Little Smoked Salmon Cucumber Cups With Peppered Creme Fraiche Recipes

LITTLE SMOKED SALMON CUCUMBER CUPS WITH PEPPERED CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• Cut the cucumber into 1 1/2 inch slices, and carefully hollow out the centre (with any seeds) with a pointed teaspoon, so you are left with a shallow hollow.
• Mix the lemon zest and black pepper with the crème fraiche and adjust seasoning to taste, adding the black pepper bit by bit to ensure a favourable taste! (We like ours quite peppery!) I have not suggested salt as the smoked salmon is salty, but do add salt to taste if you wish.
• Spoon a little seasoned crème fraiche into each cucumber cup, about 1 teaspoon per cup.
• Cut the smoked salmon into 6-inch long strips and about 1/2 inch wide, and curl them around to make a little circle, then place the circle of smoked salmon on top of the crème fraiche.
• Garnish with lemon slices if you wish, or with dill or parsley. Makes about 30 according to size of cucumber.
• You can prepare the cucumber cups and crème fraiche several hours beforehand- cover them and store them in the fridge; assemble them just before you are ready to serve them.

SMOKED SALMON CUCUMBER CUPS

Steps:

• Peel and finely dice one cucumber, place into a bowl.
• Cut remaining cucumbers into 2cm (3/4 inch) slices and using a melon baller or teaspoon scoop out seeds, leaving a base to form a cup.
• Add remaining ingredients to diced cucumber and mix well.
• Season to taste.
• Fill each cup with salmon mixture, top with extra dill and serve.

CUCUMBER CUPS WITH DILL CREAM AND SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• Trim ends from cucumbers and cut crosswise into 24 (3/4-inch-thick) rounds. Scoop a 1/2-inch-deep depression from one side of each round with a small melon-baller, forming little cups. Drain cucumbers, cup sides down, on paper towels for 15 minutes.
• Beat cream cheese, chopped dill, lemon zest, lemon juice, and black pepper together in a bowl. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon cheese mixture into each cucumber cup. Top each cup with 1 salmon strip and 1 dill sprig.

SMOKED SALMON IN CUCUMBER CUPS

Steps:

• Peel cucumber; cut into 3/4-inch slices; using tiny spoon or scoop, form cucumber cup by scooping out seeds, leaving some flesh in base of cup; set aside.
• In medium-size bowl, flake smoked salmon, discarding skin and any bone; blend in sour cream, cilantro, lime zest, lime juice, salt, and cayenne pepper to taste.
• Mound salmon into cucumber cups; sprinkle lightly with a few grains cayenne pepper; garnish with additional lime peel strips, if desired.

SMOKED SALMON ON CUCUMBER WITH CREME FRAICHE AND DILL

Steps:

• Using a mandoline (or better knife skills than I have), slice the cucumber into sturdy, even slices and arrange on a service plate.
• Top each with an equal tidbit of salmon. Hint: it folds into pretty shapes if cut with the grain of the fish.
• Stir the creme fraiche until smooth and dab a mere teaspoonful over salmon.
• Separate tiny branches of the baby dill and set upright in or atop cream fraiche. Use remaining branches to garnish plate.
• Put the pepper in one palm and scatter by pinches from about a foot above the platter.