to look at as it is to taste. And when it comes to holiday cuisine, I can’t help but think that a verrine recipe is a perfect choice. This particular one is akin to a light and lively miniature wintry salad arranged in a glass. I opted for cold-smoked salmon from Boston Smoked Fish, complemented by delicate, mildly sweet and refreshing thinly sliced fennel, crunchy bits of apple and a crisp, zesty lime yogurt dressing. Use your prettiest straight-sided or footed glassware to serve.

Makes 4 (1-cup) or 8 (1/2-cup) verrines

1 cup Greek yogurt
juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoons olive oil plus more to garnish
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup fennel, shaved paper thin with a mandoline
1 tablespoon fennel fronds, chopped
4 ounces cold-smoked salmon, coarsely chopped
½ red apple, cored and diced into ¼ inch pieces, drizzled with ½ teaspoon lemon juice
toasted sesame seeds, to taste
microgreens of your choice, to garnish
dash of paprika, to garnish

In a small bowl, stir the yogurt with ½ tablespoon lime juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Keep covered in the fridge until ready to use.

In a bowl, toss the fennel with 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon fennel greens and season with salt and pepper. Divide each preparation in layers between four (1 cup) or eight (½ cup) glasses in this order: smoked salmon, yogurt sauce, fennel, apple. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, a pinch of microgreens, a dash of paprika and a drizzle of olive oil. Keep cold until ready to serve.

This recipe appeared in the Winter 2024 issue as part of a larger story, L’Apèro Français.

Born and raised in rural France, BÉATRICE PELTRE moved to Boston 20 years ago. She works as a food writer, stylist and photographer, and is the author of the award-winning food blog La Tartine Gourmande and two cookbooks: La Tartine Gourmande: Recipes for an Inspired Life and My French Family Table (Roost Books). Her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Boston Globe, Food and Wine and more. She lives with her husband and two children, Lulu and Rémy. Follow her on her blog latartinegourmande.com and Instagram @tartinegourmande.