I was in Atlanta several months ago for business, and across the street from the hotel I stayed was this little French bistro with outdoor patio, just like you would see in streets of Paris. My colleagues / friends and I stopped by there for dinner one night, and went back for late lunch the following day. It wasn’t that the food was particularly special (the beuf bourguignon that I ordered was slightly on the bland side) but the atmosphere was so lovely that we had to go back for one more time before we headed to the airport. On both occasions, we shared a plate of Tarte Au Saumon, a thinly sliced smoked salmon, capers and tangy sauce layered on top of a flatbread, and loved every bite of it.

I decided to recreate the French appetizer for lunch today, using the leftover Indian naan I had in a freezer from Aarti’s Indian Pizza I made over the weekend (delicious!).  I purchased mine at Trader’s Joe’s (look for a package “Tandoori Naan” in a frozen food section. One package comes with four naan flatbreads).  This dish is really easy to make but sophisticated enough for a special occasion (like a luncheon with your girl friends) and is absolutely delicious. Too bad it was for a weekday lunch and I couldn’t wash it down with a chilled glass of Chardonnay!

Smoked Salmon Tarte
(Serves 1)

The Sauce:
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon crushed garlic
1/2 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon capers
Salt and pepper to taste

1 Frozen Indian Naan
3 pieces of smoked salmon, or enough to cover the top of the flatbread
1/8 of onion, finely sliced
More capers to garnish
1 lemon wedge

Baked the naan based on the package instruction (I baked mine in 375 F degree oven for about 5 minutes). When the naan is baked, smear the sauce on top. Layer the smoked salmon and sliced onion on top, and sprinkle capers. Serve with a side of vegetable such as asparagus spears or broccoli rabe.