The best breads and bases for serving caviar
What you put under caviar matters. The best bases are plain, a little rich and slightly warm, so they support the caviar without competing with it.
The best choices
- Blini. Small, warm pancakes. They are the traditional partner. See our blini recipe.
- Brioche. Lightly toasted, in small squares or rounds. The buttery crumb suits the buttery flavor of sturgeon caviar.
- Toast points. Thin white bread, toasted and cut into triangles. Simple and crisp.
- Plain crackers. Water crackers or similar, with no seeds and no strong seasoning.
- Buckwheat or rye rounds. In small amounts, for a nutty note, when they are mild.
- Potato chips. Plain, thin, salted chips are a fun, casual base, and they work well at a party.
What to avoid
- Strongly flavored breads, such as sourdough, heavily seeded or herbed loaves
- Garlic or onion toasts
- Anything sweet
- Thick, chewy bread, which hides the delicate texture of the pearls
Serving tips
- Toast bread lightly, and let it cool a little, so it is warm, not hot.
- Cut it into small bites, so each one holds a taste of caviar.
- Add the caviar at the last moment, so the base stays crisp.
- Offer a small bowl of crème fraîche, so guests can add a spoonful if they like.
- Use a non-metal spoon for the caviar. See caviar spoons.
How much
Plan on a few bites per person, and about 15 to 30 grams of caviar. See how to serve caviar.
For a gift
A tin of caviar, a pack of blini and a tub of crème fraîche make a complete gift. See caviar gift ideas.
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