When I go to a restaurant and want something light, I immediately look to the carpaccios and crudos, which often feature marinated raw fish. Smoked salmon can deliver the same light, clean flavors but without the worry of serving raw beef or fish at home. I like to arrange the salmon and apples on a platter and let guests pile them onto slices of bread themselves; the color of the salmon is simply stunning next to the green apples, which also contribute crunch and freshness.

　　

Ingredients

4 to 6 servings

　　6 (1/4-inch-thick) slices rosemary or olive bread, quartered

　　Juice of 1 lemon

　　1 small green apple, such as Granny Smith, halved, cored, and very thinly sliced

　　6 ounces Nova Scotia smoked salmon

　　1 tablespoon capers, rinsed and drained

　　Olive oil, for drizzling

　　Salt and freshly ground black pepper

　　

Step 1

Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400°F.

　　

Step 2

Arrange the bread on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until lightly brown and crisp. Cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes.

　　

Step 3

To prevent the apples from browning, in a small bowl, combine 2 cups water with the lemon juice. Add the apple slices and soak until ready to use. Drain and blot with paper towels just before using.

　　

Step 4

Arrange the smoked salmon in a single layer on a serving platter. Lay the apple slices on top. Sprinkle the capers over the salmon and apple slices. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Serve with the toasted bread.

　　Giada at Home by Giada De Laurentiis. Copyright © 2010 by Giada De Laurentiis. Published by the Crown Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved.Giada De Laurentiis is the star of Food Network's Everyday Italian and Behind the Bash. She attended the Cordon Bleu in Paris, and then worked in a variety of Los Angeles restaurants, including Wolfgang Puck's Spago, before starting her own catering and private-chef company, GDL Foods. The granddaughter of movie producer Dino De Laurentiis, Giada was born in Rome and grew up in Los Angeles, where she now lives.