Best 4 Little Smoked Salmon Cucumber Cups With Peppered Creme Fraiche Recipes

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 2 ounces of the smoked salmon mixture into the mold. Top with 1 tablespoon 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.

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.

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.

CUCUMBER AND SMOKED SALMON SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Make tartare: In a small bowl, combine salmon, onion, cilantro, jalapeno, and zest. Season with salt and pepper.
• Using a paring knife or vegetable peeler, remove skin on two opposite sides of cucumber. Trim the ends, and cut cucumber crosswise into 48 slices, 1/4 inch thick. Place slices on paper towels to dry.
• Using a butter knife or a small offset spatula, spread about 1/2 teaspoon of creme fraiche on half of the cucumber slices, and then top with a teaspoon of tartare. Place remaining cucumber slices on top, followed by a small dollop of creme fraiche and a piece of lime. Serve immediately, or chill, covered with plastic wrap, up to 1 hour.