Caviar has always symbolized the best in life; it is the single food most clearly identified with wealth, opulence and luxury. Yet for the connoisseur, caviar is more than a sybaritic, ostentatious display of riches. It is the ultimate edible, with all the subtleties, complexities and refinement of a great vintage wine or Champagne.

Ingredients

  • 2 hard-cooked eggs
  • ¼ cup finely chopped onion
  • 4 slices black Russian, dark pumpernickel, or Danish-style hard rye bread, about 4 to 5 inches in diameter
  • 6 tablespoons (about 3 ounces) salmon caviar
  • 4 tablespoons sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon chopped chives
  • 4 lemon wedges
  • Nutritional Information
    • Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

      185 calories; 9 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 2 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 15 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 1 gram sugars; 11 grams protein; 224 milligrams cholesterol; 515 milligrams sodium

    • Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.

4 servings

Preparation

  1. Shell the eggs and separate the whites from the yolks. Push the whites and the yolks separately through a sieve and set aside in individual bowls.
  2. Rinse the chopped onion in a colander under cold water. (Rinsed onion is milder in flavor and will not discolor.) Drain, transfer to a kitchen towel and press to remove any excess water.
  3. Trim the crust from the bread slices. Spoon some caviar around the edges of each slice, spreading it gently to create a 1/2-inch border of caviar. Inside this border, right next to the roe, spread the sieved egg white on the bread to form a ring that is 1/2 inch wide. Inside this ring, spread the sieved egg yolk to form another 1/2-inch ring. Inside that, spread the chopped onions to form a 1/2-inch ring. In the center of each slice, place 1 tablespoon of sour cream.
  4. Garnish each slice with a few grains of caviar and the chives. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

About 15 minutes

Dining and Cooking