Cucumber Cups Filled With Herbed Yogurt And Smoked Salmon Recipes

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 FILO CUPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven according to the package instructions for the filo cups. Put the filo cups on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown and crispy according to the package instructions. Let cool.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, salmon, creme fraiche, capers, shallot, lemon zest and juice, 1 tablespoon of the dill and 1 tablespoon of the chives. Transfer the mixture to a ziptop bag. Cut an approximately 1-inch opening in the corner of the bag. Pipe the salmon mixture evenly among the filo cups, filling them to the top.
• Mix together the remaining dill and chives, then sprinkle some of the herbs on top of each cup to garnish. Serve immediately.

CREAMY CUCUMBER CHIVE CUPS

Steps:

• Trim off the ends of each cucumber.
• Using a vegetable peeler, remove 3 evenly-spaced strips of peel from each.
• To make cucumber cups, cut each crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices and use a teaspoon or small melon baller to remove the seeds from the center of each without cutting through to the bottom.
• Transfer to a platter; set aside.
• In a food processor, purée cottage cheese, yogurt, 2 tablespoons chives, pepper and hot sauce.
• Spoon mixture into cucumbers, top with a sprinkling of salmon, olives or ham and garnish with remaining chives.
• Cover and chill for 1 to 2 hours before serving. (Filling can be made up to 1 day ahead.)

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.

CUCUMBER CUPS FILLED WITH HERBED YOGURT AND SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• Drain the yogurt in a fine sieve set over a bowl, its surface covered with plastic wrap, chilled, overnight. Cut the cucumber crosswise into sixteen 3/4-inch pieces and with a melon-ball cutter scoop out the centers, forming 1/4-inch-thick cups. Sprinkle the cucumber cups with salt and let them drain, inverted, on paper towels for 10 minutes. In a bowl combine well the yogurt, the scallions, the minced dill, salt and pepper to taste. Pat the cucumber cups dry gently and divide the yogurt mixture among them. Cut the salmon into eight 6- by 1/2-inch strips, halve the strips diagonally, and roll them up, beginning with the pointed ends and turning the edges slightly, to form rose shapes. Arrange the salmon roses and the dill sprigs decoratively on the yogurt mixture. The filled cucumber cups may be made 1 hour in advance and kept covered and chilled.

SMOKED SALMON AND HERB PUFF PASTRY TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F with a rack in the center. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Lightly flour a work surface and gently unfold the puff pastry dough. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a 10-by-12-inch rectangle. Score a 1-inch border along all four sides with a sharp knife then prick the area inside the border all over with a fork. This allows steam to release and a rim to rise around the tart.
• Transfer the puff pastry to the prepared baking sheet and bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until golden brown and puffy, about 18 minutes total. Remove the pastry from the baking sheet and allow it to cool on a cutting board or wire rack for 10 minutes. (see Cook's Note)
• While the pastry is baking, whip the cream cheese, yogurt, lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Fold in the capers, lemon zest, 2 tablespoons chopped dill and 2 tablespoons chopped chives and set aside.
• Just before serving, evenly spread the cream cheese filling over the baked pastry with an offset spatula, leaving the 1-inch border exposed. Arrange the smoked salmon and cucumber on top and sprinkle the tart with the dill fronds, remaining 1 tablespoon chives and some black pepper.