Smoked Salmon On Cucumber With Creme Fraiche And Dill 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.

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 TIMBALE WITH GINGER, CUCUMBER, CREME FRAICHE AND WATERCRESS OIL

Steps:

• Bring a small pot of salty water to boil. Blanch the watercress until the stems are very soft to the touch. Shock in ice water. Remove watercress from the shocking bath. Squeeze as much water out of the watercress by hand, and then by wrapping up in a kitchen towel. Chop the watercress as finely as possible by hand. Place the chopped watercress in a blender, and slowly add the canola oil. Remove the watercress oil from the blender and refrigerate.
• Combine the smoked salmon, shallots, ginger, chives, cucumber and Ginger Vinaigrette in a mixing bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place a mold of your choice on the plate of your choice, and pack some of the smoked salmon mixture into the mold. Top with 2 tablespoons of the creme fraiche. Garnish, if so desired, with 1 teaspoon of the optional caviar. Repeat 3 times.
• Garnish each plate with a few decorative squiggles of the watercress oil.
• Place the ginger and canola oil in a small pot. Bring to a simmer over low heat. Remove from heat and let stand 12 hours. Strain the oil through a cheesecloth lined strainer. (The ginger oil may be kept in the refrigerator for 3 months.)
• Combine the ginger oil with as much vinegar and mix well.

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.

SMOKED SALMON WITH CREAMY CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• Thinly slice the cucumber on a mandoline and place in a colander over a bowl. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and allow the cucumbers to sit for 5 minutes. Squeeze out the excess water and place the cucumbers in a clean medium bowl. Add the sour cream, dill and 1/4 teaspoon salt and stir with a rubber spatula to combine.
• Lay the smoked salmon on one half of a platter lightly, so there is movement to the plate, leaving open the other half of the platter. Pile the cucumber mixture on a quarter of the platter or spoon into a bowl that fits on the platter. Serve the toasted pumpernickel bread on the other quarter of the platter.

WATERCRESS AND SMOKED SALMON SALAD WITH CREAMY CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• Peel alternating strips from the cucumber, leaving some peel to create stripes, and slice into thin rounds. In a large bowl, combine the vinegar, sugar and some salt and pepper. Whisk in the olive oil, then 2 tablespoons of the dill. Add the cucumbers and toss. Combine the creme fraiche, horseradish, mustard, lemon juice and the remaining 2 tablespoons dill in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Using a slotted spoon, scoop the cucumbers from the vinaigrette and mound on a large platter. Dip the leaf ends of the watercress in the remaining vinaigrette and mound on the platter. Toss the tomatoes in the vinaigrette, remove with a slotted spoon and mound on the platter. Lay the salmon over the mounds. Spoon the creme fraiche dressing over the top. Garnish the platter with lemon wedges and serve immediately.