Baby Cream Puffs Filled With Smoked Salmon Recipes

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
• Unfold the pastry, and cut out rounds with a 1 1/2-inch round cookie cutter (you should get roughly 40). Space them at least 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly score the center of each round with a 3/4-inch cookie cutter (don't press all the way through). Lightly brush each round with the egg.
• Invert another rimmed baking sheet on top of the dough rounds, and bake for 5 minutes. (Covering the rounds helps them puff straight up evenly.) Remove the top baking sheet, and continue to bake until golden, 8 to 10 minutes more. Let the rounds cool completely on the baking sheet, then use the handle of a wooden spoon to gently punch a hole in the middle of each round. (The baked pastry can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 day or frozen for up to 1 month.)
• Meanwhile, microwave the vinegar and sun-dried tomatoes in a small bowl, covered, for 30 seconds; let cool. Reserve 1 teaspoon of the vinegar, and finely chop the tomatoes. Finely shred the cucumber, and squeeze out all the excess moisture. Mash together the tomatoes, reserved vinegar, shredded cucumber, cream cheese, chives and 1/4 teaspoon salt with a fork in a medium bowl until smooth. Transfer the cream cheese filling to a pastry bag or resealable plastic bag (cut off the tip). (The filling can be refrigerated for up to 1 day.)
• Tear or cut the salmon into 40 small pieces, and roll each into a rough rosette shape. Pipe some of the filling into each puff. Top each with a piece of salmon, and sprinkle with sesame seeds. (The salmon puffs can be refrigerated for up to 2 hours.)

Steps:

• Position the oven racks so that they are evenly spaced. Preheat the oven to convection bake at 400°F. Cover a rimless cookie sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease a cookie sheet.
• To make the cream puffs, melt the butter in 1/2 cup boiling water in a saucepan over high heat. Add the flour all at once and stir until the mixture forms a solid mass. Cool for 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time and stir until the batter is smooth and glossy.
• Scoop heaping teaspoonfuls of the dough onto the cookie sheet, spacing them about 1 1/2 inches apart.
• Bake on the center rack for 10 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 325°F. Bake for 5 more minutes or until the cream puffs are dry and golden. Let cool.
• To make the filling, stir together the butter, chives, tarragon, and smoked salmon while the cream puffs bake.
• Fill the cooled cream puffs with the mixture just before serving.